Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-13

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)

People have different opinions about whether university education fees should be paid by the governments so everyone can study. I completely agree with this view because free education can provide equal opportunities and reduce financial pressure on students.

One main reason why I agree with this view is that free tertiary education can offer equal access for students.This is because students from low-income families often find difficult to afford tuition fees. For example, talented students may be forced to leave educational fields because their parents cannot pay for education. Therefore, free entry can allow more young people to achieve their academic goals

Another important reason is that free study can reduce financial pressure on students. As many graduates would not need to repay large student loans after completing their studies.For instance, they could use their income to buy a home or start a business instead of paying educational debts. As a result, free university tuition fees could improve people's financial situation.

In conclusion, I completely agree that university education should be free of cost because it can provide equal opportunities and reduce the financial stress on students and parents.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response presents a clear position and addresses the main prompt by agreeing that the government should cover university costs to provide equal opportunities and reduce financial pressure. However, the length requirement has not been met, as the essay contains only 189 words, falling well short of the 250-word minimum. This significant under-length leads to under-developed ideas. While the reasons regarding low-income families and student loans are relevant and supported by examples, they lack the full extension expected at higher bands. Consequently, the task is addressed only partially due to the severe word count deficit.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with a clear introduction, two distinct body paragraphs, and a brief conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate ideas. Cohesive devices are employed to link sentences, such as 'One main reason', 'Another important reason', and 'In conclusion'. However, referencing and cohesion are sometimes faulty or mechanical. For instance, the sentence starting with 'As many graduates would not need...' is a fragment dependent on the previous sentence, which disrupts the flow. Overall, the organizational structure is visible, but the management of cohesion needs more flexibility.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating terms such as 'tertiary education', 'low-income families', and 'tuition fees'. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, but these are accompanied by word choice and phrasing errors, such as writing 'find difficult to afford' instead of 'find it difficult to afford' and 'leave educational fields'. Spelling and word formation are generally accurate, and communication is not impeded, placing the essay comfortably within the band six criteria for lexical resource.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing structures like 'People have different opinions about whether...' and 'This is because students from low-income families...'. There are several grammatical errors and punctuation issues present, most notably the sentence fragment 'As many graduates would not need to repay large student loans after completing their studies.', which lacks a main clause. Despite these errors, the meaning remains clear and the grammar does not impede communication. Complex structures are attempted with varying degrees of accuracy.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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