Question: Some people think governments should make university education free, but others think students

should pay fees by themselves. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Answer:
Well, I think this question has two sides, and both are quite reasonable.
On the one hand, many people argue that university education should be free because it gives everyone equal
opportunities. If tuition fees are removed, students from poor families can still continue their studies and
develop their talents. For example, a young person from the countryside might be very intelligent, but if
university is too expensive, they may never get the chance to study. Free education can solve this problem and
create a fairer society. Another point is that an educated population is extremely valuable for a country. The
more people who graduate from university, the more skilled workers and professionals a country has, which
helps the economy grow. Countries like Germany or Finland, which offer free or very cheap higher education,
are often praised for their strong education systems and high levels of innovation. Also, free education can
reduce stress for students, because they don’t need to worry about paying off huge student loans after
graduation.
On the other hand, there are also strong reasons why students should pay their own tuition fees. First,
education is not only a benefit for society, but also a personal investment. If students pay, they may value their
studies more and try harder to succeed. In contrast, if everything is free, some students might take it for
granted and waste time. Another point is about government spending. The government has many
responsibilities, such as building hospitals, improving infrastructure, and supporting the elderly. If it spends too
much money on free higher education, other important areas may suffer. In addition, when students pay for
their own education, it teaches them responsibility and independence, because they understand that studying
is not just a right but also a personal effort.
In my opinion, the best approach is a combination of both ideas. I don’t think university should be completely
free for everyone, because that could put too much pressure on the government’s budget. However, I strongly
believe that students who cannot afford the fees should receive support through scholarships, financial aid, or
student loans with low interest. In this way, education is still accessible to all students, but at the same time,
individuals also learn to be responsible for their own future.

🔑 Useful Vocabulary & Phrases for IELTS Speaking 3 on this topic:

 Equal opportunities → cơ hội công bằng
 Talented students from low-income families → học sinh giỏi nhưng gia đình nghèo
 A fairer society → một xã hội công bằng hơn
 An educated population / a skilled workforce → lực lượng lao động có trình độ
 Student debt / student loans → nợ sinh viên
 Take something for granted → coi thường, không trân trọng
 Government budget / limited resources → ngân sách chính phủ có hạn
 A personal investment → khoản đầu tư cá nhân
 Provide scholarships and financial aid → cấp học bổng và hỗ trợ tài chính
 Accessible to everyone → ai cũng có thể tiếp cận được
 Take responsibility for their own future → chịu trách nhiệm cho tương lai của mình
Question: Some people think governments should make university education free, but others think students
should pay fees by themselves. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Answer:
That’s a very interesting question, and I think it has been discussed in many countries for quite a long time.
Personally, I believe both sides of the argument have good reasons, so maybe the best solution is somewhere in
between. But let me explain both views first.
On the one hand, many people support the idea of free university education because it gives everyone equal
opportunities. If tuition fees are removed, students from poor backgrounds can still go to university, and their
financial situation will not stop them from developing their abilities. For example, I know many young people
from the countryside who are very intelligent, but their families cannot afford the high cost of higher education.
If university were free, they could continue their studies and maybe become doctors, teachers, or engineers in
the future. So in that sense, free education makes society fairer and more inclusive.
Another strong reason is that an educated population benefits the whole country. When more people go to
university, the country gains more skilled workers and professionals. This leads to faster economic growth and
more innovation. For instance, countries like Germany or Finland, which offer free or very cheap higher
education, are often seen as having very strong education systems, and they also have high levels of scientific
research and technological development. So free university can be seen as an investment in the future of the
nation.
A third argument is about reducing student debt. In many countries, especially the United States, students often
graduate with thousands of dollars in loans, and they spend many years paying them back. This creates a lot of
stress and sometimes even stops young people from buying a house or starting a family. If university education
were free, students could focus on their studies and later start their careers without this heavy financial burden.
On the other hand, there are also good reasons why students should pay for their own education. First,
education is not only a social benefit but also a personal investment. If students pay fees, they may take their
studies more seriously and work harder, because they know the value of the money being spent. In contrast, if
everything is free, some students might not appreciate it and could waste time or even drop out.
Another important point is that the government has limited resources. It cannot spend money on everything.
Apart from education, it also needs to support healthcare, build infrastructure, provide security, and take care
of the elderly. If too much money is used for free higher education, other essential areas might receive less
funding, which could create new problems.
Finally, paying for university can also help students learn responsibility and independence. When young people
save money, take part-time jobs, or apply for scholarships, they understand that education is not just a right but
also something they need to work for. This experience may prepare them better for real life, where nothing is
completely free.
As for my opinion, I don’t think making university completely free for everyone is realistic, because it would put
too much pressure on government budgets. However, I also believe that talented students should never be
stopped from studying just because they are poor. So I would suggest a mixed system: tuition fees should exist,
but they should be affordable, and the government should provide strong support in the form of scholarships,
grants, or low-interest loans. In this way, education is accessible to everyone, but at the same time, students
also share some responsibility for their own future.
🔹 1. Introducing both sides
 “Some people argue that … while others believe …”
 “This issue has two sides, and both have reasonable points.”
 “There are convincing arguments both for and against free university education.”

🔹 2. Talking about advantages of free education

 “It gives everyone equal opportunities to study.”
 “Talented students from low-income families can still go to university.”
 “It helps create a fairer and more inclusive society.”
 “An educated population leads to a stronger economy.”
 “Free education is an investment in the nation’s future.”
 “It reduces the problem of student debt or long-term loans.”

🔹 3. Talking about why students should pay fees

 “Education is also a personal investment, not just a social good.”
 “When students pay, they value their education more and study harder.”
 “The government has limited resources and must also spend on healthcare, infrastructure, and public
services.”
 “If everything is free, some students may take it for granted and waste time.”
 “Paying tuition teaches students responsibility and independence.”

🔹 4. Giving your own opinion

 “In my opinion, the best solution is a balanced approach.”
 “I don’t think university should be completely free, but it should be affordable.”
 “The government should provide scholarships, grants, or low-interest loans for students in need.”
 “This way, education is still accessible to everyone, but students also share responsibility.”

🔹 5. Useful connectors (to sound fluent and natural)

 “On the one hand … / On the other hand …”
 “Another strong reason is …”
 “For instance / For example …”
 “At the same time …”
 “However, it’s also true that …”
 “Personally, I believe …”
 “To sum up …”
Question: Some people think governments should make university education free, but others think students
should pay fees by themselves. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Answer:
Well, this issue has two sides, and both have reasonable points.
On the one hand, many people argue that higher education should be free because it gives everyone equal
opportunities to study. Talented students from low-income families can still go to university, and this helps
create a fairer and more inclusive society. Another strong reason is that an educated population benefits the
whole country. It leads to a more skilled workforce and faster economic growth. For instance, countries like
Germany or Finland, which offer free or very cheap higher education, are often praised for their innovation.
Finally, free education also reduces the problem of student debt, which is a big issue in some countries.
On the other hand, it’s also true that students should share the cost. Education is not only a social good but also
a personal investment. When students pay, they often value their education more and study harder. The
government also has limited resources and must spend on other areas like healthcare or public transport. If
everything is free, some students may even take it for granted. So in this sense, paying tuition can encourage
responsibility and independence.
Personally, I believe the best solution is a balanced approach. University should not be completely free, but it
should be affordable. The government can provide scholarships, grants, or low-interest loans for students who
really need help. This way, education remains accessible to everyone, while students also take responsibility for
their own future.