Many countries are shifting the focus of university education toward employment skills training while cutting funding for the humanities. Proponents of this trend argue that the primary responsibility of universities is to produce graduates who can directly enter the workforce; opponents, however, insist that the core value of higher education lies in cultivating critical thinking and civic literacy, rather than merely serving economic demands. In your view, should universities prioritize career-oriented programs, or must they uphold the traditional mission of liberal arts education? Please articulate your position and cite specific examples from countries or institutions to support your argument.
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