IELTS Essay: Crime Prevention

This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of whether or not crime prevention should receive more attention from the real IELTS exam.

A really interesting topic!

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IELTS Essay: Crime Prevention

Some believe that more action should be taken to prevent crime, while others feel that crime is being tackled effectively now.

Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.

Though crime rates have fallen to historic lows in most nations, there are many who feel further action is still required. In my opinion, there should always be criminal prevention efforts, however, on level, crime is being opposed adequately.

Those who believe crime requires greater prioritisation identify its effects, particularly in underserved segments of a population. Crime is still pervasive in areas rife with poverty, such as in neglected neighborhoods in inner cities. An illustrative example of this would be the infamous favelas of Brazil. Residents in these communities must remain constantly vigilant for muggings and robberies and there is a high likelihood that in their lifetime they will come into contact with criminal elements. The causes of such crime-ridden slums are complex but the results for millions of individuals in cities around the world deserve meaningful countermeasures.

Nonetheless, criminal activity already receives sufficient funding as evidenced by its decline. Crime is best tackled through a combination of economic, educational, and criminal justice reform and as developing countries become wealthier, there is a concomitant effect on crime. Criminality is therefore being addressed and it would be unrealistic to expect a world without crime given the realities of human nature. Instead of diverting more money towards an area on the mend already, governments can continue to also fund schools, hospitals, state universities, defense, infrastructure and a host of other areas that may themselves indirectly contribute to eradicating crime.

In conclusion, though crime impacts the daily lives of many citizens, it is already being successfully curbed and there are other key areas deserving of budgetary consideration. Governments must nonetheless balance these concerns and remain vigilant towards changes in this promising pattern.

Analysis

1. Though crime rates have fallen to historic lows in most nations, there are many who feel further action is still required. 2. In my opinion, there should always be criminal prevention efforts, however, on level, crime is being opposed adequately.

1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
2. Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.

1. Those who believe crime requires greater prioritisation identify its effects, particularly in underserved segments of a population. 2. Crime is still pervasive in areas rife with poverty, such as in neglected neighborhoods in inner cities. 3. An illustrative example of this would be the infamous favelas of Brazil. 4. Residents in these communities must remain constantly vigilant for muggings and robberies and there is a high likelihood that in their lifetime they will come into contact with criminal elements. 5. The causes of such crime-ridden slums are complex but the results for millions of individuals in cities around the world deserve meaningful countermeasures.

1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
2. Explain your main idea.
3. Develop it with specific examples.
4. Continue to develop it.
5. State the result.

1. Nonetheless, criminal activity already receives sufficient funding as evidenced by its decline. 2. Crime is best tackled through a combination of economic, educational, and criminal justice reform and as developing countries become wealthier, there is a concomitant effect on crime. 3. Criminality is therefore being addressed and it would be unrealistic to expect a world without crime given the realities of human nature. 4. Instead of diverting more money towards an area on the mend already, governments can continue to also fund schools, hospitals, state universities, defense, infrastructure and a host of other areas that may themselves indirectly contribute to eradicating crime.

1. Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
2. Explain your new main idea.
3. Include specific details and examples.
4. The more specific, the better.

1. In conclusion, though crime impacts the daily lives of many citizens, it is already being successfully curbed and there are other key areas deserving of budgetary consideration. 2. Governments must nonetheless balance these concerns and remain vigilant towards changes in this promising pattern.

1. Summarise your main ideas.
2. Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean?

Though crime rates have fallen to historic lows in most nations, there are many who feel further action is still required. In my opinion, there should always be criminal prevention efforts, however, on level, crime is being opposed adequately.

Those who believe crime requires greater prioritisation identify its effects, particularly in underserved segments of a population. Crime is still pervasive in areas rife with poverty, such as in neglected neighborhoods in inner cities. An illustrative example of this would be the infamous favelas of Brazil. Residents in these communities must remain constantly vigilant for muggings and robberies and there is a high likelihood that in their lifetime they will come into contact with criminal elements. The causes of such crime-ridden slums are complex but the results for millions of individuals in cities around the world deserve meaningful countermeasures.

Nonetheless, criminal activity already receives sufficient funding as evidenced by its decline. Crime is best tackled through a combination of economic, educational, and criminal justice reform and as developing countries become wealthier, there is a concomitant effect on crime. Criminality is therefore being addressed and it would be unrealistic to expect a world without crime given the realities of human nature. Instead of diverting more money towards an area on the mend already, governments can continue to also fund schools, hospitals, state universities, defense, infrastructure and a host of other areas that may themselves indirectly contribute to eradicating crime.

In conclusion, though crime impacts the daily lives of many citizens, it is already being successfully curbed and there are other key areas deserving of budgetary consideration. Governments must nonetheless balance these concerns and remain vigilant towards changes in this promising pattern.

Answers

crime rates how many people commit crimes

fallen going down

historic lows lowest points in history

further action more effort

required needed

criminal prevention efforts trying to stop crime

on level overall

opposed adequately being countered well

greater prioritisation identify need more resources focus on

underserved segments of a population poorer people

pervasive goes throughout

rife with poverty lots of poor people

neglected not payed attention to

inner cities deep in the city

illustrative example instance that shows this well

infamous favelas notorious slums of Brazil

residents people living there

remain constantly vigilant always pay attention

muggings stealing money

robberies taking things

high likelihood good chance of

lifetime whole life

come into contact with meet with

criminal elements people involved in crime

crime-ridden slums neighborhoods with a lot of crime

complex complicated

deserve meaningful countermeasures should be countered effectively

criminal activity committing crimes

sufficient funding enough money

evidenced by supported by

best tackled number 1 way to fix

combination joint

criminal justice reform changing laws related to crime

concomitant related/caused by

addressed dealt with

unrealistic not feasible

realities facts

human nature facts of how people are

diverting sending in another direction

on the mend getting better

fund give money to

defense military, etc.

infrastructure roads, buildings, etc.

host of other areas many other places

indirectly not directly

eradicating crime getting rid of crime

daily lives everyday life

citizens residents

successfully curbed adequately cut down on

key areas main parts

budgetary consideration thinking about money

nonetheless regardless

balance these concerns keep everything in perspective

remain vigilant keep paying attention

promising pattern hopeful trend

Pronunciation

kraɪm reɪts 
ˈfɔːlən 
hɪsˈtɒrɪk ləʊz 
ˈfɜːðər ˈækʃ(ə)n 
rɪˈkwaɪəd
ˈkrɪmɪnl prɪˈvɛnʃən ˈɛfəts
ɒn ˈlɛvl
əˈpəʊzd ˈædɪkwɪtli
ˈgreɪtə praɪˈɒrɪˌtaɪzeɪʃən aɪˈdɛntɪfaɪ 
ˈʌndə sɜːvd ˈsɛgmənts ɒv ə ˌpɒpjʊˈleɪʃən
pɜːˈveɪsɪv 
raɪf wɪð ˈpɒvəti
nɪˈglɛktɪd 
ˈɪnə ˈsɪtiz
ˈɪləstreɪtɪv ɪgˈzɑːmpl 
ˈɪnfəməs ˈfeɪvələ
ˈrɛzɪdənts 
rɪˈmeɪn ˈkɒnstəntli ˈvɪʤɪlənt 
ˈmʌgɪŋz 
ˈrɒbəriz 
haɪ ˈlaɪklɪhʊd 
ˈlaɪftaɪm 
kʌm ˈɪntuː ˈkɒntækt wɪð 
ˈkrɪmɪnl ˈɛlɪmənts
kraɪm-ˈrɪdn slʌmz 
ˈkɒmplɛks 
dɪˈzɜːv ˈmiːnɪŋfʊl ˈkaʊntəˌmɛʒəz
ˈkrɪmɪnl ækˈtɪvɪti 
səˈfɪʃənt ˈfʌndɪŋ 
ˈɛvɪdənst baɪ 
bɛst ˈtækld 
ˌkɒmbɪˈneɪʃən 
ˈkrɪmɪnl ˈʤʌstɪs ˌriːˈfɔːm 
kənˈkɒmɪtənt 
əˈdrɛst 
ˌʌnrɪəˈlɪstɪk 
ri(ː)ˈælɪtiz 
ˈhjuːmən ˈneɪʧə
daɪˈvɜːtɪŋ 
ɒn ðə mɛnd 
fʌnd 
dɪˈfɛns
ˈɪnfrəˌstrʌkʧə 
həʊst ɒv ˈʌðər ˈeərɪəz 
ˌɪndɪˈrɛktli 
ɪˈrædɪkeɪtɪŋ kraɪm
ˈdeɪli lɪvz 
ˈsɪtɪznz
səkˈsɛsfʊli kɜːbd 
kiː ˈeərɪəz 
ˈbʌʤɪtəri kənˌsɪdəˈreɪʃən
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs 
ˈbæləns ðiːz kənˈsɜːnz 
rɪˈmeɪn ˈvɪʤɪlənt 
ˈprɒmɪsɪŋ ˈpætən

Vocabulary Practice

Remember and fill in the blanks:

Though c______________s have f__________n to h________________s in most nations, there are many who feel f_____________n is still r_____________d. In my opinion, there should always be c_________________________s, however, o_________l, crime is being o_____________________y.

Those who believe crime requires g_______________________________y its effects, particularly in u_________________________________n. Crime is still p_____________e in areas r____________________y, such as in n____________d neighborhoods in i_____________s. An i_____________________e of this would be the i___________________________s of Brazil. R__________s in these communities must r_____________________________t for m__________s and r__________s and there is a h___________________d that in their l_________e they will c___________________________________________s. The causes of such c________________________s are c____________x but the results for millions of individuals in cities around the world d_____________________________________s.

Nonetheless, c____________________y already receives s___________________g as e____________________y its decline. Crime is b_________________d through a c_______________n of economic, educational, and c________________________m and as developing countries become wealthier, there is a c______________t effect on crime. Criminality is therefore being a_______________d and it would be u______________c to expect a world without crime given the r___________s of h___________________e. Instead of d______________g more money towards an area o_________________d already, governments can continue to also f_____d schools, hospitals, state universities, d_________e, i_______________e and a h__________________s that may themselves i____________y contribute to e____________________e.

In conclusion, though crime impacts the d______________s of many c____________s, it is already being s_________________d and there are other k_____________s deserving of b____________________n. Governments must n________________________________________s and r________________t towards changes in this p____________________n.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic in the video below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/04/what-caused-the-crime-decline/477408/

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Truth in Crime

1. Why do witnesses of crimes sometimes disagree in their accounts?
2. How can modern technology help solve crimes?
3. Will teaching children to be honest reduce crime in the future?
4. Should there be more severe penalties for crimes like libel?
5. How will the detection of lies change in the future?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related topic below and then check with my sample answer:

Some people believe that there should be a fixed punishment for each type of crime. Others, however, argue that the circumstances of an individual crime, and the motivation for committing it, should always be taken into account when deciding on the punishment.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion. 

IELTS Essay: Fixed Punishments