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 tuition opens opportunities to talented students from poorer homes
- Taxpayers who never attend university would share the cost
- Graduates often earn more, so they could reasonably contribute
A plan for this question
- Introduction: paraphrase the question and give a clear position: you largely disagree, because university should be free only for students who cannot afford it.
- Body 1: your main reason: free tuition for everyone is paid for by all taxpayers, including people who never go to university, while graduates usually earn more. Example: a factory worker paying for a future lawyer.
- Body 2: the part you accept: no talented student should be shut out by cost. Your solution: free places for low-income students and loans repaid only above an income level.
- Conclusion: restate your position in different words.
Model essay
269 words
In some countries, the government covers the full cost of university, and some people believe that every nation should follow this example. Although I understand the appeal of free higher education, I largely disagree with this idea. In my opinion, university should be free for students who cannot afford it, but not for everyone.
The main argument against free tuition for all is fairness. Universities are expensive to run, and if students pay nothing, the cost falls on every taxpayer, including the many people who never attend university themselves. A factory worker, for example, would be helping to pay for the education of a future lawyer who is likely to earn far more than they do. Since graduates generally enjoy higher salaries over their careers, it seems reasonable for them to pay at least part of the cost of the education that made those salaries possible.
Nevertheless, I accept that money should never prevent a talented young person from studying. If fees are high and no help is offered, bright students from poorer families may decide that university is not for them, which is a loss both to them and to society. This problem, however, can be solved without making university free for everyone. Governments could pay the full fees of low-income students and offer other students loans that are repaid only once they earn above a certain level.
In conclusion, while free higher education for all sounds generous, I believe it places an unfair burden on taxpayers. A system that supports students according to their needs, and asks successful graduates to contribute, is both fairer and more sustainable.
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
- tuition fees
- The money students pay to study at a university.
- “Tuition fees have risen sharply in recent years.”
- higher education
- Study at a university or college after school.
- “Access to higher education should depend on ability, not wealth.”
- taxpayer
- A person who pays tax to the government.
- “Free tuition would be funded by every taxpayer.”
- burden
- A heavy cost or responsibility.
- “The cost would become a burden on public finances.”
- means-tested
- Given only to people whose income is below a certain level.
- “Means-tested grants help students from poorer families.”
- disadvantaged background
- A family with little money or few opportunities.
- “Students from disadvantaged backgrounds are less likely to apply.”
- contribute
- Give money or effort towards something.
- “Graduates could contribute once they start earning.”
- sustainable
- Able to continue for a long time without causing problems.
- “A loan system is more sustainable than free tuition.”
Common mistakes
- Sitting on the fence. A partly-agree position is fine, but say exactly which part you agree with, as the model does: free for students who cannot afford it, but not for everyone.
- Describing how different countries fund universities instead of answering. Examples support your argument; they are not the argument.
- Changing position in the conclusion. If the introduction says you largely disagree, the conclusion must say the same.
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.