As online courses and virtual degrees become increasingly prevalent, many have begun to question whether a traditional university degree remains the surest path to career success. At the same time, employers are placing greater emphasis on practical skills over academic credentials. In your view, does the primary value of a university education lie in imparting specialized knowledge, or in cultivating critical thinking and a capacity for lifelong learning? Please support your position with concrete examples and articulate your reasoning.
IELTS Writing Task 2 Band Descriptors
Task Response: Address all parts of the task, present a clear position, support ideas with evidence
Coherence and Cohesion: Logical paragraphing, clear progression, appropriate linking devices
Lexical Resource: Wide range of vocabulary, accurate and natural collocations
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Variety of sentence structures, error-free grammar
Overall band score is 0-9, each criterion weighted equally.
Answering Tips
Spend 5 minutes planning your position and main arguments
Use the structure: Introduction - Body 1 - Body 2 - Concession - Conclusion
Develop each body paragraph with: topic sentence + explanation + example + summary
Use a variety of linking words, avoid repetition
Reserve 5 minutes at the end to check grammar and spelling