Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-10

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 5.5)

There has long been a debate about goverment should pay cost for free education in universities. while others argue that it must be paid for everyone. Although both perspective has its own importance but I strongly disagree with this aproach. this eassy will discus why this thought has negetive effect on society.

One the one hand. There are so many reason why I am against this side one of them is non responsible people. Because when education will be free in universities. they donot understand the value of money. they will take easy all kind of educational task. Hard work habit will not be developed in students. Furthermore, they will waste their laisure time in bad activities rather than part time job or any kind of educational courses. For instance, student who have not eductional responsibilites in form of fees and other charges for education, they cannot understand the value of study. Therefore, society will lead irresponsible people.

On the other hand. Goverment wolud bear a lot of expeccies in the result of free education in the universities. When authorities will provide unpaid education all the expences of maintinece and teachers fee, electricity bill, and so many other expences on different activites would be paid by goverment. If goverment were bear all these expences, economy would face crices in developing countries. Additionally, this can effect GDP of a country. For example, if goverment will bear the budden of education then how they will deal properly in other departments. Consequently, poverty rate will increas in the society.

In conclusion, Although there are some issues in the society if goverment provide free education in universities, which lead extra budden on economy. Nevertheless, goverment can introduce some scholerships for brilient students.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

Your position is clear: you strongly disagree with making university education free for everyone, and you give two relevant reasons—students may undervalue education, and public spending could place pressure on the economy. The examples about students’ responsibilities and government funding help connect these points to the question. However, the first reason is not fully explained: the link between paying fees and developing a strong work ethic is asserted rather than demonstrated. The economic argument also needs more precise support, since the claim that free tuition would increase poverty or affect GDP is not explained. Your suggestion of scholarships is relevant, but could be developed to show how it addresses access while limiting public costs.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall structure, with an introduction, two body paragraphs presenting separate reasons, and a conclusion. Signposting such as “On the one hand,” “Furthermore,” and “In conclusion” helps readers follow the main direction. However, some transitions are mechanical or do not clearly express the relationship between ideas: “On the other hand” introduces another argument against free education rather than a contrasting position. Several sentences begin as fragments, including “Because when education will be free…” and “For example, if government will bear…,” which interrupts the flow. Improve progression by linking each claim to its explanation and example, and use paragraph-opening phrases that accurately signal whether you are adding a reason or presenting a contrast.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some topic-relevant vocabulary, including “universities,” “responsibilities,” “maintenance,” “economy,” and “poverty rate,” and you attempt more formal expressions such as “bear the burden.” However, spelling errors and inaccurate word choices are noticeable and sometimes make the reader pause: “goverment,” “expeccies,” “crices,” and “budden” obscure otherwise understandable ideas. Some phrases are also unnatural, such as “take easy all kind of educational task” and “education will be unpaid.” Build accuracy by checking spelling and learning common academic collocations, for example, “take their studies lightly” and “provide tuition-free education.” A more precise vocabulary range would help you express the economic and educational arguments without relying on broad or unclear wording.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including conditional structures such as “If government were bear all these expenses…” and clauses introduced by “Although” and “when.” This shows an effort to vary sentence forms, but some structures are faulty and make relationships between ideas harder to follow. For example, “Although both perspective has its own importance but I strongly disagree” combines incompatible linking patterns and has an agreement error. Verb forms are also inconsistent, as in “when education will be free” and “how they will deal properly.” Sentence boundaries and punctuation need attention: “One the one hand.” is not a complete sentence, and several sentences begin with lowercase letters. Practise accurate conditional forms and complete sentences, while retaining your attempts at complex structures.

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