Cambridge IELTS 10 Test 2 Writing Task 2: University Subjects
Cambridge IELTS 10 · Test 2 · Academic Writing Task 2Discuss both viewsEducation
The question presents two views about university education: that students should be free to study whatever they like, and that they should only be allowed to study subjects that will be useful in the future, such as science and technology. Candidates must discuss both views and give their own opinion.
The question
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Some people think that all university students should study whatever they like. Others believe that they should only be allowed to study subjects that will be useful in the future, such as those related to science and technology. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion. Write at least 250 words.
Free and timed, with a live word count, just like the computer-delivered test. Then get an instant AI band score.
The exam simulator runs on a computer. Open this page on a laptop or desktop to practise.
How to read the question
- This is a discussion essay: you must explain both views with reasons and examples, and also state your own opinion clearly, ideally in the introduction and again in the conclusion.
- The two views are about freedom of choice versus restriction. Note the strong words all students and only be allowed: the second view is about limiting what students may study, not just encouraging science.
- Useful in the future is open to interpretation. Questioning what counts as useful, for example whether languages or psychology are also useful, is a strong way to develop the first view.
- Science and technology is given as an example, not a complete list, so you can mention medicine, engineering or computing.
- Give balanced development to both views; a paragraph that dismisses the opposing view in one sentence weakens Task Response.
- Stay on university education. Do not drift into school subjects or into whether everyone should go to university.
Suggested position
Although there are sound economic reasons for steering students towards science and technology, I believe that university students should be allowed to study whatever they wish.
Paragraph plan
- 1
Introduction
Paraphrase the two views, freedom to choose any subject versus restriction to useful fields such as science and technology, and state that you favour freedom of choice.
- 2
Body paragraph 1: the case for restricting subjects
Explain that university is expensive and often funded by taxpayers, that engineering, computing and medicine drive economic growth and are in demand, and that graduates in these fields find well-paid work more easily, so restriction could reduce graduate unemployment.
- 3
Body paragraph 2: the case for free choice
Argue that future usefulness is hard to predict, that students forced into subjects they dislike perform poorly or drop out, and that society also needs teachers, lawyers, writers and artists whose value is not only economic.
- 4
Conclusion
Restate that students should choose freely, and suggest that governments can still encourage science and technology through scholarships and career advice rather than restrictions.
Ideas and arguments
- Higher education is costly and often subsidised by the state, so taxpayers may expect degrees that benefit the economy.
- Science, engineering, medicine and computing drive innovation and economic growth, and many countries report shortages of skilled workers in these areas.
- Graduates in technical subjects often find well-paid jobs more quickly, while some arts graduates struggle to find work that matches their degree.
- It is difficult to predict future labour markets; skills in languages, psychology and design are increasingly valued, even by technology companies.
- Students who study a subject they are interested in are more motivated and more likely to complete their degree successfully.
- Society depends on teachers, lawyers, historians, writers and artists, whose contribution to culture and democracy cannot be measured purely in economic terms.
- Restricting choice would mean the state deciding adults' careers for them, which conflicts with personal freedom.
- A middle way is to keep choice free but encourage science and technology through scholarships, lower fees and careers guidance.
Band 8+ model answer
289 words · An original model answer written for ieltswrites, not an official answer. It stays in English, as in the exam.
Opinions differ on whether university students should be free to choose any subject or whether they should be limited to fields with obvious future value, such as science and technology. Although there are sound economic reasons for the second view, I believe students should be allowed to study whatever they wish.
Those who favour restrictions point out that higher education is expensive and that much of the cost is often met by taxpayers. From this perspective, it makes sense to direct students towards disciplines such as engineering, computing and medicine, which drive economic growth and are in high demand among employers. Graduates in these fields also tend to find well-paid work more quickly, whereas some people with degrees in subjects like history or fine art struggle to find jobs that match their qualifications. Limiting choice could therefore reduce graduate unemployment and make better use of public money.
On the other hand, there are strong arguments for freedom of choice. First, it is very difficult to predict which subjects will be useful in the future: skills in languages, psychology and design are increasingly valued, even by technology companies. Second, students who are forced into subjects they dislike are likely to perform poorly or drop out, whereas genuine interest is a powerful motivation for hard work. Finally, a healthy society needs more than scientists and engineers. It also depends on teachers, lawyers, writers and artists, whose contribution to culture and democracy cannot be measured in purely economic terms.
In my opinion, the benefits of allowing students to follow their interests outweigh the advantages of restricting their options. Governments can still encourage enrolment in science and technology through scholarships and careers advice, but the final decision should rest with the students themselves.
Why this answer scores highly
- Task Response
- Both views are developed in separate paragraphs with relevant reasons and examples, and the writer's opinion is stated clearly in the introduction and confirmed in the conclusion with a practical compromise.
- Coherence and Cohesion
- The essay moves logically from one view to the other, and sequencers such as first, second and finally organise the arguments in the second body paragraph without sounding mechanical.
- Lexical Resource
- Precise collocations such as drive economic growth, in high demand, graduate unemployment and genuine interest are used naturally, and science and technology is paraphrased with fields such as engineering, computing and medicine.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy
- The essay uses complex sentences with relative and concessive clauses, passive forms and modal verbs such as could and should, with accurate punctuation throughout.
Useful vocabulary
- freedom of choice
- the right to decide for yourself
- academic discipline
- a subject studied at university
- STEM subjects
- science, technology, engineering and mathematics
- the humanities
- subjects such as history, literature, languages and philosophy
- in high demand
- wanted by many employers
- graduate unemployment
- the situation in which people with degrees cannot find jobs
- drive economic growth
- be a main cause of an economy becoming bigger
- skills shortage
- a lack of workers with particular abilities
- be funded by taxpayers
- be paid for with public money from taxes
- drop out
- leave a course before finishing it
- intrinsic motivation
- the wish to do something because you find it interesting, not for a reward
- transferable skills
- abilities, such as writing or analysis, that are useful in many different jobs
- steer students towards
- guide or encourage students to choose something
- career prospects
- the chances of being successful in a job in the future
Common mistakes
- Giving only your own opinion and not discussing the view you disagree with, which a discuss both views question requires.
- Discussing both views but never stating which you support, or leaving your opinion until the last sentence.
- Treating the second view as encouraging science rather than only allowing useful subjects, which weakens the contrast between the two views.
- Assuming that only science and technology are useful, without questioning what useful means or giving examples of other valuable subjects.
- Writing about school subjects or about whether everyone should go to university, which is a different question.
- Using vague examples such as some subjects are useless instead of naming specific subjects and careers.
Frequently asked questions
- Which Cambridge book is this question from?
- This question about whether university students should study any subject or only useful ones such as science and technology is Writing Task 2 of Test 2 in Cambridge IELTS 10 Academic, published in 2015.
- Do I have to give my own opinion in a discuss both views essay?
- Yes. The question ends with give your own opinion, so state it clearly, usually in the introduction, and repeat it in the conclusion.
- Can my opinion be a compromise between the two views?
- Yes, as long as it is clear. For example, you can support free choice while suggesting incentives for science and technology, as the model answer does.
- How many words should I write for this Task 2?
- Write at least 250 words; about 270-310 words is usually enough to discuss both views fully in 40 minutes.
Free and timed, with a live word count, just like the computer-delivered test. Then get an instant AI band score.
The exam simulator runs on a computer. Open this page on a laptop or desktop to practise.