IELTS Task 2 - Access to university

Many people say that universities should only offer to young students with the highest marks, others say they should accept people of all ages, even if they did not do well. Discuss both views and give your opinions.

It is indisputable that citizens' level of education has a considerable bearing on the development of a country. However, people remain divided about whether higher education, particularly college education, should be made accessible to all. On one end of the spectrum, there are those who insist that only young individuals who show outstanding performance should be admitted to college, while on the other end it is argued that everyone, regardless of their age and academic results, is entitled to this privilege. I personally agree with the latter view.

People who are pro restricting college admission to only young talents may argue that allowing everyone to attend university is simply out of the question. School facilities cannot meet such a huge demand, and a larger teacher to student ratio may adversely affect the quality of lessons. In addition, if universities did not filter out applicants who underperform in school, they may have trouble keeping up with the rest of the class. These setbacks would hold back not only their own progress, but that of other learners as well.

However, despite the potential issues, I would argue that all of us should have the right to study at university irrespective of our backgrounds. In my opinion, the more educated the population, the more skilled and productive the workforce. America is a shining example of this. Because of the inclusivity of universities in the U.S., many people, especially the middle aged, are able to acquire a higher degree and move on to better jobs, which not only improves their own living standards but also gives the economy a healthy boost.

While the aforementioned concerns about facilities and learners' competence remain, I believe we are living in an age where these concerns can be addressed. In light of the widespread availability of the Internet, people can earn a degree online without attending physical classes. Some of the programs are even tailored to suit individual needs and level, making college education manageable not only for the top students.

In conclusion, despite the are issues that could potentially arise from allowing everyone to study in college, I believe this is a worthy goal to pursue and can be realized with the aid of technology.