In your introduction, clearly state whether you largely agree or disagree with the premise that students should bear all costs because only the wealthy benefit. While maintaining this stance, you can briefly acknowledge the counter-argument (e.g., "While some might argue for individual responsibility...") before immediately refuting it or presenting your stronger opposing points. This shows a balanced perspective without undermining your core argument.

To support a disagreement, you could cite the societal benefits of an educated populace, such as advancements in public health or technology, which accrue to everyone, not just graduates. Furthermore, consider the economic models of countries like Germany or the Nordic nations, where higher education is largely free or heavily subsidised, yet they boast highly skilled workforces and robust economies. You might also highlight the issue of social mobility, arguing that full costs create insurmountable barriers for talented students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

The most common mistake is failing to directly address the second part of the prompt: "because only wealthy students can get the benefits from university education." Many students discuss tuition fees generally but neglect to challenge or support this specific causal link. To avoid this, ensure your arguments explicitly engage with whether benefits are exclusive to the wealthy, perhaps by highlighting broader societal gains or the benefits accrued by non-wealthy graduates who achieve social mobility.

For an opinion essay, employ transition phrases that clearly signpost your agreement, disagreement, or the introduction of a counter-argument. For instance, after presenting your main point, you might use "Conversely, it is often argued that..." to introduce the opposing view, followed by "However, this perspective overlooks..." or "Nonetheless, the evidence overwhelmingly suggests..." to pivot back and reinforce your own position. This creates a cohesive flow and demonstrates sophisticated control over argumentation.

For a band 8-9, examiners look for a nuanced deconstruction of the prompt's underlying assumption that "only wealthy students can get the benefits." This means moving beyond a simple agree/disagree to explore the multifaceted benefits of education – not just individual financial gain, but also societal progress, cultural enrichment, and enhanced civic participation, which benefit all citizens regardless of their economic status. A top-tier response will also demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of how different funding models impact social mobility and national development.