Sample IELTS Task 2 essay: do too many students go to university?

These days, many young people decide to go to university after they finish school. Some people think that too many students go to university, but others believe that everyone who wants a university education should be able to get one. In this essay I will discuss both views and give my opinion.

On the one hand, some people argue that there are too many university students. They say that not every job needs a degree, and many people study at university but then cannot find a good job in their field. As a result, they work in jobs that do not need a degree, and they waste their time and money. Also, some students go to university only because their parents want them to, not because they are really interested in studying.

On the other hand, other people believe that university should be open to everyone. They think that education is a right, not just something for rich or clever people. A university degree can help people get better jobs and earn more money. In addition, a society with many educated people can develop faster and solve problems more easily.

In my opinion, I think university education should be available to everyone who wants it and is able to study, but it is not the best choice for every person. Some people are better at practical jobs, so vocational training can be a good option for them. Therefore, governments should support both university and other types of education. In conclusion, although too many students at university can cause some problems, I believe people should have the freedom to choose this path if they wish.

As higher education has expanded dramatically, a debate has emerged over whether universities now admit too many students or whether a degree should remain accessible to anyone who aspires to one. Both positions raise legitimate concerns, and in my view the answer lies in widening access while ensuring it is matched to genuine ability and aspiration.

Those who argue that enrolment has grown excessively point to a mismatch between graduates and the labour market. Many degrees, they note, do not lead to relevant employment, leaving young people saddled with debt and competing for roles that never required academic qualifications in the first place. This devalues the degree itself and diverts talented individuals away from vocational paths in which they might have flourished and which economies desperately need.

Conversely, supporters of universal access regard education as a fundamental right and a powerful engine of social mobility. By opening university doors regardless of background, society allows able students from poorer families to improve their prospects, while a more educated population tends to be more innovative, productive and civically engaged. From this standpoint, restricting entry risks entrenching inequality.

Weighing these arguments, I believe higher education should indeed be available to all who possess the ability and motivation to benefit from it, since artificial barriers are unjust. However, university is not the only route to a fulfilling career, and steering every school-leaver towards a degree is unwise. Governments should therefore invest equally in high-quality vocational and technical alternatives, allowing individuals to choose the path best suited to their talents. In this way, access can be broadened without diluting the value of a degree or neglecting the practical skills that any prosperous society requires.