🎯 Sample Task 2 Question
Some people think that university education should be free for everyone,
regardless of their financial background.
Others believe that students should pay tuition fees because higher education
benefits individuals more than society.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
✍️ FORMAT 1 – BAND 6 (Basic / Simple Structure)
Structure:
● Intro (Paraphrase + thesis)
● Body 1 (View A)
● Body 2 (View B + opinion)
● Conclusion
Sample Answer (Band 6)
Some people believe universities should not charge money, while others argue that students
should pay because the benefit is personal.
On the one hand, free education allows everyone to study, including poor families. This can
improve the country because more people have skills.
On the other hand, studying in university is a personal choice. Graduates usually earn more
salary, so it is fair to pay. I think students should pay part of the cost because they get the
most benefit.
In conclusion, free education is good for equality, but students should share the cost.
Revision Instructions to Reach Band 7:
● Add more specific examples (e.g., a country like Germany with free education).
● Use more academic connectors (e.g., “Nevertheless,” “Furthermore”).
● Vary sentence structures (complex/compound).
✍️ FORMAT 2 – BAND 7 (Balanced / Standard Essay)
Structure:
● Intro: Paraphrase + thesis (state you will discuss both)
● Body 1: Arguments for free education + examples
● Body 2: Arguments for student payment + examples
● Conclusion: Clear personal view
Sample Answer (Band 7)
Many people argue that university education should be free of charge, while others maintain
that students should fund their own studies because higher education benefits individuals
more.
Providing free tertiary education can ensure equal opportunities. For example, in countries
like Finland, all students, regardless of income, can attend university, which reduces social
inequality and increases the overall skill level of the workforce.
However, opponents believe that students themselves should bear tuition costs. Since
university graduates often secure higher-paying jobs, it is reasonable for them to invest in
their own future. Furthermore, tuition fees can provide universities with resources to maintain
teaching quality.
In my opinion, a mixed system is ideal: governments can subsidise tuition for low-income
families while others contribute based on their ability to pay.
In conclusion, while free education promotes fairness, shared responsibility ensures
sustainability.
Revision Instructions to Reach Band 8:
● Add stronger topic sentences with clear stance.
● Integrate data/statistics (real or hypothetical).
● Improve lexical range (e.g., “equitable access,” “financial burden,” “merit-based
subsidies”).
✍️ FORMAT 3 – BAND 8 (Advanced Argumentative)
Structure:
● Hook + Background + Clear Thesis
● Body 1: Societal benefits (deep analysis + evidence)
● Body 2: Individual responsibility (deep analysis + evidence)
● Body 3 (Optional): Synthesis/solution
● Strong conclusion
Sample Answer (Band 8)
Whether higher education should be publicly funded remains a contentious issue. While
some advocate for universal free access, others insist that students, as the primary
beneficiaries, should shoulder the cost.
Advocates of free university education argue that tertiary learning is a public good. A more
educated population fosters innovation, strengthens democratic participation, and ultimately
drives economic growth. Germany, for instance, abolished tuition fees in 2014 and continues
to enjoy one of the strongest economies in Europe.
Nevertheless, opponents contend that higher education largely rewards individuals.
Graduates typically command higher salaries and experience lower unemployment rates,
making tuition fees a fair investment in their own earning potential. Without such
contributions, governments may struggle to maintain quality or expand access.
A pragmatic approach would combine both perspectives: tuition could remain free for
essential disciplines such as medicine or engineering, while other courses require partial
fees.
In conclusion, although society benefits from an educated populace, personal investment
encourages responsibility and preserves educational standards.
Revision Instructions to Reach Band 9:
● Use precise, topic-specific vocabulary (e.g., “knowledge economy,” “social mobility”).
● Include one counterargument with a concession.
● Tighten coherence with linking phrases (“albeit,” “nonetheless,” “consequently”).
✍️ FORMAT 4 – BAND 9 (Discursive / High-Level)
Structure:
● Engaging hook + nuanced thesis
● Body 1: Free education—moral & economic rationale
● Body 2: Tuition fees—efficiency & fairness argument
● Body 3: Integrative policy suggestion
● Sophisticated conclusion
Sample Answer (Band 9)
The question of whether university education should be universally free embodies a tension
between equality and efficiency. Although free access promotes social mobility, tuition fees
can ensure sustainable funding and personal accountability.
From a societal perspective, publicly funded universities act as engines of upward mobility.
When higher education is costless, as in Scandinavian countries, talented students from
disadvantaged backgrounds can pursue professional careers, thereby enhancing national
productivity and narrowing income gaps. Education, in this sense, is not merely a private
benefit but a collective investment.
Conversely, a fully subsidised system risks moral hazard and financial strain. Evidence from
nations with modest tuition fees, such as the United Kingdom, shows that shared costs
encourage students to make informed academic choices and allow institutions to maintain
competitive research standards.
The optimal policy, therefore, lies in a hybrid model: governments should guarantee free
access for essential fields and provide income-based subsidies, while expecting wealthier
students to contribute proportionally.
Ultimately, education serves both individual and collective interests; a balanced funding
model best reconciles these dual imperatives.
Revision Instructions for Perfection:
● Maintain conciseness while keeping sophisticated phrasing.
● Check for idiomatic expressions (avoid informal tone).
● Ensure coherence with subtle connectors (e.g., “thereby,” “henceforth”).
✍️ FORMAT 5 – CREATIVE/ALTERNATIVE
(Cause–Effect + Opinion)
(Useful for students who struggle with “Discuss both views” but want variety)
Sample Answer (Band 7–8)
The debate over free university education reflects broader concerns about economic
inequality and government responsibility. Making tertiary education free can lead to a more
skilled workforce, which in turn stimulates innovation and economic growth. For example,
when Germany removed tuition fees, the enrolment rate among low-income students
increased significantly.
However, fully subsidised education can create financial pressure on public budgets and
potentially reduce the perceived value of a degree. If students do not share the cost, some
may approach their studies less seriously, leading to lower completion rates.
In my view, governments should focus on targeted scholarships and low-interest student
loans rather than universal free tuition. This approach ensures that talented students are not
excluded while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
Revision Instructions to Upgrade:
● Convert cause–effect sentences into complex clauses.
● Add real-world statistics to strengthen argument.
● Use a stronger thesis to clarify opinion from the start.
🔁 GENERAL REVISION TECHNIQUES
1. Lexical Resource Boost: Replace simple words (e.g., “good,” “bad”) with precise
terms (e.g., “equitable,” “unsustainable”).
2. Grammar Upgrade: Add conditionals (If tuition is free, more students will…), relative
clauses (which allows students to…), and inversion (Not only does free education
benefit…).
3. Coherence & Cohesion: Use advanced connectors (therefore, albeit, consequently,
provided that).
4. Example Depth: Include country examples (Germany, UK, Finland, China), statistics,
or research findings.
5. Time Yourself: 40 minutes, 250+ words. Practice rewriting each version with a
higher band goal.
Would you like me to create a PDF workbook with these formats + vocabulary lists for
printing and self-study?