Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Barron's Writing · 2026-09-16

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 8.0)

It is often argued that higher education should be completely free, with the state covering all university running costs. I completely disagree with this view, although I recognise that it is motivated by a desire for equality.

On the one hand, making university free has clear advantages. Firstly, it would ensure equal opportunity. Currently, many talented students from poorer families in countries like India or the UK are deterred by high tuition fees, which can exceed £9,000 per year. If education were free, social mobility would improve. Secondly, a modern economy needs highly skilled graduates. If more people could study engineering, medicine and technology without financial burden, the whole country would benefit from a more qualified workforce.

However, there are much stronger arguments against free university education for all. The main reason is the enormous financial burden on the government. Funding every university would require a massive increase in taxation or cuts to other essential public services such as healthcare and primary schools. For example, in Germany where universities are largely free, taxpayers pay significantly higher rates of tax. Furthermore, if university were free for anyone who wants it, many students might enrol without serious academic motivation, leading to overcrowded lecture halls and a decline in educational standards. A degree would also lose some of its value in the job market if everyone had one. Finally, not everyone needs a university degree; vocational training and apprenticeships are often more suitable and valuable for both individuals and the economy.

In conclusion, while the intention behind free university education is admirable, I believe the economic costs and the risk of devaluing degrees outweigh the benefits. A fairer system is for the government to subsidise fees for low-income students through scholarships and loans, rather than making it free for everyone.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The candidate has fully addressed all parts of the task by presenting a clear, well-developed position throughout the essay. The response begins with a direct stance ("I completely disagree with this view"), which is consistently maintained. Both sides of the argument are acknowledged, as seen in the second paragraph where the advantages of free education are discussed ("ensure equal opportunity... improve social mobility"). However, the core of the argument is heavily supported in the third paragraph, which presents persuasive reasons against the proposal, such as the enormous financial burden on the government, the risk of overcrowded lecture halls, and the value of alternative vocational training. Relevant examples, such as reference to high tuition fees in the UK and tax rates in Germany, effectively extend the ideas, satisfying the requirements for a high band score under this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

Ideas are logically sequenced and progress naturally from introduction to supporting arguments and a balanced conclusion. Each paragraph has a clear central topic, such as the counter-arguments presented in the third paragraph beginning with "However, there are much stronger arguments against free university education for all." Cohesive devices are managed well without being overly mechanical or intrusive, utilizing signposts like "Firstly," "Secondly," "Furthermore," and "Finally" to guide the reader through the argumentation. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, separating the distinct facets of the prompt into coherent thematic blocks, ensuring seamless logical progression throughout the entire response.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

The candidate demonstrates a wide, flexible, and fluent lexical resource appropriate for a General Training or Academic task of this type. Less common vocabulary items and collocations are used skillfully throughout the text, including phrases like "motivated by a desire for equality," "deterred by high tuition fees," "massive increase in taxation," and "devaluing degrees." Word choice is precise and natural, contributing significantly to the clarity of the arguments. There are no noticeable spelling or word-choice errors, and the vocabulary deployed allows the writer to convey precise shades of meaning effortlessly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The response exhibits a wide range of complex grammatical structures used with a high degree of accuracy. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the writer demonstrates excellent control over complex multi-clause sentences, such as in the conditional and concessive structures found in the concluding remarks ("while the intention behind free university education is admirable, I believe the economic costs... outweigh the benefits"). Punctuation and syntactic control are exceptionally strong, and any minor slips are entirely absent. The grammatical range employed smoothly facilitates the precise articulation of abstract concepts and policy arguments.

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