Write at least 250 words · 40 minutes
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Ideas to get you started
- Free travel could persuade drivers to leave their cars at home
- Fares pay for maintenance and better services
- Discounts for students and older people may be a fair middle way
A plan for this question
- Introduction: paraphrase both views and give your opinion: not free for everyone, but much cheaper, and free for certain groups.
- Body 1: the case for free transport: persuades drivers, less congestion and pollution, helps low-income workers, saves ticketing costs; Luxembourg.
- Body 2: the case for fares: running costs, risk of worse services, drivers choose cars for speed and convenience more than price.
- Conclusion: your middle position: low fares, free for students, older people and low earners, money invested in faster, more frequent services.
Model essay
270 words
As cities struggle with traffic and air pollution, some people propose making public transport completely free, while others insist that passengers should pay for the services they use. In my view, public transport should not be free for everyone, but it should be much cheaper, and free for certain groups.
Supporters of free public transport argue that it is the most powerful way to persuade drivers to leave their cars at home. If buses and trains cost nothing, the financial reason for driving disappears, which could reduce congestion and emissions. Free travel would also help low-income workers, for whom fares can be a large part of their budget, and it would save the money spent on selling and checking tickets. Luxembourg, which made all public transport free in 2020, is often given as an example.
Those who oppose the idea point out that public transport is expensive to run. Fares pay for fuel, drivers’ wages and maintenance, and if they are removed, the cost must be met through higher taxes, or the service will decline. Overcrowded, unreliable buses will not attract car drivers, however cheap they are. Indeed, many people choose the car mainly for speed and convenience rather than price, so free fares might attract people who would otherwise walk or cycle, rather than motorists.
In conclusion, I believe the best approach lies between the two views. Fares should be kept low and made free for students, older people and those on low incomes, while the money from other passengers is invested in faster and more frequent services, which is what will really persuade drivers to change their habits.
Written by Acedmi to show what a high-band essay looks like. It is not an official IELTS sample, and your own ideas can be different.
Useful vocabulary
- fare
- The money you pay for a journey.
- “Bus fares have risen again.”
- persuade
- Make someone decide to do something.
- “Cheap fares may persuade drivers to switch.”
- congestion
- Heavy traffic that moves slowly.
- “Free buses could reduce congestion.”
- maintenance
- Keeping something in good condition.
- “Fares pay for the maintenance of trains.”
- overcrowded
- With too many people.
- “Overcrowded buses put people off.”
- motorist
- A person who drives a car.
- “Motorists value speed above price.”
- subsidise
- Pay part of the cost with public money.
- “The city subsidises student travel.”
- the best approach lies between
- A way to give a middle position clearly.
- “The best approach lies between the two views.”
Common mistakes
- A middle position that is not clear. If you choose a compromise, say exactly what it is, as the model does.
- Describing only one view in detail. Both views need a full paragraph.
- Repeating "public transport" in every sentence. Vary it: buses and trains, services, transport.
What the examiner marks
Four criteria, equally weighted: Task Response (answer every part of the question with a clear position), Coherence and Cohesion (logical paragraphs and linking), Lexical Resource (range and accuracy of vocabulary) and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. An essay under 250 words loses marks for Task Response.