Some young people decide to go to college or university. Others choose to go straight to work as they think it is important to satisfy the needs of society and the country. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
1
Introduction 段写作思路分析
对于这道题来说，引言段的关键任务有三个：
- 改写题目（paraphrase the topic）- 指出题目中的核心争议
- 明确文章结构或立场
这道题的核心其实是一个非常典型的 dichotomy（两分对立）：一边是 higher education（高等教育），另一边是 entering the workforce directly（直接就业）。
在引言中，如果能够用学术词汇点出这种对立关系，并简要说明文章将如何讨论两种观点，就会显得更加成熟和有逻辑。
在雅思 Band 9 的引言中，我们通常不会展开论证，而是概括问题并提出文章方向。例如，可以指出：虽然大学教育长期被认为是成功的重要途径，但直接进入职场也同样能够满足社会的现实需求。因此，文章将分析这两种观点，并提出自己的看法。
Band 9 Introduction 示例
Whether young people should attend university or begin working immediately has long been a subject of debate. At the heart of this discussion lies a fundamental dichotomy between academic education and practical experience. While some believe that higher education remains the most reliable pathway to long-term career success, others argue that entering the workforce earlier allows individuals to contribute more directly to society. This essay will explore both arguments before presenting my own opinion.
特点：
debate 强
很适合 discussion essay
用 academic nouns 例如 dichotomy
用平衡表达 discussion essay 很常见：This essay will discuss both views…
2
Body Paragraph 1：支持大学教育的观点（结合外刊素材）
A boom in graduate earnings began in the 1980s in the rich world. Back then the difference between the salaries of people who gain at least a bachelor’s degree and those who do not—commonly called the “college-wage premium”—began to soar. In the 1970s an American with a university education was earning on average 35% more than a high-school graduate. By 2021 that advantage had risen to 66%.
意思是：
在20世纪80年代，富裕国家的大学毕业生收入开始迅速增长。
当时，拥有至少学士学位的人与没有大学学历的人之间的薪资差距——通常被称为“大学学历溢价”（college-wage premium）——开始大幅扩大。
在20世纪70年代，美国拥有大学学历的人平均收入比高中毕业生高出 35%。
而到了 2021年，这种收入优势已经上升到了 66%。
与外刊不同的是, 在雅思写作中，我们不需要具体的数字证据，
雅思常见“伪数据表达”（非常重要）雅思写作经常用这种方式： research suggests that… studies have shown that… in many developed countries… in recent decades… 例如： Research suggests that university graduates tend to earn significantly higher salaries than those without degrees. 这句话没有数字，但看起来 非常有说服力。
外刊写作：用数字证明观点。雅思写作：用逻辑解释观点
外刊：
In the 1970s an American with a university education was earning on average 35% more than a high-school graduate. By 2021 that advantage had risen to 66%.
雅思写法：
University graduates tend to earn significantly higher salaries than those without degrees, and this wage gap has widened over recent decades.
On the one hand, proponents of higher education argue that university graduates continue to enjoy a substantial wage premium compared with those without degrees. Economic research suggests that individuals with a university education tend to earn significantly higher salaries than high-school graduates, and this income advantage has widened over the past few decades, highlighting the enduring economic value of tertiary education. Moreover, universities are widely regarded as institutions that cultivate critical thinking, analytical reasoning, and problem-solving skills, competencies that are highly sought after in today’s knowledge-based economy. For these reasons, higher education is often viewed as essential not only for long-term career advancement but also for broadening students’ intellectual horizons.
3
Body Paragraph 2：支持直接工作的观点（结合外刊素材）
Many economies are experiencing a significant shortage of skilled workers in technical industries.
外刊：
Recently the wage premium in many countries has either stagnated or begun to fall. And in places that actually charge students for their degrees, costs have gone up (see chart 1). Tuition in England has soared from nothing in the late 1990s to £9,250 ($11,000) a year, the highest in the rich world. In America, the out-of-pocket fee paid by an average bachelor’s-degree student increased from $2,300 a year in the 1970s to some $8,000 in 2018, in real terms, according to Jaison Abel and Richard Deitz at the New York Federal Reserve.
雅思写法：
The cost of higher education has risen significantly, particularly in developed countries such as the United Kingdom and the United States. Tuition fees have increased dramatically over the past few decades, leaving many graduates with substantial student debt. As a result, some young people have begun to question whether university education still represents the most cost-effective pathway to career success.
On the other hand, some people contend that entering the workforce directly after school can be a more practical option. In many countries, including the United Kingdom, industries are facing serious shortages of skilled workers such as electricians, technicians and construction workers. Vocational training therefore enables young people to acquire practical skills and contribute to the economy at an early stage. In addition, the rising cost of university education has made higher education less financially attractive for many students. In developed countries such as the UK and the United States, tuition fees have increased dramatically over the past few decades. Consequently, concerns about accumulating substantial student debt have led some young people to pursue vocational training or join the labour market immediately rather than attend university. From this perspective, vocational pathways may offer a more efficient route for meeting both individual career goals and broader societal needs.
My Opinion（作者观点段）
From my perspective, promoting a “college for all” approach may not be the most appropriate solution for every individual. Modern societies rely not only on university graduates but also on skilled technicians and vocational specialists. Well-designed apprenticeship and vocational training programmes can therefore provide valuable opportunities for those who prefer more practical career paths. Rather than viewing university education and direct employment as mutually exclusive options, governments and education systems should support both academic and vocational pathways. In doing so, individuals can pursue routes that best match their abilities and interests while also meeting the diverse demands of the labour market.
中文翻译：
在我看来，推行一种“人人都必须上大学”的教育模式，未必是对所有人都合适的选择。现代社会不仅依赖大学毕业生，也同样需要大量技术熟练的技工和职业型人才。设计完善的学徒制和职业教育体系，能够为那些更倾向于实践型职业道路的年轻人提供宝贵的发展机会。因此，与其将大学教育与直接就业视为相互排斥的选择，政府和教育体系更应该同时支持学术教育与职业教育两种路径。通过这样的方式，个人既可以选择最符合自身能力与兴趣的发展道路，同时也能更好地满足劳动力市场多样化的需求。
Conclusion（结尾段）
In conclusion, while university education is widely valued for its role in developing specialised knowledge and improving long-term career prospects, entering the workforce directly can also provide practical skills and help address labour market needs. Both pathways therefore offer distinct advantages for individuals and society. Ultimately, rather than promoting a single route to success, societies should recognise the value of both higher education and vocational pathways, allowing young people to choose the option that best aligns with their abilities, interests and career goals.
通过这道 3 月 14 日雅思写作真题可以看出，雅思议论文往往不仅仅考查语言能力，更考查考生是否能够结合现实社会背景进行思考和论证。无论是大学教育所带来的长期职业发展优势，还是职业教育与直接就业在满足社会需求方面的作用，这些观点其实都能在国际媒体和现实社会中找到充分的依据。
对于考生来说，与其机械地背诵模板，不如学会从真实世界的讨论中寻找写作素材。例如，像 The Economist、Financial Times或 BBC等外刊中经常涉及教育、就业和社会发展的议题，如果能够将这些内容适当地融入到雅思写作中，不仅可以让论证更加具体、有说服力，也能使文章显得更加成熟和有深度。
希望通过这篇解析，大家不仅能够理解这道题目的写作思路，也能够学会如何利用 外刊素材 + 清晰结构来构建一篇更接近 Band 9水平的雅思议论文。在接下来的练习中，不妨尝试自己改写这篇范文，或思考是否还能加入更多来自现实社会的例子，让文章的论证更加丰富和立体。
作者*雅思8.5达人@Lili 老师
-阅读听力9写作8.5口语8
超过10年的教学经验，曾多次创下帮学生40课时内达到雅思8分和7.5分的高分纪录，擅长帮学生搭建高分句型结构、满分素材，强雅思写作批改，直击失分点，英国名校圣安德鲁斯大学(英国卫报排名第二; 威廉王子母校) 英语教育MBA 双硕士科班出身，有着深厚的英语语言教学以及写作功底，TESOL 资格证书 TESl Canada 资格认证；
从 Academic Style，到论证结构、逻辑闭合、批判性表达，再到考官视角下的高阶学术语言——这是一条完整的 6–9 分进阶路径。过去，这套体系只在高价一对一里讲，已经帮助多位学生把写作稳定提到 7.5。
👉 扫一扫，即可在视频号购买学习。
写作高分，从来不是运气，而是逻辑与认知的升级。
