This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of education as a basic right for all people.

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IELTS Essay: Education as a Basic Right

Since university education is seen as a basic right, some people believe the government should make it free for all, regardless of each students’s economic status.

Do you agree or disagree with this belief?

Some people argue that university education should be completely free because it is a basic right, regardless of a student’s financial background. I disagree with this viewpoint. While higher education should be accessible, making it entirely free for everyone would create financial strain and unfair resource allocation.

One major issue is the enormous cost for governments. Universities require funding for laboratories, libraries, lecturer salaries, and research facilities. For example, public universities in countries such as the United States or Australia spend tens of thousands of dollars per student each year. If tuition were removed entirely, governments would either need to increase taxes or divert funds from essential services like healthcare and public transport. This could result in poorer overall outcomes for society, particularly for low-income citizens who rely heavily on these support services.

Another problem is that free university education for all often benefits wealthy families the most. Students from affluent backgrounds can already afford tuition and living expenses, yet they would receive the same subsidy as those from disadvantaged households. In contrast, targeted financial aid systems, such as means-tested scholarships or income-contingent loans used in countries like the UK, direct resources toward students who genuinely need support, while still encouraging personal responsibility.

In conclusion, although university education plays a vital role in social development, making it completely free for all students is neither practical nor fair. A more effective approach would be to provide strong financial assistance to low-income students while requiring those who can afford it to contribute to the cost of their education.

Analysis

1. Some people argue that university education should be completely free because it is a basic right, regardless of a student’s financial background. 2. I disagree with this viewpoint. 3. While higher education should be accessible, making it entirely free for everyone would create financial strain and unfair resource allocation.

1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
2. Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
3. Normally I write 2 sentence introductions but 3 is ok as well.

1. One major issue is the enormous cost for governments. 2. Universities require funding for laboratories, libraries, lecturer salaries, and research facilities. 3. For example, public universities in countries such as the United States or Australia spend tens of thousands of dollars per student each year. 4. If tuition were removed entirely, governments would either need to increase taxes or divert funds from essential services like healthcare and public transport. 5. This could result in poorer overall outcomes for society, particularly for low-income citizens who rely heavily on these support services.

1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
2. Explain your main idea.
3. Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
4. Keep developing it fully.
5. Better to have more detail.

1. Another problem is that free university education for all often benefits wealthy families the most. 2. Students from affluent backgrounds can already afford tuition and living expenses, yet they would receive the same subsidy as those from disadvantaged households. 3. In contrast, targeted financial aid systems, such as means-tested scholarships or income-contingent loans used in countries like the UK, direct resources toward students who genuinely need support, while still encouraging personal responsibility.

1. Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
2. Explain your new main idea.
3. Include specific details and examples.

1. In conclusion, although university education plays a vital role in social development, making it completely free for all students is neither practical nor fair. 2. A more effective approach would be to provide strong financial assistance to low-income students while requiring those who can afford it to contribute to the cost of their education.

1. Summarise your main ideas.
2. Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.

Some people argue that university education should be completely free because it is a basic right, regardless of a student’s financial background. I disagree with this viewpoint. While higher education should be accessible, making it entirely free for everyone would create financial strain and unfair resource allocation.

One major issue is the enormous cost for governments. Universities require funding for laboratories, libraries, lecturer salaries, and research facilities. For example, public universities in countries such as the United States or Australia spend tens of thousands of dollars per student each year. If tuition were removed entirely, governments would either need to increase taxes or divert funds from essential services like healthcare and public transport. This could result in poorer overall outcomes for society, particularly for low-income citizens who rely heavily on these support services.

Another problem is that free university education for all often benefits wealthy families the most. Students from affluent backgrounds can already afford tuition and living expenses, yet they would receive the same subsidy as those from disadvantaged households. In contrast, targeted financial aid systems, such as means-tested scholarships or income-contingent loans used in countries like the UK, direct resources toward students who genuinely need support, while still encouraging personal responsibility.

In conclusion, although university education plays a vital role in social development, making it completely free for all students is neither practical nor fair. A more effective approach would be to provide strong financial assistance to low-income students while requiring those who can afford it to contribute to the cost of their education.

Answers

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

completely free → provided at no cost

a basic right → a fundamental entitlement

regardless of → irrespective of

financial background → economic circumstances

I disagree with this viewpoint → I do not support this argument

While higher education should be accessible → Although university education ought to be available

create financial strain → place pressure on public finances

unfair resource allocation → inequitable distribution of funds

One major issue is → A key concern is

the enormous cost for → the substantial expense associated with

require funding for → depend on financial support for

lecturer salaries → academic staff wages

research facilities → research infrastructure

public universities → state-funded institutions

removed entirely → eliminated completely

increase taxes → raise tax rates

divert funds from essential services like healthcare and public transport → redirect money away from critical sectors such as medical care and transport systems

This could result in poorer overall outcomes for society → This may lead to negative consequences for society as a whole

particularly for low-income citizens → especially among disadvantaged populations

rely heavily on these support services → depend greatly on such public provisions

benefits wealthy families the most → primarily advantages high-income households

affluent backgrounds → financially privileged families

afford tuition and living expenses → pay for fees and daily costs

receive the same subsidy as those from disadvantaged households → obtain identical financial support as less advantaged students

In contrast → By comparison

targeted financial aid systems → needs-based support schemes

means-tested scholarships or income-contingent loans → income-based grants or repayable loans linked to earnings

direct resources toward → channel funding to

genuinely need support → truly require assistance

encouraging personal responsibility → promoting individual accountability

plays a vital role in social development → is essential to societal progress

neither practical nor fair → both unrealistic and unjust

A more effective approach would be → A more viable solution would be

provide strong financial assistance to low-income students → offer substantial support to students from poorer backgrounds

requiring → by expecting

afford → are able to pay

contribute to the cost of their education → share the financial burden of their studies

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:

kəmˈpliːtli friː

ə ˈbeɪsɪk raɪt

rɪˈɡɑːdləs ɒv

faɪˈnænʃᵊl ˈbækɡraʊnd

aɪ ˌdɪsəˈɡriː wɪð ðɪs ˈvjuːpɔɪnt

waɪl ˈhaɪər ˌɛʤʊˈkeɪʃᵊn ʃʊd biː əkˈsɛsəbᵊl

kriˈeɪt faɪˈnænʃᵊl streɪn

ʌnˈfeə rɪˈzɔːs ˌæləʊˈkeɪʃᵊn

wʌn ˈmeɪʤər ˈɪʃuː ɪz

ði ɪˈnɔːməs kɒst fɔː

rɪˈkwaɪə ˈfʌndɪŋ fɔː

ˈlɛkʧᵊrə ˈsæləriz

rɪˈsɜːʧ fəˈsɪlətiz

ˈpʌblɪk ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsətiz

rɪˈmuːvd ɪnˈtaɪəli

ˈɪnkriːs ˈtæksɪz

daɪˈvɜːt fʌndz frɒm ɪˈsɛnʃᵊl ˈsɜːvɪsɪz laɪk ˈhɛlθkeər ænd ˈpʌblɪk ˈtrænspɔːt

ðɪs kʊd rɪˈzʌlt ɪn ˈpɔːrər ˌəʊvəˈrɔːl ˈaʊtkʌmz fɔː səˈsaɪəti

pəˈtɪkjələli fɔː ləʊ-ˈɪnkʌm ˈsɪtɪzᵊnz

rɪˈlaɪ ˈhɛvᵊli ɒn ðiːz səˈpɔːt ˈsɜːvɪsɪz

ˈbɛnɪfɪts ˈwɛlθi ˈfæmᵊliz ðə məʊst

ˈæfluənt ˈbækɡraʊndz

əˈfɔːd tjuˈɪʃᵊn ænd ˈlɪvɪŋ ɪkˈspɛnsɪz

rɪˈsiːv ðə seɪm ˈsʌbsɪdi æz ðəʊz frɒm ˌdɪsədˈvɑːntɪʤd ˈhaʊshəʊldz

ɪn ˈkɒntrɑːst

ˈtɑːɡɪtɪd faɪˈnænʃᵊl eɪd ˈsɪstəmz

miːnz-ˈtɛstɪd ˈskɒləʃɪps ɔː ˈɪnkʌm-kənˈtɪnʤᵊnt ləʊnz

daɪˈrɛkt rɪˈzɔːsɪz təˈwɔːd

ˈʤɛnjuɪnli niːd səˈpɔːt

ɪnˈkʌrɪʤɪŋ ˈpɜːsᵊnᵊl rɪˌspɒnsɪˈbɪləti

pleɪz ə ˈvaɪtᵊl rəʊl ɪn ˈsəʊʃᵊl dɪˈvɛləpmənt

ˈnaɪðə ˈpræktɪkᵊl nɔː feə

ə mɔːr ɪˈfɛktɪv əˈprəʊʧ wʊd biː

prəˈvaɪd strɒŋ faɪˈnænʃᵊl əˈsɪstᵊns tuː ləʊ-ˈɪnkʌm ˈstjuːdᵊnts

rɪˈkwaɪərɪŋ

əˈfɔːd

kənˈtrɪbjuːt tuː ðə kɒst ɒv ðeər ˌɛʤʊˈkeɪʃᵊn

Vocabulary Practice

I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:

Some people argue that university education should be completely_____e because it is a ______right, regardless ___f a student’s financial_________d. I _____________________ viewpoint. While _______________ accessible, making it entirely free for everyone would create _______ strain and unfair ________allocation.

One ______________________ for governments. Universities require _______for laboratories, libraries, lecturer ________s, and research___________s. For example, public __________s in countries such as the United States or Australia spend tens of thousands of dollars per student each year. If tuition were removed _________y, governments would either need to increase _______s or divert ___________________________________________________________________ transport. This _____________________________________________ society, particularly _____________ citizens who rely ________________________ services.

Another problem is that free university education for all often benefits _________________ most. Students from affluent ___________s can already afford _______________ expenses, yet they would receive _____________________________________ households. In ___________, targeted ________________systems, such as means-tested ________________________ loans used in countries like the UK, direct __________ toward students who genuinely _________ support, while still encouraging ____________ responsibility.

In conclusion, although university education plays________________ development, making it completely free for all students is neither ______________ fair. A ________________________________ be to provide __________________________________ students while r__________g those who can a________d it to contribute _____________________ education.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.britannica.com/procon/free-college-debate?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Teachers (Get the full EBook for this speaking topic on Patreon.)

Question 1: Would you ever like to be a teacher?

Question 2: Did you have a favourite teacher at school?

Question 3: Would you say that you were a good student at school?

Question 4: Have you ever had a teacher that you didn’t like?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topic:

The best way to reduce poverty in developing countries is by giving up to six years of free education, so that they can at least read, write and use numbers.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

IELTS Essay: Free Education