Government & SocietyDiscussion (Both Views + Opinion)
IELTS Essay: Compulsory Voting (Band 9 vs 6.5)
In short
Below is a full Band 9 model answer to this IELTS Writing Task 2 question, the same question written at Band 6.5, and a criterion-by-criterion breakdown of exactly what separates them — so you can see what to change in your own writing. Then check your essay with the free tool.
The question
In some countries, voting in national elections is compulsory, while in others it is voluntary. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
How to approach a Discussion (Both Views + Opinion) question
A discussion question asks you to do two distinct things: present both views fairly, and give your own opinion. Devote one body paragraph to each view, then make sure your position is clear — either woven through or stated plainly in the conclusion. The classic mistake is discussing both sides but forgetting to give an opinion at all, which directly costs Task Response marks.
The plan
- 01Introduction: frame the compulsory-versus-voluntary voting debate and state that I favour voluntary participation.
- 02Body 1: present the case for compulsory voting - higher turnout, a stronger mandate and fairer representation (Australia example).
- 03Body 2: present the case for voluntary voting and my opinion - forced votes are uninformed, and coercion conflicts with democratic freedom.
- 04Conclusion: restate that engagement should be cultivated through trust and education, not enforced by law.
Band 9 model answer
Whether citizens should be legally obliged to cast a ballot or left entirely free to abstain remains a genuinely contentious political question in many modern democracies. Both positions carry considerable weight, but I ultimately believe that a healthy democracy is better served by voluntary rather than enforced participation.
Advocates of mandatory voting argue, quite persuasively, that it produces a government with a genuine popular mandate. When turnout approaches universal levels, elected representatives cannot claim legitimacy on the back of a narrow and unrepresentative minority, and parties are compelled to address the concerns of the entire electorate rather than courting only their most reliable supporters. Australia, where non-voters face a modest fine, consistently records turnout above ninety per cent, which lends its election results an authority that many low-turnout democracies plainly lack.
Nevertheless, I find the opposing case more compelling. Dragging reluctant citizens to the polling station risks filling the ballot box with uninformed or resentful votes cast merely to dodge a penalty, which does nothing to improve the quality of the eventual decision. More fundamentally, the freedom to vote surely implies the freedom to refrain, and coercing participation sits uneasily with the very liberties a democracy is meant to safeguard. A wiser government, in my view, would raise turnout by patiently earning public trust rather than by threatening sanctions.
In conclusion, while compulsory voting undeniably lifts turnout and reinforces electoral mandates, I remain convinced that authentic democratic engagement cannot simply be legislated into existence. It should instead be cultivated over time through better civic education and greater public confidence in the political system itself.
The same question at Band 6.5
In some country voting in the election is compulsory but in other countries people can choose if they want to vote or not. Some people think voting should be must for everyone, while other people disagree. In this essay I will discuss both views and give my opinion.
On one hand, some people believe that voting must be compulsory for all the citizens. They say that if voting is compulsory then more people will vote and the government will be chosen by everyone. This make the government more strong and fair. For example in Australia voting is compulsory and almost all the people are voting there. So the leaders can know what all the people really want and not only some of them.
On the other hand, other people think that voting should not be forced. They argue that voting is a right and not a duty, so the people must be free to decide. If we force someone to vote, maybe he will vote without any knowledge about the parties and this is not good for the country. Also giving fine to people who not vote is like a punishment, and in some cases it can even make people angry with the government.
In my opinion, I think voting should not be compulsory. It is better if people vote because they want to, not because they are afraid of the fine. The government should try to make people interested in the politics so they will vote by themself without any force from the law.
What separates them, criterion by criterion
| Criterion | Band 9 | Band 6.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Task Response | Discusses both sides fairly and gives a clear personal verdict ('I find the opposing case more compelling'), supporting each view with reasoning and an example. | Covers both views and states an opinion, but the ideas remain general and lightly developed (e.g. compulsory voting 'make the government more strong and fair'). |
| Coherence & Cohesion | Signals the shift between views naturally ('Advocates... argue', 'Nevertheless, I find...') and links sentences with clear reference. | Leans on formulaic markers ('On one hand', 'On the other hand', 'Also') to organise the essay rather than connecting ideas. |
| Lexical Resource | Uses topic-precise phrases such as 'a genuine popular mandate', 'claim legitimacy' and 'dodge a penalty'. | Recycles simple, high-frequency words such as 'people', 'vote' and 'government' repeatedly. |
| Grammatical Range & Accuracy | Handles complex structures accurately, e.g. 'coercing participation sits uneasily with the very liberties a democracy is meant to safeguard'. | Stays with simple sentences and makes errors such as 'This make', 'people who not vote' and 'by themself'. |
Examiner's note
The Band 9 essay explores both positions in depth, arrives at a clearly reasoned opinion, and expresses it with flexible, accurate language. The Band 6.5 response is well organised and easy to follow, but it relies on mechanical linkers, keeps its ideas at a surface level, and contains frequent grammatical slips ('This make', 'by themself') that mark it down.
Vocabulary from the Band 9 answer
| Word / phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| legally obliged | required to do something by law |
| a genuine popular mandate | real authority to govern granted by the majority of voters |
| claim legitimacy | assert a rightful claim to hold power |
| an unrepresentative minority | a small group that does not reflect the whole population |
| courting only their most reliable supporters | trying to please only their loyal, guaranteed voters |
| dodge a penalty | avoid a punishment or fine |
| sits uneasily with | conflicts with, or is hard to reconcile with |
| authentic democratic engagement | real, genuine participation in the democratic process |
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to give my own opinion in a 'discuss both views' essay?
Yes. The instruction explicitly asks for your opinion, so an essay that only presents both sides without a clear personal verdict cannot reach the top bands.
How should I structure a discussion essay?
A reliable pattern is four paragraphs: an introduction, one body paragraph for each view, and a conclusion. You can state your opinion in the introduction and reinforce it in the conclusion.
Can I devote more space to the side I agree with?
You can, but you must still address the opposing view fairly. A common approach is to present the other side first, then give more development to the position you personally support.