Skip to main content
20% off your first payment$5.99 for your first week, then $7.49 · Ends November 15, 2026See plans

Academic Discussion prompt

Should universities be required to provide free mental health services to all students? What is your position?

Every scored sample answer Reach120 publishes for this prompt, banded so you can see the range rather than one version of "good".

3 sample answersHealth

The prompt

As it appears in practice

Mental health issues among college students have increased significantly in recent years. Universities face decisions about how much support to provide and who should bear the costs.

Sample answers, by band

3 published

Reach120 practice band estimate — not an official ETS score How we estimate

Middle response

Band 4.53.5/5 rubric
I believe that universities should be required to provide free mental health services to all students. Although some people might think that it has drawbacks, I am convinced that this approach offers numerous advantages. To begin with, I strongly agree with Aisha's perspective that a university should provide free mental health services because the transition to college can be overwhelmingly stressful for many students. For example, students who receive free counseling can manage academic stress more effectively, which allows them to concentrate better on their studies. Additionally, psychological support helps learners promote their well-being. For example, China uses this strategy to help students promote their well-being and stay engaged in academic activities. This allows them to improve their academic performance. Taking everything into consideration, mental health issues are really significant for students, and universities should take care of them.

What worked

  • Clear Position
  • Engagement with Classmate's Perspective
  • Use of Examples

What cost points

  • Generic Examples
  • Lack of Sophisticated Language
Read the full feedback on this answer

Middle response

Band 4.53.5/5 rubric
Personally, I believe that providing free mental health services to students is more beneficial, although some people argue that it has several drawbacks. Despite these concerns, I maintain that this approach offers numerous advantages. I really appreciate the point raised by Mehran regarding free mental health services at universities, which can have far-reaching benefits for learners. Additionally, I would like to point out that accessible psychological support promotes overall well-being and alleviates psychological distress. This approach enables undergraduates to cope with stress more effectively and improve their concentration. For instance, recent research shows that such services can help college students prevent burnout syndrome and maintain their mental well-being. Taking everything into consideration, I conclude that universities should provide free mental health services to all students.
Read the full feedback on this answer

Middle response

Band 4.03.0/5 rubric
I believe that free mental health services is more beneficial. Although some people might think that it has drawbacks, despite these concerns, I am convinced that this approach offers numerous advantages. To begin with, I strongly agree with Mehran’s perspective that accessible mental health support offers students far-reaching benefits. Additionally, this approach enables students to develop critical thinking skills, primarily because it helps them manage stress more effectively. For instance, students who receive mental health support are better able to handle academic challenges and improve their academic performance. Taking everything into consideration, providing accessible mental health support is a beneficial approach because it helps students manage stress and improve their academic performance.

What worked

  • Clear position statement
  • Engagement with classmate's perspective
  • Logical conclusion

What cost points

  • Lack of specific examples
  • Minor grammatical error
Read the full feedback on this answer

Write your own answer to this prompt and have it scored.

Try this prompt

Reach120 is an independent practice tool. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by ETS, and it does not provide official TOEFL® test scores.

TOEFL® is a registered trademark of ETS. This product is not endorsed or approved by ETS.