This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of more crimes being committed by youngsters from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Essay: Crime Amongst Youngsters

In many countries, crimes rates amongst younger people has been rising.

Discuss the causes and solutions for this problem.

Criminal rates among younger offenders have been rising in certain countries. In my opinion, this is largely due to individual economic factors and the best solutions are related to ensuring stable employment for the majority of citizens.

The primary reasons for rises in youth crime are economic. There has been a persistent global recession in many nations since the world economic crisis of 2008. For example, countries such as Greece have been struggling for many years to reestablish core industries and stimulate economic growth to sustain high living standards. When the economy is in decline and fewer jobs are available, crime rates naturally rise as a result. This has been exacerbated in the last 2 years as Covid-19 has decimated national economies and put millions out of work. Young people with little savings are often the most vulnerable since they have fewer employable skills and less work experience.

Crime rates among younger individuals will recede with economic stimulus plans directed at job creation and education. The countries that have been able to survive and prosper during economic uncertainty tend to be those with mature economies, flexible governments, and a well-educated populace. In northern Europe, for instance, welfare states were able to support the underprivileged and many citizens with university degrees only had to wait in order for business to stabilize. The result of individuals having jobs is the motive for crime disappears in the vast majority of cases and police can focus on less common causes such as mental illness, greed, and jealousy.

In conclusion, the rise in youth crimes in a period of imperiled economies can be countered by government initiatives aimed at this same underlying cause. Addressing the symptoms of crime is simply a short-term solution.

Analysis

1. Criminal rates among younger offenders have been rising in certain countries. 2. In my opinion, this is largely due to individual economic factors and the best solutions are related to ensuring stable employment for the majority of citizens.

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

1. The primary reasons for rises in youth crime are economic. 2. There has been a persistent global recession in many nations since the world economic crisis of 2008. 3. For example, countries such as Greece have been struggling for many years to reestablish core industries and stimulate economic growth to sustain high living standards. 4. When the economy is in decline and fewer jobs are available, crime rates naturally rise as a result. 5. This has been exacerbated in the last 2 years as Covid-19 has decimated national economies and put millions out of work. 6. Young people with little savings are often the most vulnerable since they have fewer employable skills and less work experience.

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. Keep developing it fully.
5. Stay focused on the same main idea.
6. Conclude with a strong statement.

1. Crime rates among younger individuals will recede with economic stimulus plans directed at job creation and education. 2. The countries that have been able to survive and prosper during economic uncertainty tend to be those with mature economies, flexible governments, and a well-educated populace. 3. In northern Europe, for instance, welfare states were able to support the underprivileged and many citizens with university degrees only had to wait in order for business to stabilize. 4. The result of individuals having jobs is the motive for crime disappears in the vast majority of cases and police can focus on less common causes such as mental illness, greed, and jealousy.

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. Continue developing it fully!

1. In conclusion, the rise in youth crimes in a period of imperiled economies can be countered by government initiatives aimed at this same underlying cause. 2. Addressing the symptoms of crime is simply a short-term solution.

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

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.

Criminal rates among younger offenders have been rising in certain countries. In my opinion, this is largely due to individual economic factors and the best solutions are related to ensuring stable employment for the majority of citizens.

The primary reasons for rises in youth crime are economic. There has been a persistent global recession in many nations since the world economic crisis of 2008. For example, countries such as Greece have been struggling for many years to reestablish core industries and stimulate economic growth to sustain high living standards. When the economy is in decline and fewer jobs are available, crime rates naturally rise as a result. This has been exacerbated in the last 2 years as Covid-19 has decimated national economies and put millions out of work. Young people with little savings are often the most vulnerable since they have fewer employable skills and less work experience.

Crime rates among younger individuals will recede with economic stimulus plans directed at job creation and education. The countries that have been able to survive and prosper during economic uncertainty tend to be those with mature economies, flexible governments, and a well-educated populace. In northern Europe, for instance, welfare states were able to support the underprivileged and many citizens with university degrees only had to wait in order for business to stabilize. The result of individuals having jobs is the motive for crime disappears in the vast majority of cases and police can focus on less common causes such as mental illness, greed, and jealousy.

In conclusion, the rise in youth crimes in a period of imperiled economies can be countered by government initiatives aimed at this same underlying cause. Addressing the symptoms of crime is simply a short-term solutions.

Answers

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

criminal rates number of people committing crimes

younger offenders youths committing crimes

rising growing

certain specific

largely mostly

due to because of

individual economic factors isolated problems related to business

related to concerning

ensuring making sure of

stable employment consistent jobs

majority most of

primary reasons main causes

persistent global recession consistent economies shrinking

world economic crisis of 2008 big problem with finances, recession

struggling having difficulty with

reestablish core industries start back up important businesses

stimulate economic growth encourage business growth

sustain high living standards keep quality of life high

in decline going down

fewer less

available out there that can be taken

naturally of course

as a result the outcome is

exacerbated hurting

decimated hurt

put millions out of work lots of people jobless

little savings not much money in the bank

vulnerable weak

fewer employable skills not as many abilities to help you get a job

less work experience not as much time working in the past

recede begin to disappear

economic stimulus plans action to pump money into the economy

directed at aimed at

survive get by

prosper during economic uncertainty do well when the economy is bad

mature fully developed

flexible governments nations responding well to events

well-educated populace smart citizens

northern Europe countries like Sweden, Denmark, Germany, etc.

welfare states countries that support citizens a lot

support help

underprivileged poor

stabilize make sure it is ok

motive reason

disappears goes away

vast majority of cases most instances

less common causes not as popular reasons

mental illness sick in the head

greed desiring money

jealousy envy

period time

imperiled economies economies in trouble

countered by resolved by

initiatives actions, proposals, laws

aimed at with the purpose of

underlying cause foundational reason

addressing dealing with

symptoms what comes from a disease – not the cause itself, effects

short-term solutions will just work for now

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:

ˈkrɪmɪnl reɪts 
ˈjʌŋər əˈfɛndəz 
ˈraɪzɪŋ 
ˈsɜːtn 
ˈlɑːʤli 
djuː tuː 
ˌɪndɪˈvɪdjʊəl ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ˈfæktəz 
rɪˈleɪtɪd tuː 
ɪnˈʃʊərɪŋ 
ˈsteɪbl ɪmˈplɔɪmənt 
məˈʤɒrɪti 
ˈpraɪməri ˈriːznz 
pəˈsɪstənt ˈgləʊbəl rɪˈsɛʃən 
wɜːld ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ˈkraɪsɪs ɒv tuː ˈθaʊzənd ænd eɪt
ˈstrʌglɪŋ 
ˌriːɪsˈtæblɪʃ kɔːr ˈɪndəstriz 
ˈstɪmjʊleɪt ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk grəʊθ 
səsˈteɪn haɪ ˈlɪvɪŋ ˈstændədz
ɪn dɪˈklaɪn 
ˈfjuːə 
əˈveɪləbl
ˈnæʧrəli 
æz ə rɪˈzʌlt
ɛksˈæsə(ː)beɪtɪd 
ˈdɛsɪmeɪtɪd 
pʊt ˈmɪljənz aʊt ɒv wɜːk
ˈlɪtl ˈseɪvɪŋz 
ˈvʌlnərəbl 
ˈfjuːər ɪmˈplɔɪəbl skɪlz 
lɛs wɜːk ɪksˈpɪərɪəns
ri(ː)ˈsiːd 
ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ˈstɪmjʊləs plænz 
dɪˈrɛktɪd æt 
səˈvaɪv 
ˈprɒspə ˈdjʊərɪŋ ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ʌnˈsɜːtnti 
məˈtjʊə 
ˈflɛksəbl ˈgʌvnmənts
wɛl-ˈɛdju(ː)keɪtɪd ˈpɒpjʊləs
ˈnɔːðən ˈjʊərəp
ˈwɛlfeə steɪts 
səˈpɔːt 
ˌʌndəˈprɪvɪlɪʤd 
ˈsteɪbɪlaɪz
ˈməʊtɪv 
ˌdɪsəˈpɪəz 
vɑːst məˈʤɒrɪti ɒv ˈkeɪsɪz 
lɛs ˈkɒmən ˈkɔːzɪz 
ˈmɛntl ˈɪlnɪs
griːd
ˈʤɛləsi
ˈpɪərɪəd 
ɪmˈpɛrɪld i(ː)ˈkɒnəmiz 
ˈkaʊntəd baɪ 
ɪˈnɪʃɪətɪvz 
eɪmd æt 
ˌʌndəˈlaɪɪŋ kɔːz
əˈdrɛsɪŋ 
ˈsɪmptəmz 
ʃɔːt-tɜːm səˈluːʃənz

Vocabulary Practice

I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:

C_________________s among y_________________s have been r_______g in c_______n countries. In my opinion, this is l________y d_______o i______________________s and the best solutions are r____________o e_____________g s______________________t for the m___________y of citizens.

The p__________________s for rises in youth crime are economic. There has been a p_________________________n in many nations since the w______________________________8. For example, countries such as Greece have been s____________g for many years to r__________________________s and s_________________________________h to s_________________________________s. When the economy is i______________e and f________r jobs are a__________e, crime rates n______________y rise a____________t. This has been e______________d in the last 2 years as Covid-19 has d____________d national economies and p________________________k. Young people with l_________________s are often the most v____________e since they have f________________________s and l_______________________e.

Crime rates among younger individuals will r___________e with e_______________________s d_____________t job creation and education. The countries that have been able to s_____________e and p________________________________________y tend to be those with m_________e economies, f__________________________s, and a w______________________e. In n____________________e, for instance, w__________________s were able to s__________t the u__________________d and many citizens with university degrees only had to wait in order for business to s_________e. The result of individuals having jobs is the m_________e for crime d____________s in the v___________________________s and police can focus on l_____________________s such as m___________________s, g______d, and j_________y.

In conclusion, the rise in youth crimes in a p________d of i____________________s can be c__________________y government i_________________________t this same u__________________e. A_____________g the s______________s of crime is simply a s______________________s.

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.independent.co.uk/topic/youth-crime

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 IELTS essay topic below:

Some people believe that children that commit crimes should be punished. Others think the parents should be punished instead.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: Children & Crime (Real Past IELTS Exam/Test)