Several cities have made public transport free for all residents.
A full IELTS Writing Task 2 answer to this question, with a paragraph plan, ideas you can use, and the vocabulary that fits this topic.
The question
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Several cities have made public transport free for all residents.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of this development?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
How to read this question
The observation that makes this essay work is that fares typically cover only part of the operating cost, so abolishing them is a smaller saving than it sounds — but the revenue removed is usually the part funding frequency and maintenance. That is why the real question is not whether free travel is desirable but whether a free, infrequent service beats a paid, reliable one.
Paragraph plan
Introduction — Paraphrase, then signpost: strong equity and access gains, but the money removed is what buys reliability, and free travel mainly attracts people who were walking.
Body 1 — Advantages — a large real-terms gain for low-income households, removal of a barrier to work, and simpler faster boarding.
Body 2 — Disadvantages — lost revenue must be replaced or service degrades, and evidence suggests the switch comes from walking and cycling rather than from cars.
Conclusion — Free travel is a welfare measure rather than a transport one; judged as transport policy, frequency usually buys more.
Model essay
Band 8.5–9.0 model essay
302 words
A number of cities around the world have eliminated fares on buses, trams and metro systems, making public transport freely accessible to all residents regardless of income. Although this development can produce some merits, it can also lead to some issues.
On the one hand, this policy carries two notable benefits. First, removing fares substantially reduces the financial burden on low-income residents, who often depend heavily on public transport for commuting to work, school or medical appointments. This can improve access to employment and education for economically disadvantaged communities, allowing residents to accept job offers or attend interviews they might otherwise have declined due to travel costs. Second, free public transport tends to encourage a significant shift away from private car use, as commuters are drawn by the cost savings. Consequently, cities can experience reduced traffic congestion and lower levels of air pollution, since fewer vehicles emitting exhaust fumes travel through urban centres during peak hours, which can also make streets safer for cyclists and pedestrians.
On the other hand, this development also entails two significant drawbacks that city planners must weigh carefully. First, eliminating fare revenue places considerable strain on municipal budgets, which must then be funded through higher taxes or diverted from other public services, such as healthcare or education, creating difficult trade-offs for local politicians. Second, without the revenue previously generated by ticket sales, transport authorities may struggle to maintain and expand infrastructure, potentially leading to overcrowded vehicles, deteriorating equipment and reduced service reliability, particularly as demand increases sharply once transport becomes free and previously car-dependent residents switch over.
To conclude, making public transport free for all residents can ease financial pressure on lower-income commuters and help reduce road congestion and pollution, while also straining municipal finances and potentially compromising the long-term maintenance and reliability of essential transport infrastructure.
Created by a Band 8.5–9.0 IELTS Writing achiever — Premium. Sign up free to read the rest of this essay and unlock every model on the site.
This is an advantages and disadvantages question. The essay above shows you what a strong answer looks like when it is finished. What it cannot show you is how to get there from a blank page in forty minutes.
That is what our Writing Study Library is for: the structure we teach for this exact question type, the paragraph pattern that goes with it, and the sentence openers for each stage — so the essay is planned before you start writing rather than assembled as you go.
Introduction: Paraphrase cities making public transport free for all residents and preview both merits and issues without taking a side.
Body 1: Give two advantages: removing fares eases the financial burden on low-income residents, improving access to jobs and education, and it draws commuters away from cars, reducing congestion and pollution.
Body 2: Give two disadvantages: losing fare revenue strains municipal budgets, forcing tax rises or cuts elsewhere, and without ticket income authorities may struggle to maintain infrastructure, leading to overcrowding and unreliable service.
Conclusion: Summarise neutrally that free public transport eases commuter costs and pollution while straining city finances and infrastructure reliability, without stating a personal opinion.
Word or phrase
Meaning
Used in a sentence
fares
the amount charged for a journey on public transport
A number of cities around the world have eliminated fares on buses, trams and metro systems
commuting
travelling regularly between home and work
who often depend heavily on public transport for commuting to work, school or medical appointments
economically disadvantaged
lacking sufficient financial resources compared with others
improve access to employment and education for economically disadvantaged communities
congestion
overcrowding that causes delays, especially in traffic
cities can experience reduced traffic congestion and lower levels of air pollution
municipal budgets
the financial resources allocated by a local city government
eliminating fare revenue places considerable strain on municipal budgets
diverted
redirected from one purpose or path to another
diverted from other public services, such as healthcare or education
infrastructure
the basic physical systems and structures needed for a service to operate
transport authorities may struggle to maintain and expand infrastructure
reliability
the quality of being consistently good and dependable
reduced service reliability, particularly as demand increases sharply
Created by a Band 8.5–9.0 IELTS Writing achiever — Premium. Sign up free to see the ideas and vocabulary for this topic and unlock every model on the site.
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Common questions
How do I handle a policy that succeeds at one thing and fails at another?
Name the two objectives explicitly and judge it against each. "Good welfare policy, mediocre transport policy" is a precise position that a simple list of advantages and disadvantages could never reach, and it gives your conclusion something real to say.
Can I say the evidence contradicts the expected benefit?
Yes, and it is a strong move — provided you explain why. Noting that drivers respond to journey time rather than fares accounts for the finding, which is more convincing than simply asserting that the benefit does not materialise.
Is it acceptable to suggest a better use of the money?
In the conclusion, briefly. Proposing that the same funds spent on frequency would achieve more shows evaluation and follows directly from your analysis. Just keep it short — the question asked for advantages and disadvantages, not for a policy design.
