Some people believe that governments should pay full course fees for students who want to study in universities.

Practice this IELTS Writing Task 2 question on IELTSX. Some people believe that governments should pay full course fees for students who want to study in universities.

Government Pay Full University Course Fees Students - IELTS Writing Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Write at least 250 words.

A student's answer to this task, and the feedback on it

Written by an IELTSX user under exam conditions and published unedited and anonymously. Band 8 · 253 words.

In many countries, the cost of higher education has increased significantly, leading to the argument that governments should fully fund university education for all students. While this idea has certain advantages, I partly disagree with the notion that tuition fees should be entirely covered by the government.

On the one hand, providing free university education can bring several benefits. Firstly, it ensures equal access to education regardless of a student’s financial background. Many talented individuals are unable to attend university due to high tuition fees, and government funding would allow them to pursue their academic goals. This could lead to a more educated workforce, which is beneficial for national development. For example, countries that invest heavily in education often experience higher levels of innovation and economic growth.

On the other hand, fully funding university education may place a heavy financial burden on governments. Allocating large amounts of public money to cover tuition fees could reduce funding for other essential sectors such as healthcare and infrastructure. Moreover, when students do not contribute financially, they may not fully appreciate the value of education, potentially leading to lower motivation and higher dropout rates. A more balanced approach would be for governments to provide partial funding or scholarships to students who demonstrate academic ability or financial need.

In conclusion, although free university education can promote equal opportunities, it is not always practical or sustainable for governments to bear the full cost. Therefore, I believe that a shared responsibility between students and governments is a more effective solution.

Examiner feedback

This is a very strong response that demonstrates a clear understanding of the task and high linguistic proficiency. The essay is logically organized, error-free, and presents a nuanced perspective. To reach a Band 9, the writer could provide more specific real-world examples and expand slightly on the depth of the arguments to exceed the 250-word threshold more comfortably.

Task Response - 8

- The candidate sufficiently addresses all parts of the task by exploring both the benefits and drawbacks of government-funded education. - The position is clear throughout: a preference for a balanced, shared-responsibility model rather than full government funding. - Ideas are well-supported with logical consequences (e.g., impact on national development and the risk of reduced student motivation).

Coherence & Cohesion - 8

- Information is sequenced logically with a clear progression from the benefits of funding to the practical limitations. - Cohesive devices like 'On the one hand' and 'Moreover' are used effectively and appropriately to guide the reader. - Each paragraph has a clear central topic, and the conclusion effectively synthesizes the arguments.

Lexical Resource - 8

- The vocabulary is used fluently and flexibly to convey precise meanings (e.g., 'national development', 'financial burden', 'sustainable'). - Collocations are natural and appropriate for an academic context. - There are no noticeable spelling or word formation errors, though more sophisticated or 'uncommon' vocabulary could have been used to reach Band 9.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 8

- A wide range of structures is used, including complex sentences and conditional structures. - The majority of sentences are error-free, demonstrating high control over grammar and punctuation. - Minor improvements could be made in the complexity of clause structures to demonstrate 'full flexibility'.

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