Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-08-31

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people feel that the government should pay the costs of running universities so that a university education will be free for anyone who wants it.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Give reasons for your answer, and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 6.0)

It is often argued that the state should pay all university costs so that higher education is free for everyone. While free tuition helps poor students, I mostly disagree with this idea because it puts a massive burden on taxpayers and can lower quality of education.

On the other hand, state funded education brings clear social benefits. First of all, removing tuition fees allows talented students from low-income families to study without taking on heavy debt. As a result, more people can get degree-level jobs, which helps reduce poverty. For instance, countries like Germany offer free university courses. helping them build a skilled workforce that supports their economy.

On the other hand, funding higher education for all students requires huge amounts of money. Consequently, governments may have to raise taxes or take money away from essential services such as public healthcare and transport. Furthermore, when education is completely free, some students might not take their studies seriously, leading to higher dropout rates. In addition, if universities do not get enough public funding , classes can become overcrowded and teaching quality may drop.

To solve this problem. Governments should offer targeted help instead of universal free tuition. Specifically, they can provide full scholarships for top-performing and needy students, alongside flexible loans for others. In this way, deserving students receive support without draining public funds.

In conclusion, while free higher education sounds beneficial, it is financially difficult to maintain. A system that offers targeted scholarships is more practical solution.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout. The ideas are relevant and well-supported with examples, such as the reference to Germany. However, the response falls slightly short of the 250-word minimum requirement (247 words). While the ideas are developed, this under-length issue prevents a higher score, as the development of the argument is slightly constrained by the brevity. To improve, ensure that each body paragraph includes a slightly more detailed explanation or an additional illustrative example to comfortably exceed the word count.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'First of all', 'Consequently', and 'In addition' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. The progression of thought is clear, and the relationship between the arguments is easy to follow. The use of 'On the other hand' is repeated twice at the start of consecutive paragraphs, which is a minor stylistic weakness; varying these transitions would improve the flow further.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally appropriate and sufficient for the task. The student uses terms like 'targeted help', 'universal free tuition', and 'skilled workforce' effectively. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, which is successful. However, there are some minor inaccuracies in collocation and phrasing, such as 'get degree-level jobs' or 'more practical solution' (missing an article). The range is adequate to convey complex ideas clearly, but a wider variety of sophisticated synonyms would be needed to reach the higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the meaning is always clear. There are some minor punctuation and grammatical errors, such as the sentence fragment 'helping them build a skilled workforce...' and the incorrect capitalization in 'To solve this problem. Governments...'. Despite these slips, the control of grammar is generally strong, and the errors do not impede communication. To reach a higher band, the student should focus on eliminating these minor mechanical errors and increasing the variety of complex grammatical structures.

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