This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of crimes rates and how technology can prevent crime from the real IELTS exam.
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Dave
IELTS Essay: Crime Rates and Technological Prevention
Crime rates will fall as advances in technology make it easier to detect and prevent crimes.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Many people believe that as technology advances, it will ease the challenges of law enforcement. I am generally in agreement though these innovations will not completely eliminate criminality as it is inherent to human nature.
Critics would argue that crime is a natural human instinct. Crime has existed in all human society for thousands of years and improvements in law enforcement can only hope to limit, not extinguish, a basic element of human nature. The reason for this is the natural conflict between the desires of individuals and the expectations of society. In most cases, an individual inhibits his or her impulses, but some lack this restraint and violate the dictates of society. Many of these individuals, for reasons related to nature or upbringing, would struggle to control themselves even if there was near-certainty they would be apprehended.
Nonetheless, crime can be effectively countered by more invasive surveillance. Governments now have the capacity to install cameras in the physical world and watch individuals carefully online as well. The best known examples of this would be in countries where cameras are common. In these, often authoritarian nations, governments are able to record footage of nearly every street. As criminals are aware there is a near 100% chance they will be filmed and arrested, crime statistics in those areas are negligible. This reduction in crime due to an awareness of ubiquitous surveillance can also be extended to the online sphere, where law enforcement can monitor VPNs, IP addresses to detect and trace illegal activity.
In conclusion, despite the likelihood that crime will never be completely eliminated, the advent of increased surveillance in particular will lead to drastic reductions in offences in the coming decades. Governments will then, as always, have to balance the priorities of safety against claims to freedom and privacy.
Analysis
1. Many people believe that as technology advances, it will ease the challenges of law enforcement. 2. I am generally in agreement though these innovations will not completely eliminate criminality as it is inherent to human nature.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Critics would argue that crime is a natural human instinct. 2. Crime has existed in all human society for thousands of years and improvements in law enforcement can only hope to limit, not extinguish, a basic element of human nature. 3. The reason for this is the natural conflict between the desires of individuals and the expectations of society. 4. In most cases, an individual inhibits his or her impulses, but some lack this restraint and violate the dictates of society. 5. Many of these individuals, for reasons related to nature or upbringing, would struggle to control themselves even if there was near-certainty they would be apprehended.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
- Keep developing it fully.
- Extend with some long sentences as well.
1. Nonetheless, crime can be effectively countered by more invasive surveillance. 2. Governments now have the capacity to install cameras in the physical world and watch individuals carefully online as well. 3. The best known examples of this would be in countries where cameras are common. 4. In these, often authoritarian nations, governments are able to record footage of nearly every street. 5. As criminals are aware there is a near 100% chance they will be filmed and arrested, crime statistics in those areas are negligible. 6. This reduction in crime due to an awareness of ubiquitous surveillance can also be extended to the online sphere, where law enforcement can monitor VPNs, IP addresses to detect and trace illegal activity.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- Continue developing it…
- as fully as possible!
- Continue the hypothetical example.
1. In conclusion, despite the likelihood that crime will never be completely eliminated, the advent of increased surveillance in particular will lead to drastic reductions in offences in the coming decades. 2. Governments will then, as always, have to balance the priorities of safety against claims to freedom and privacy.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- 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.
Many people believe that as technology advances, it will ease the challenges of law enforcement. I am generally in agreement though these innovations will not completely eliminate criminality as it is inherent to human nature.
Critics would argue that crime is a natural human instinct. Crime has existed in all human society for thousands of years and improvements in law enforcement can only hope to limit, not extinguish, a basic element of human nature. The reason for this is the natural conflict between the desires of individuals and the expectations of society. In most cases, an individual inhibits his or her impulses, but some lack this restraint and violate the dictates of society. Many of these individuals, for reasons related to nature or upbringing, would struggle to control themselves even if there was near-certainty they would be apprehended.
Nonetheless, crime can be effectively countered by more invasive surveillance. Governments now have the capacity to install cameras in the physical world and watch individuals carefully online as well. The best known examples of this would be in countries where cameras are common. In these, often authoritarian nations, governments are able to record footage of nearly every street. As criminals are aware there is a near 100% chance they will be filmed and arrested, crime statistics in those areas are negligible. This reduction in crime due to an awareness of ubiquitous surveillance can also be extended to the online sphere, where law enforcement can monitor VPNs, IP addresses to detect and trace illegal activity.
In conclusion, despite the likelihood that crime will never be completely eliminated, the advent of increased surveillance in particular will lead to drastic reductions in offences in the coming decades. Governments will then, as always, have to balance the priorities of safety against claims to freedom and privacy.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
advances developments
ease becomes easier
challenges difficulties
law enforcement police
innovations new ideas/products
completely eliminate criminality totally get rid of crime
inherent natural
human nature how are people are
critics people against it
argue claim
natural human instinct basic way people behave
human society people interacting
improvements developments
hope try to
limit control
extinguish eliminate
basic element of human nature characteristic of all people
conflict fight
desires impulses
expectations of society what the world wants you to do
in most cases usually
inhibits controls
impulses desires
lack this restraint can’t control themselves
violate break the rules
dictates rules
related to concerning
nature how you are born
upbringing how you were raised
struggle fight against
control inhibit yourself
even if in the case that
near-certainty almost definitely
apprehended arrested
nonetheless regardless
effectively countered well dealt with
invasive surveillance cameras watching your personal life
capacity ability
install cameras put up surveillance
physical world real life
online the internet
the best known examples of this most noteworthy instances
common ubiquitous
authoritarian nations countries with controlling governments
record footage of nearly every street film all places in a city
near 100% chance almost definitely
filmed recorded
arrested apprehended
crime statistics records of how many crimes there were
negligible not significant
reduction decreased
awareness knowing about
ubiquitous surveillance watching everything with cameras
extended lengthened
online sphere online
monitor VPNs watch where your computer is from
IP addresses the location of your computer
detect find
trace illegal activity follow criminal actions
likelihood good chance of it
advent introduction of
in particular especially
lead to drastic reductions in offences in the coming decades cause big decreases in crimes soon
priorities what you consider important
safety not harmful
claims arguments
freedom ability to do what you want
privacy not public
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
ədˈvɑːnsɪz
iːz
ˈʧælɪnʤɪz
lɔː ɪnˈfɔːsmənt
ˌɪnəʊˈveɪʃənz
kəmˈpliːtli ɪˈlɪmɪneɪt ˌkrɪmɪˈnælɪti
ɪnˈhɪərənt
ˈhjuːmən ˈneɪʧə
ˈkrɪtɪks
ˈɑːgjuː
ˈnæʧrəl ˈhjuːmən ˈɪnstɪŋkt
ˈhjuːmən səˈsaɪəti
ɪmˈpruːvmənts
lɔː ɪnˈfɔːsmənt
həʊp
ˈlɪmɪt
ɪksˈtɪŋgwɪʃ
ˈbeɪsɪk ˈɛlɪmənt ɒv ˈhjuːmən ˈneɪʧə
ˈkɒnflɪkt
dɪˈzaɪəz
ˌɛkspɛkˈteɪʃənz ɒv səˈsaɪəti
ɪn məʊst ˈkeɪsɪz
ɪnˈhɪbɪts
ˈɪmpʌlsɪz
læk ðɪs rɪsˈtreɪnt
ˈvaɪəleɪt
ˈdɪkteɪts
rɪˈleɪtɪd tuː
ˈneɪʧə
ˈʌpˌbrɪŋɪŋ
ˈstrʌgl
kənˈtrəʊl
ˈiːvən ɪf
nɪə-ˈsɜːtnti
ˌæprɪˈhɛndɪd
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs
ɪˈfɛktɪvli ˈkaʊntəd
ɪnˈveɪsɪv sɜːˈveɪləns
kəˈpæsɪti
ɪnˈstɔːl ˈkæmərəz
ˈfɪzɪkəl wɜːld
ˈɒnˌlaɪn
ðə bɛst nəʊn ɪgˈzɑːmplz ɒv ðɪs
ˈkɒmən
ɔːˌθɒrɪˈteərɪən ˈneɪʃənz
ˈrɛkɔːd ˈfʊtɪʤ ɒv ˈnɪəli ˈɛvri striːt
nɪər ə ˈhʌndrəd pəˈsɛnt ʧɑːns
fɪlmd
əˈrɛstɪd
kraɪm stəˈtɪstɪks
ˈnɛglɪʤəbl
rɪˈdʌkʃən
əˈweənəs
ju(ː)ˈbɪkwɪtəs sɜːˈveɪləns
ɪksˈtɛndɪd
ˈɒnˌlaɪn sfɪə
ˈmɒnɪtə viː-piː-ɛnz
aɪ-piː əˈdrɛsɪz
dɪˈtɛkt
treɪs ɪˈliːgəl ækˈtɪvɪti
ˈlaɪklɪhʊd
ˈædvənt
ɪn pəˈtɪkjʊlə
liːd tuː ˈdræstɪk rɪˈdʌkʃənz ɪn əˈfɛnsɪz ɪn ðə ˈkʌmɪŋ ˈdɛkeɪdz
praɪˈɒrɪtiz
ˈseɪfti
kleɪmz
ˈfriːdəm
ˈprɪvəsi
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:
Many people believe that as technology a____________s, it will e_____e the c_____________s of l________________t. I am generally in agreement though these i__________________s will not c___________________________y as it is i_____________t to h_______________e.
C_________s would a_______e that crime is a n______________________t. Crime has existed in all h_______________y for thousands of years and i________________s in l_____________________t can only h______e to l_______t, not e_____________h, a b__________________________e. The reason for this is the natural c____________t between the d__________s of individuals and the e__________________________y. I_________________s, an individual i____________s his or her i_____________s, but some l_________________________t and v____________e the d____________s of society. Many of these individuals, for reasons r______________________e or u_______________g, would s_____________e to c__________l themselves e________f there was n__________________y they would be a_________________d.
N_______________s, crime can be e____________________d by more i_______________________e. Governments now have the c_____________y to i______________s in the p_____________d and watch individuals carefully o___________e as well. T_________________________________s would be in countries where cameras are c__________n. In these, often a_______________________s, governments are able to r______________________________t. As criminals are aware there is a n__________________e they will be f________d and a____________d, c_______________s in those areas are n___________e. This r___________n in crime due to an a_____________s of u__________________________e can also be e_____________d to the o_____________e, where law enforcement can m__________________s, I____________s to d_________t and t_________________y.
In conclusion, despite the l____________d that crime will never be completely eliminated, the a_________t of increased surveillance i___________r will l_________________________________________________________s. Governments will then, as always, have to b___________e the p__________s of s_______y against c________s to f_________m and p__________y.
Listening Practice
Learn more about this topic by watching videos from The New York Times YouTube channel below and practice with these activities:
Reading Practice
Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Truth in Crime
- Why do witnesses of crimes sometimes disagree in their accounts?
- How can modern technology help solve crimes?
- Will teaching children to be honest reduce crime in the future?
- Should there be more severe penalties for crimes like libel?
- How will the detection of lies change in the future?
Writing Practice
Practice with the related IELTS essay topic below:
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.
Hi,
Hope you are doing fine!
Are you taking a partial view in this essay?
Yes, kind of, but I am still clearly on the side that technology will help to prevent crimes, Benita.
I’d advise that kind of approach – make sure you position overall is very clear.
Does that make sense?
Yes, it does. Thanks for clarification!
I also have another question. In introduction part, isn’t it better to say I am generally in agreement “with this proposition”, instead of just “I am generally in agreement”?
Both are fine – dropping the proposition part is maybe slightly informal but it is also an instance of ellipsis, which makes the writing flow a bit better.
If you want to be on the safe side, include it, Benita.
Hello, is it advisable to be clear in agree-disagree type of essay to get band 7 or above? Can we be partially agree or disagree?
Yes, you should always be clear with your opinion – that’s what the band descriptors state. The type of question isn’t as important – the partially agreeing and disagreeing can be dangerous if it makes your opinion unclear.
Thanx.
You’re welcome!
Hello, can I mentioned here benefits of forensic science to reduce crime as one of the advantages of advances in technology?
Of course – that would be a grea direction to go in too, Sandra!
Cool. Thanx
You’re welcome!
There is a statement that the punishment for crimes should be settled, while others believe that the punishment for each crime should consider the motivation and situation of the lawagainst behavior. In my view, I consider that it would be fair if the government wrote the punishment clearly in the law and operated it strictly.
The main benefit of fixing punishment is that it is fair. It is clear that everyone should be treated in the same way as each other. If the punishment was different, it would result in a panic among people and further lead to injustice. We can imagine if a thief is assigned little punishment because of lack of food. It would be a sign that hungry people prefer to steal rather than ask for supplies from the government. As a result, society would become chaotic.
However, the motivation is needed to be considered in some cases. In fact, we can not ensure that the law is perfect. There must be some situations that the law ignores. Hence, if one breaks the law with reasonable motivation and the movement is accepted by the public, it is not suitable to assign heavy punishment. Moreover, it could be a chance to complete the law. With a complete law, justice could be settled.
In sum, fair is important for a society, and punishment should be clear and equal for all citizens. Meanwhile, the law is not perfect, so unique cases should be considered and make the law complete. It would lead to a fair society.
Good work, Gakki!
Some of your expressions aren’t quite right like ‘there is a statement’ and there are some informal areas.
Keep working hard!
Please give feedback.
An advancement in technology is likely to cause a fall in the number of crimes committed because it makes it less difficult to identify criminal actions as well as act as a strong deterrence. I firmly agree with this statement. This essay will elucidate agreement points to support my perspective.
There are multifarious reasons why technological advances seem to be helping in the reduction of crime cases. Firstly, the installation of CCTV cameras has made a contribution towards finding the perpetrators of the crime. Video of crimes not only captures the exact nuances of the incidents but also serves as solid evidence. Moreover, the pervasiveness of the internet combined with surveillance cameras assists in monitoring streets and roads 24×7. Thus, easing the role of police to some extent as online monitoring enables the process of patroling on screen rather than in-person. Secondly, with the availability of advanced software, cyber police appear to catch offenders with little to no effort. This is due to the fact that a smart device undeniably leaves a digital print, which is intricate to erase without having professional knowledge of IT. Even after damaging a hard disk, cyber police are able to retrieve information from it. Last but not least, people are prudent about not breaking the law because of the awareness that the latest technology will somehow be able to track the facts. Because of forensic science, the chances of them getting caught are high, and they have to face the verdict. Therefore, technology instills fear in the minds of people, and they make them wary of committing any offenses.
In conclusion, although advances in technology have engendered a reduction in the crime rate, it is irrefutable that huge amount of crime still exists in our society. But by and large, technology has been the biggest supporter of ameliorating the crime rate since it is easy to monitor and track the culprit applying various advanced ways.
Good work, Samaira!
You should break it up into 4 paragraphs though and reduce some of the informal vocabulary in your writing.