Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Barron's Writing · 2026-10-15

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 6.5)

In today's world, it has become increasingly challenging for students from low-income backgrounds to purse higher studies in reputable universities, since the tuition fees are unaffordable. A considerable number of individuals contend that administration should bear the expenses of running universities, thereby making university education free for all learners in need. I firmly agree with this view point that government should pay the costs.

The primary reason compelling that authorities should bear all the cost of universities is that it would provide equal education to all deserving students beyond their economical circumstances. thereby alleviating the problem of illetracy in the society. For instance, children from an underpreviledged family have to abandon their studies due to highly expensive tuition fees. However, if government would fund universities, thus offering a chance to that children to enroll in better education without having any financial pressure.

The other reason why government should covers the opperation costs of universities is that free higher education can play a crucial role in alleviating poverty. This is because students from financially disadvantaged families would have the opportunity to acquire professional qualifications and essential skills without facing financial barriers. Consequently, they could secure well-paid jobs and improve their standard of living, ultimately breaking the cycle of poverty.

In conclusion, I strongly believe that the government should fully fund university education, as it not only ensures equal educational opportunities for all students but also helps individuals overcome financial hardship and improve their standard of living.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response6.5
Coherence and Cohesion7.0
Lexical Resource6.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy6.0
Overall6.5

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

Your position is clear from the introduction (“I firmly agree”) and remains consistent in the conclusion. You give two relevant reasons: equal access to education and the possibility of reducing poverty, with an example of students from disadvantaged families. This addresses the task, but the first reason is less fully explained: the example is introduced, yet the sentence about what government funding would enable is incomplete and the link to reducing illiteracy is not developed. The second reason is clearer, tracing qualifications to better-paid work and improved living standards. The response is five words below the required minimum, so it does not meet the length requirement. Develop the first argument with a complete explanation and a specific example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, two body paragraphs presenting separate reasons, and a conclusion that restates your position. The progression from equal access to poverty reduction is logical, and phrases such as “For instance,” “Consequently,” and “In conclusion” help signal relationships between ideas. However, cohesion is occasionally weakened by faulty sentence boundaries and linking. For example, “thereby alleviating…” begins as a fragment after a full stop, while “However, if government would fund universities, thus offering…” does not form a complete, clear sentence. Use fewer stacked connectors and make each example’s relationship to its claim explicit. These revisions would make the otherwise clear progression smoother and more controlled.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of topic vocabulary, including “tuition fees,” “financially disadvantaged,” “professional qualifications,” and “cycle of poverty.” These choices communicate the main ideas and show an attempt to use more formal language. Some word choices, collocations, and spelling errors reduce precision, however: “purse higher studies” should be “pursue higher education,” “economical circumstances” is better expressed as “financial circumstances,” and “underpreviledged” is misspelled. “Bear the expenses” is understandable, but “cover the costs” is more natural in this context. Aim for accurate, natural combinations rather than adding formal-sounding words where a simpler phrase is more idiomatic.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use both simple and complex sentence forms, including a relative clause in “students… who have the opportunity” and a conditional structure beginning “if government would fund universities.” Most of the meaning remains clear, but some errors in sentence construction, verb forms, agreement, and punctuation are noticeable. The conditional sentence is incomplete, and “the other reason why government should covers” has an incorrect verb form; use “should cover.” The opening of the first body paragraph also creates a fragment with “thereby alleviating…” after a full stop. Check subject–verb agreement and ensure each sentence has a complete main clause. More accurate control of these structures would strengthen the response while preserving its range.

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