This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of free education from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Essay: Free Education

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?

Poverty remains a pressing issue in most developing countries, and one proposed solution is a provision of up to six years of free education, aiming to equip individuals with essential literacy and numeracy skills. In my opinion, I agree with this approach.

While free education is a crucial step towards poverty reduction, it is not a standalone solution. Equally essential are adequate infrastructure, trained teachers, and quality educational resources. Merely providing free education without ensuring its quality may result in a system that fails to deliver the desired outcomes. Therefore, governments could focus on holistic educational reforms, including teacher training programs, school infrastructure development, and curriculum enhancements, to maximize the impact of free education initiatives. For example, in China, alongside the introduction of free education policies, the government invested in teacher training programs and improved school infrastructure, leading to enhanced learning outcomes and noticeably higher student retention rates.

However, free education itself can significantly increase access to schooling, particularly for marginalized communities and children from low-income backgrounds. Financial barriers often prevent children from attending school, perpetuating the cycle of poverty. By eliminating tuition fees at young ages, developing countries can remove one of the major obstacles to education and ensure that all children have the opportunity to learn. For instance, in India, the implementation of free education policies has led to a rise in school enrollment rates among girls from disadvantaged communities, encouraging them to escape unfair conditions and pursue better futures through improved employability. This inclusivity in education can help bridge social and economic gaps, fostering a more equitable society.

In conclusion, I strongly agree that offering up to six years of free education can be a powerful tool for overcoming poverty in developing countries. By prioritizing education and implementing necessary reforms, developing nations can better empower their citizens and reduce poverty levels in the long-term.

Analysis

1. Poverty remains a pressing issue in most developing countries, and one proposed solution is a provision of up to six years of free education, aiming to equip individuals with essential literacy and numeracy skills. 2. In my opinion, I agree with this approach.

  1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
  2. Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.

1. While free education is a crucial step towards poverty reduction, it is not a standalone solution. 2. Equally essential are adequate infrastructure, trained teachers, and quality educational resources. 3. Merely providing free education without ensuring its quality may result in a system that fails to deliver the desired outcomes. 4. Therefore, governments could focus on holistic educational reforms, including teacher training programs, school infrastructure development, and curriculum enhancements, to maximize the impact of free education initiatives. 5. For example, in China, alongside the introduction of free education policies, the government invested in teacher training programs and improved school infrastructure, leading to enhanced learning outcomes and noticeably higher student retention rates.

  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. Use specific examples.

1. However, free education itself can significantly increase access to schooling, particularly for marginalized communities and children from low-income backgrounds. 2. Financial barriers often prevent children from attending school, perpetuating the cycle of poverty. 3. By eliminating tuition fees at young ages, developing countries can remove one of the major obstacles to education and ensure that all children have the opportunity to learn. 4. For instance, in India, the implementation of free education policies has led to a rise in school enrollment rates among girls from disadvantaged communities, encouraging them to escape unfair conditions and pursue better futures through improved employability. 5. This inclusivity in education can help bridge social and economic gaps, fostering a more equitable society.

  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.
  4. Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
  5. Finish the paragraph strong.

1. In conclusion, I strongly agree that offering up to six years of free education can be a powerful tool for overcoming poverty in developing countries. 2. By prioritizing education and implementing necessary reforms, developing nations can better empower their citizens and reduce poverty levels in the long-term.

  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.

Poverty remains a pressing issue in most developing countries, and one proposed solution is a provision of up to six years of free education, aiming to equip individuals with essential literacy and numeracy skills. In my opinion, I agree with this approach.

While free education is a crucial step towards poverty reduction, it is not a standalone solution. Equally essential are adequate infrastructure, trained teachers, and quality educational resources. Merely providing free education without ensuring its quality may result in a system that fails to deliver the desired outcomes. Therefore, governments could focus on holistic educational reforms, including teacher training programs, school infrastructure development, and curriculum enhancements, to maximize the impact of free education initiatives. For example, in China, alongside the introduction of free education policies, the government invested in teacher training programs and improved school infrastructure, leading to enhanced learning outcomes and noticeably higher student retention rates.

However, free education itself can significantly increase access to schooling, particularly for marginalized communities and children from low-income backgrounds. Financial barriers often prevent children from attending school, perpetuating the cycle of poverty. By eliminating tuition fees at young ages, developing countries can remove one of the major obstacles to education and ensure that all children have the opportunity to learn. For instance, in India, the implementation of free education policies has led to a rise in school enrollment rates among girls from disadvantaged communities, encouraging them to escape unfair conditions and pursue better futures through improved employability. This inclusivity in education can help bridge social and economic gaps, fostering a more equitable society.

In conclusion, I strongly agree that offering up to six years of free education can be a powerful tool for overcoming poverty in developing countries. By prioritizing education and implementing necessary reforms, developing nations can better empower their citizens and reduce poverty levels in the long-term.

Answers

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

Poverty remains a pressing issue not having money is a big problem

one proposed solution is one remedy is

provision plan

aiming to equip individuals with essential literacy trying to help people read and write

numeracy skills math

approach way

crucial step towards poverty reduction key way to get rid of poverty

standalone solution remedy all on its own

Equally essential just as important

adequate infrastructure good enough buildings

trained teachers good teachers

quality educational resources good schools, whiteboards, etc.

Merely just

ensuring its quality may result in a system making sure of how good it is can cause a pattern

fails to deliver the desired outcomes doesn’t work out in the end

focus on holistic educational reforms try to do more overall fixes

teacher training programs ways to teach teachers

school infrastructure development making school buildings and facilities better

curriculum enhancements learning about better things

maximize the impact of be more efficient

alongside the introduction of with the advent of

invested in put money into

leading to enhanced learning outcomes causing better progress

noticeably higher student retention rates clearly more students staying in school

significantly increased access to a lot more growth in getting

marginalized communities poorer parts of society

low-income backgrounds poorer people

Financial barriers not enough money

attending going to

perpetuating the cycle of poverty people staying poor long-term

eliminating tuition fees not charging money for school

remove one of the major obstacles to education get rid of a challenge to learning

implementation put in place

school enrollment rates how many people go to school

disadvantaged communities poorer groups

encouraging fostering

escape unfair conditions get out of difficult places

pursue better futures through improved employability have better lives by getting better jobs

inclusivity open-minded

bridge social and economic gaps lessen differences in society

fostering a more equitable society make people more equal

strongly a lot

offering giving

powerful tool for overcoming poverty way to help poor people make money

By prioritizing making important

implementing necessary reforms putting in place important changes

empower encourage

reduce poverty levels in the long-term fewer poor people over time

Pronunciation

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

ˈpɒvəti rɪˈmeɪnz ə ˈprɛsɪŋ ˈɪʃuː 
wʌn prəˈpəʊzd səˈluːʃᵊn ɪz 
prəˈvɪʒᵊn 
ˈeɪmɪŋ tuː ɪˈkwɪp ˌɪndɪˈvɪʤuəlz wɪð ɪˈsɛnʃᵊl ˈlɪtərəsi 
ˈnjuːmərəsi skɪlz 
əˈprəʊʧ 
ˈkruːʃᵊl stɛp təˈwɔːdz ˈpɒvəti rɪˈdʌkʃᵊn 
ˈstændəˌləʊn səˈluːʃᵊn 
ˈiːkwəli ɪˈsɛnʃᵊl 
ˈædɪkwɪt ˈɪnfrəˌstrʌkʧə 
treɪnd ˈtiːʧəz 
ˈkwɒləti ˌɛʤʊˈkeɪʃᵊnᵊl rɪˈsɔːsɪz 
ˈmɪəli 
ɪnˈʃʊərɪŋ ɪts ˈkwɒləti meɪ rɪˈzʌlt ɪn ə ˈsɪstəm 
feɪlz tuː dɪˈlɪvə ðə dɪˈzaɪəd ˈaʊtkʌmz 
ˈfəʊkəs ɒn həˈlɪstɪk ˌɛʤʊˈkeɪʃᵊnᵊl ˌriːˈfɔːmz 
ˈtiːʧə ˈtreɪnɪŋ ˈprəʊɡræmz 
skuːl ˈɪnfrəˌstrʌkʧə dɪˈvɛləpmənt 
kəˈrɪkjələm ɪnˈhɑːnsmənts 
ˈmæksɪmaɪz ði ˈɪmpækt ɒv 
əˈlɒŋˈsaɪd ði ˌɪntrəˈdʌkʃᵊn ɒv 
ɪnˈvɛstɪd ɪn 
ˈliːdɪŋ tuː ɪnˈhɑːnst ˈlɜːnɪŋ ˈaʊtkʌmz 
ˈnəʊtɪsəbli ˈhaɪə ˈstjuːdᵊnt rɪˈtɛnʃᵊn reɪts 
sɪɡˈnɪfɪkᵊntli ˈɪnkriːs ˈæksɛs tuː 
marginalize kəˈmjuːnətiz 
ləʊ-ˈɪnkʌm ˈbækɡraʊndzfaɪˈnænʃᵊl ˈbærɪəz 
əˈtɛndɪŋ 
pəˈpɛʧʊeɪtɪŋ ðə ˈsaɪkᵊl ɒv ˈpɒvəti 
ɪˈlɪmɪneɪtɪŋ tjuˈɪʃᵊn fiːz 
rɪˈmuːv wʌn ɒv ðə ˈmeɪʤər ˈɒbstəkᵊlz tuː ˌɛʤʊˈkeɪʃᵊn 
ˌɪmplɪmɛnˈteɪʃᵊn 
skuːl ɪnˈrəʊlmənt reɪts 
ˌdɪsədˈvɑːntɪʤd kəˈmjuːnətiz 
ɪnˈkʌrɪʤɪŋ 
ɪsˈkeɪp ʌnˈfeə kənˈdɪʃᵊnz 
pəˈsjuː ˈbɛtə ˈfjuːʧəz θruː ɪmˈpruːvd ɪmˌplɔɪəˈbɪlɪti 
ɪnˈkluːsɪv
brɪʤ ˈsəʊʃᵊl ænd ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ɡæps 
ˈfɒstərɪŋ ə mɔːr ˈɛkwɪtəbᵊl səˈsaɪəti 
ˈstrɒŋli 
ˈɒfərɪŋ 
ˈpaʊəfʊl tuːl fɔːr ˌəʊvəˈkʌmɪŋ ˈpɒvəti 
baɪ praɪˈɒrɪˌtaɪzɪŋ 
ˈɪmplɪmɛntɪŋ ˈnɛsɪsəri ˌriːˈfɔːmz 
ɪmˈpaʊə 
rɪˈdjuːs ˈpɒvəti ˈlɛvᵊlz ɪn ðə ˈlɒŋtɜːm 

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:

P_______________________________e in most developing countries, and o_______________________s a p__________n of up to six years of free education, a___________________________________________y and n________________s. In my opinion, I agree with this a__________h.

While free education is a c__________________________________n, it is not a s________________________n. E_____________________l are a_________________________e, t______________s, and q______________________________s. M_______y providing free education without e_______________________________________m that f_________________________________s. Therefore, governments could f_____________________________________s, including t________________________s, s_______________________t, and c______________________________s, to m_________________________f free education initiatives. For example, in China, a___________________________f free education policies, the government i_________n teacher training programs and improved school infrastructure, l_______________________________________s and n__________________________________________s.

However, free education itself can s_____________________o schooling, particularly for m________________________s and children from l_________________________s. F_________________s often prevent children from a______________g school, p______________________________y. By e______________________s at young ages, developing countries can r________________________________________n and ensure that all children have the opportunity to learn. For instance, in India, the i_______________n of free education policies has led to a rise in s________________________s among girls from d_________________________s, e________________g them to e________________________s and p_________________________________________________y. This i___________y in education can help b____________________________________s, f_________________________________y.

In conclusion, I s__________y agree that o______g up to six years of free education can be a p_______________________________________y in developing countries. B____________g education and i___________________________s, developing nations can better e___________r their citizens and r_______________________________________________m.

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.nytimes.com/international/section/education

Speaking Practice

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

Reading

  1. Do you enjoy reading?
  2. What kinds of books do you like?
  3. Do you have a favorite author?
  4. Is reading a popular pastime in your country?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topics below:

Many people argue that in order to improve educational quality, high school students should be encouraged to question and offer criticisms on their teachers. Others think this will lead to a loss of respect and discipline in the classroom.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

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