On free university education, notice the words "for everyone": a strong answer usually lands not on "for all" but on "for those who need it and earn it". State grants in Uzbekistan are a ready-made example.
The task
Statement: University education should be free for everyone.
| For | Against |
|---|---|
| Talented students from poor families could study | It is extremely expensive for the state |
| An educated society benefits everyone | Some students may not take it seriously |
| Students would not start life in debt | The money could fund schools or hospitals |
You need to present both sides and argue your own position: one minute to prepare, two minutes to speak. This is a practice task in the exam's format.
Model answer (about 2 minutes)
University education should be free for everyone.
Higher education can change a person's whole life, so the idea of making it free for everyone sounds very attractive. Still, I think it's worth looking at both sides carefully.
The strongest argument in favour is fairness. At the moment, a talented student from a poor family may not be able to afford tuition, while a less able student from a rich family can simply pay. Free education would remove that barrier, and a more educated population benefits the whole country through higher productivity and better public decisions. It would also mean that young people don't start their working lives in debt.
On the other hand, nothing is really free: someone has to pay, and that someone is the taxpayer. Universities are extremely expensive to run, and the same money could be spent on schools, where the need is often greater, or on hospitals. There's also a risk that when something costs nothing, some students take it less seriously and stay at university for years without much effort.
Personally, I believe the fairest solution is free education for students who need it and who earn it. A strong grant system based on both family income and exam results, like the state grants in Uzbekistan but with more places, would help talented students without placing the whole cost on the state.
Useful words and phrases
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| afford tuition | afford tuition |
| remove a barrier | remove a barrier |
| productivity | productivity |
| be in debt | be in debt |
| the taxpayer | the taxpayer |
| expensive to run | expensive to run |
| earn it | earn it |
| place the cost on | place the cost on |
How to answer
- Lead with your best point: "The strongest argument in favour is...".
- A short, memorable line such as "Nothing is really free: someone has to pay" opens the other side with force.
- Use a local example: state grants in Uzbekistan.
- Conclude with a solution that has criteria: "based on both family income and exam results".
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The answer shape and C1 phrases: the part 3 guide. The overall format: Multilevel Speaking.
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