Higher education is increasingly regarded as a necessary stepping stone to well-paying careers, rather than an end in itself for the pursuit of knowledge. However, as artificial intelligence and automation technologies reshape the global job market, the traditional authority of a university degree in career advancement is being challenged. In such an era, should the value of attending university be re-examined—whether to uphold it as the ultimate venue for cultivating critical thinking and civic literacy, or to pivot it entirely toward concrete, quantifiable vocational outcomes? Taking a clear stance, argue for your choice regarding the core purpose of the university, substantiating your reasoning with specific examples from particular countries or individuals.
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