IELTS · Guide 12 · 9 min read
IELTS Writing Task 2 sample answers: discussion essay on museums
An IELTS Task 2 'discuss both views' essay on free museum entry, with sample answers at bands 8, 6.5 and 5 and commentary on each criterion.
How to use this worked session
This page takes one discussion question ("Discuss both views and give your own opinion") and shows three answers at different levels, with comments on what lifted or limited each one. Write your own answer first in 40 minutes, aiming for at least 250 words, then compare it with the three below.
The task
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Some people think that national museums and galleries should be free for everyone to visit. Others believe that visitors should pay an entry charge to help cover the costs.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Support your answer with reasons and relevant examples. Write at least 250 words.
What the question is really asking
A discussion question has three jobs:
- Explain why some people want free entry.
- Explain why others want a charge.
- Say clearly where you stand, and why.
Treat both views fairly, even the one you disagree with. Your own opinion can go in the introduction, the conclusion, or a paragraph of its own, but it must be easy to find.
Strong response (around band 8)
Public museums hold collections that belong, in a sense, to the whole nation, yet they are expensive to run. Whether visitors should pay at the door is therefore a question about who should carry that cost. Both positions have merit, but I believe that free entry, funded mainly through taxation, is the fairer choice. Those who favour charging argue that people who use a service should contribute to it. Maintaining historic buildings, conserving fragile objects and staffing galleries all require steady income, and when public budgets are squeezed, museums may be forced to cut opening hours or close rooms altogether. An entry fee, supporters say, would give institutions a reliable source of money and reduce their dependence on government decisions. They also point out that tourists, who often make up a large share of visitors, would then pay towards collections that local taxpayers have funded for decades. On the other hand, supporters of free admission see museums as places of education rather than entertainment. A family on a low income may happily spend a rainy afternoon in a gallery if it costs nothing, but would think twice about paying for four tickets. Removing the fee therefore widens access to culture and learning for exactly the groups who might otherwise never visit. Free entry also encourages repeat visits: a student can return several times to study a single room, which is rarely practical when each visit has a price. In my view, the second argument is more persuasive, because the main purpose of a public museum is to be used by the public. The funding concerns are real, but they can be met in other ways, such as charging for special exhibitions, encouraging donations or inviting overseas visitors to make a voluntary contribution. To sum up, although entry charges would ease the financial pressure on museums, keeping permanent collections free best serves their educational role, provided that other sources of income are developed.
Commentary
- Task Response: All three jobs are done. Each view gets a full paragraph with its strongest reasons, presented fairly ("supporters say", "They also point out"). The writer's own position is stated in the introduction, explained in its own paragraph, and answers the opposing view's main worry about funding. Examples (the family of four, the student returning) are specific and invented, not fake statistics.
- Coherence and Cohesion: The essay moves logically from the cost question to each side and then to a judgement. Phrases such as "Those who favour charging" and "supporters of free admission" signal each view without numbered linkers. "The second argument" refers back neatly, so the reader always knows which side is being discussed.
- Lexical Resource: Natural, precise phrases such as "public budgets are squeezed", "a reliable source of money", "widens access", "think twice" and "ease the financial pressure". The vocabulary fits a public-policy topic without sounding forced.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Complex sentences are used comfortably: a passive ("may be forced to"), a conditional ("if it costs nothing ... would think twice"), relative clauses and a "provided that" condition. No noticeable errors.
What kept it from the top band: the conclusion is accurate but repeats the body closely; a final sentence with a little more perspective would round it off.
Pass-level response (around band 6.5)
Museums and art galleries are important places in every country. Some people believe they should be free for everybody, while other people think visitors should pay money to enter. This essay will discuss both views and give my own opinion. On the one hand, there are reasons why museums should charge money. Firstly, museums need a lot of money to look after old objects and buildings, and to pay the staff. If the government does not give enough money, the museum may have to close. Secondly, many visitors are tourists from other countries, and it is fair that they pay something because they do not pay tax in that country. For example, in some famous museums, thousands of tourists come every day. On the other hand, many people believe that museums should be free. The main reason is that museums are good for education, and everyone should have the chance to learn about history and art. If there is a fee, poor families and students may not visit, because they cannot afford it. In addition, when museums are free, people can visit more often and spend a short time there, which is more relax. In my opinion, I think museums should be free for local people, but tourists should pay a small fee. This is because local people already pays tax which support the museum, but tourists does not. This way the museum can get extra money and education is still available for everyone. In conclusion, both views have good points. I believe that the best solution is free entry for citizens and a charge for tourists, because it is fair for both groups.
Commentary
- Task Response: Both views are discussed and the writer gives a clear opinion, a sensible compromise. However, the introduction only says the essay "will discuss both views", so the reader has to wait until the fourth paragraph to find the position. The example about "thousands of tourists" does not really support the point it follows.
- Coherence and Cohesion: The organisation is very clear: one paragraph for each view, then the opinion. Linking is accurate but formulaic ("On the one hand", "Firstly", "Secondly", "On the other hand", "In addition"). "In my opinion, I think" repeats itself.
- Lexical Resource: Enough vocabulary for the topic ("charge", "afford", "fee", "citizens"), but much is general ("good points", "a lot of money", "good for education"). One word-form error, "more relax", affects meaning slightly.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Conditionals and relative clauses are used, and most sentences are correct. Subject-verb agreement slips cluster in one sentence: "local people already pays tax which support the museum, but tourists does not".
What would lift it: state the position in the introduction, choose examples that prove the point, and check agreement after plural nouns such as "people" and "tourists".
Weaker response (around band 5)
Today museums are very popular in many country. Some people say museum must be free, but other people say visitors must pay money. I will discuss about this. Some people think museum must be free. Because museum is for education. Students and children can learn many things about history. If museum is not free, poor people can not go there. And this is not fair. In my city there is a big museum and it is free, I go there with my school when I was child and it was very interesting. Other people think visitors must pay. Museum need money for many things, for example for workers and for cleaning and electricity. If the visitors pay money the museum will have more money and it will be more better. Also the government have many problems like hospitals and schools, so government can not give money to museum. In my opinion, both idea are good. Free museum is good for the people and paying is good for the museum. So it depends on the situation. In conclusion, museums are very important for every country and the government must take care of them.
Commentary
- Task Response: Both views are mentioned, with some relevant reasons. But the writer's own opinion is missing in practice: "both idea are good ... it depends on the situation" does not say which way the writer leans or what the situation depends on. The conclusion introduces a new, general point instead of answering the question. The essay is also under 250 words, which pulls this criterion down further.
- Coherence and Cohesion: There is a basic paragraph plan, but ideas inside paragraphs are listed rather than linked. Sentences beginning "Because" and "And" stand alone as fragments, and the personal example about a school trip is not connected back to the argument.
- Lexical Resource: The range is limited and repetitive ("museum must be free" three times). Errors in form and choice include "discuss about", "many country", "more better" and "both idea".
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Mostly simple sentences, with a few basic conditionals. Frequent errors: missing articles ("when I was child"), agreement ("Museum need", "the government have") and a tense error ("I go there ... when I was child").
What would lift it: take a side, even a cautious one, and say why; write at least 250 words; and develop one example so that it proves a point rather than describing a memory.
The three answers side by side
| Feature | Band 8 | Band 6.5 | Band 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Both views covered | Fully and fairly | Yes, briefly developed | Mentioned, thinly |
| Own opinion | Clear from the start and argued | Clear but late | Missing in practice |
| Linking | Signals each side naturally | Clear but formulaic | Fragments and lists |
| Vocabulary | Precise and natural | Adequate, some errors | Narrow and repetitive |
| Grammar | Wide range, accurate | Some range, agreement slips | Mostly simple, frequent errors |
Self-check checklist
- Have I explained both views with at least one developed reason each?
- Is my own opinion stated clearly, and could a reader point to the sentence?
- Does my opinion respond to the strongest point of the other side?
- Does each example actually support the sentence before it?
- Is my conclusion a summary of my position, with no new topic?
- Have I avoided "In my opinion, I think" and other doubled phrases?
- Have I checked agreement after "people", "the government" and other tricky subjects?
- Is the essay at least 250 words?
About the band levels
The band levels on this page are our own estimates for practice purposes. They are not official scores and are not produced or endorsed by any IELTS partner. Only a certified examiner marking a real test can give you an official band.