The value of higher education is facing unprecedented scrutiny—when online courses can deliver the same knowledge at a fraction of the cost, and even make graduates more competitive in the job market, has the four-year immersive experience of a traditional university campus been reduced to an expensive ritual? Discuss: Does the core value of a university education lie in imparting measurable vocational skills, or in cultivating unquantifiable critical thinking and character development? Using examples from countries you know or your own experience, argue your position.
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