This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of crime and technology.

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IELTS Essay: Crime Technology

Some people think technology development decreases crime, while others believe it actually encourages crime.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Many today are of the belief that advances in technology have done more to combat, rather than aid, criminal behavior. In my opinion, although there are certain novel avenues now available to criminals related to online fraud, technology generally benefits law enforcement.

Those who argue as to the negative implications of technology on crime point out the increased prevalence of cybercrimes. These crimes range from online fraud and fishing schemes to political crimes and the selling of illicit substances. In the early stages of the internet, such crimes were common online and difficult for enforcement agencies to combat. As advances have spread, both law enforcement agencies and criminals have become more technologically-savvy. A clear example of this would be the occasional news article reporting on a large-scale theft of passwords that warns users to update passwords and be more wary of storing private information online.

However, the crimes mentioned above are rare and technological innovations now help prevent many crimes before they even occur. The strongest instance illustrating this point would be the deterrence resulting from security cameras in private and public spaces. Countries and cities that emphasize the value of these cameras over personal privacy concerns are significantly safer than unmonitored locations. A more specific example of this would be cameras that take photos of individuals speeding and send them speeding tickets through the mail or electronically. This simple and effective innovation can greatly reduce traffic infractions and as a result the number of accidents on a given road.

In conclusion, despite the marginal downsides related to exploitation of new technologies by a small percentage of total criminals, the deterrent effect of security cameras has made the world considerably safer. There is always a balance between safety and security that must be carefully maintained.

Analysis

1. Many today are of the belief that advances in technology have done more to combat, rather than aid, criminal behavior. 2. In my opinion, although there are certain novel avenues now available to criminals related to online fraud, technology generally benefits law enforcement.

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

1. Those who argue as to the negative implications of technology on crime point out the increased prevalence of cybercrimes. 2. These crimes range from online fraud and fishing schemes to political crimes and the selling of illicit substances. 3. In the early stages of the internet, such crimes were common online and difficult for enforcement agencies to combat. 4. As advances have spread, both law enforcement agencies and criminals have become more technologically-savvy. 5. A clear example of this would be the occasional news article reporting on a large-scale theft of passwords that warns users to update passwords and be more wary of storing private information online.

1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
2. Explain your main idea.
3. Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
4. Keep developing it fully.
5. Better to have more detail.

1. However, the crimes mentioned above are rare and technological innovations now help prevent many crimes before they even occur. 2. The strongest instance illustrating this point would be the deterrence resulting from security cameras in private and public spaces. 3. Countries and cities that emphasize the value of these cameras over personal privacy concerns are significantly safer than unmonitored locations. 4. A more specific example of this would be cameras that take photos of individuals speeding and send them speeding tickets through the mail or electronically. 5. This simple and effective innovation can greatly reduce traffic infractions and as a result the number of accidents on a given road.

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. Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
5. This essay is a bit long – aim for about 275 words.

1. In conclusion, despite the marginal downsides related to exploitation of new technologies by a small percentage of total criminals, the deterrent effect of security cameras has made the world considerably safer. 2. There is always a balance between safety and security that must be carefully maintained.

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.

Many today are of the belief that advances in technology have done more to combat, rather than aid, criminal behavior. In my opinion, although there are certain novel avenues now available to criminals related to online fraud, technology generally benefits law enforcement.

Those who argue as to the negative implications of technology on crime point out the increased prevalence of cybercrimes. These crimes range from online fraud and fishing schemes to political crimes and the selling of illicit substances. In the early stages of the internet, such crimes were common online and difficult for enforcement agencies to combat. As advances have spread, both law enforcement agencies and criminals have become more technologically-savvy. A clear example of this would be the occasional news article reporting on a large-scale theft of passwords that warns users to update passwords and be more wary of storing private information online.

However, the crimes mentioned above are rare and technological innovations now help prevent many crimes before they even occur. The strongest instance illustrating this point would be the deterrence resulting from security cameras in private and public spaces. Countries and cities that emphasize the value of these cameras over personal privacy concerns are significantly safer than unmonitored locations. A more specific example of this would be cameras that take photos of individuals speeding and send them speeding tickets through the mail or electronically. This simple and effective innovation can greatly reduce traffic infractions and as a result the number of accidents on a given road.

In conclusion, despite the marginal downsides related to exploitation of new technologies by a small percentage of total criminals, the deterrent effect of security cameras has made the world considerably safer. There is always a balance between safety and security that must be carefully maintained.

Answers

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

• Many today are of the belief that

• A lot of people nowadays think that

• advances in technology have done more

• progress in technology has contributed more

• combat

• tackle

• rather than aid

• instead of assisting

• criminal behavior

• unlawful activities

• certain novel avenues now available to

• some new methods currently accessible for

• related to online fraud

• connected to internet scams

• generally benefits law enforcement

• typically supports police work

• Those who argue as to

• Individuals who contend regarding

1. negative implications of
   • adverse effects of
2. increased prevalence of cybercrimes
   • growing frequency of cyber offenses
3. range from online fraud and fishing schemes to political crimes and the selling of illicit substances
   • span from internet scams and phishing attacks to political offenses and drug trafficking
4. In the early stages of
   • At the initial phase of
5. difficult for enforcement agencies to combat
   • challenging for law enforcement to address
6. technologically-savvy
   • tech-savvy
7. occasional news article reporting on a large-scale theft of passwords
   • sporadic news reports about major password theft
8. warns users
   • alerts individuals
9. update passwords
   • change passwords
10. be more wary of storing private information online
    • be more cautious about keeping personal data online
11. mentioned above
    • previously discussed
12. rare
    • uncommon
13. technological innovations now
    • recent technological advancements
14. prevent
    • stop
15. occur
    • happen
16. illustrating this point would be
    • exemplifying this notion is
17. deterrence resulting from
    • prevention stemming from
18. private and public spaces
    • personal and communal areas
19. emphasize
    • highlight
20. personal privacy concerns
    • individual privacy issues
21. significantly safer than unmonitored locations
    • much safer than unsupervised areas
22. A more specific example of this would be
    • A clearer illustration of this is
23. take photos of individuals speeding
    • capture images of speeding drivers
24. speeding tickets through the mail
    • traffic citations sent by mail
25. electronically
    • digitally
26. simple and effective innovation
    • straightforward and efficient advancement
27. greatly reduce traffic infractions
    • significantly decrease traffic violations
28. as a result the number of accidents on a given road
    • consequently, the frequency of accidents on a specific road
29. despite the marginal downsides related to exploitation of
    • notwithstanding the minor drawbacks associated with misuse of
30. by a small percentage of total
    • by a small fraction of the overall
31. the deterrent effect of security cameras
    • the preventative impact of surveillance cameras
32. considerably safer
    • much safer
33. balance between safety and security
    • equilibrium between protection and safety
34. carefully maintained
    • diligently preserved

Pronunciation

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

ˈmɛni təˈdeɪ ɑːr ɒv ðə bɪˈliːf ðæt

ədˈvɑːnsɪz ɪn tɛkˈnɒləʤi

ˈkɒmbæt

ˈrɑːðə ðæn eɪd

ˈkrɪmɪnᵊl bɪˈheɪvjə

ˈsɜːtᵊn ˈnɒvᵊl ˈævənjuːz naʊ əˈveɪləbᵊl tuː

rɪˈleɪtɪd tuː ˈɒnˌlaɪn frɔːd

ˈʤɛnᵊrᵊli ˈbɛnɪfɪts lɔː ɪnˈfɔːsmənt

ðəʊz huː ˈɑːɡjuː æz tuː

ˈnɛɡətɪv ˌɪmplɪˈkeɪʃᵊnz ɒv

ɪnˈkriːst ˈprɛvᵊləns ɒv ˈsaɪbəkraɪmz

reɪnʤ frɒm ˈɒnˌlaɪn frɔːd ænd ˈfɪʃɪŋ skiːmz tuː pəˈlɪtɪkᵊl kraɪmz ænd ðə ˈsɛlɪŋ ɒv ɪˈlɪsɪt ˈsʌbstᵊnsɪz

ɪn ði ˈɜːli ˈsteɪʤɪz ɒv

ˈdɪfɪkᵊlt fɔːr ɪnˈfɔːsmənt ˈeɪʤᵊnsiz tuː ˈkɒmbæt

ˌtɛknəˈlɒʤɪkᵊli-ˈsævi

əˈkeɪʒᵊnᵊl njuːz ˈɑːtɪkᵊl rɪˈpɔːtɪŋ ɒn ə lɑːʤ-skeɪl θɛft ɒv ˈpɑːswɜːdz

wɔːnz ˈjuːzəz

ʌpˈdeɪt ˈpɑːswɜːdz

biː mɔː ˈweəri ɒv ˈstɔːrɪŋ ˈpraɪvət ˌɪnfəˈmeɪʃᵊn ˈɒnˌlaɪn

ˈmɛnʃᵊnd əˈbʌv

reə

ˌtɛknəˈlɒʤɪkᵊl ˌɪnəˈveɪʃᵊnz naʊ

prɪˈvɛnt

əˈkɜː

ˈɪləstreɪtɪŋ ðɪs pɔɪnt wʊd biː

dɪˈtɛrᵊns rɪˈzʌltɪŋ frɒm

ˈpraɪvət ænd ˈpʌblɪk ˈspeɪsɪz

ˈɛmfəsaɪz

ˈpɜːsᵊnᵊl ˈprɪvəsi kənˈsɜːnz

sɪɡˈnɪfɪkᵊntli ˈseɪfə ðæn ˌʌnˈmɒnɪtəd ləʊˈkeɪʃᵊnz

ə mɔː spəˈsɪfɪk ɪɡˈzɑːmpᵊl ɒv ðɪs wʊd biː

teɪk ˈfəʊtəʊz ɒv ˌɪndɪˈvɪʤuəlz ˈspiːdɪŋ

ˈspiːdɪŋ ˈtɪkɪts θruː ðə meɪl

ˌɛlɛkˈtrɒnɪkᵊli

ˈsɪmpᵊl ænd ɪˈfɛktɪv ˌɪnəˈveɪʃᵊn

ˈɡreɪtli rɪˈdjuːs ˈtræfɪk ɪnˈfrækʃᵊnz

æz ə rɪˈzʌlt ðə ˈnʌmbər ɒv ˈæksɪdᵊnts ɒn ə ˈɡɪvᵊn rəʊd

dɪˈspaɪt ðə ˈmɑːʤɪnᵊl ˈdaʊnˌsaɪdz rɪˈleɪtɪd tuː ˌɛksplɔɪˈteɪʃᵊn ɒv

baɪ ə smɔːl pəˈsɛntɪʤ ɒv ˈtəʊtᵊl

ðə dɪˈtɛrᵊnt ɪˈfɛkt ɒv sɪˈkjʊərəti ˈkæmᵊrəz

kənˈsɪdᵊrəbᵊli ˈseɪfə

ˈbælᵊns bɪˈtwiːn ˈseɪfti ænd sɪˈkjʊərəti

ˈkeəfᵊli meɪnˈteɪnd

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:

M__________________________________t a________________________y have done more to c_______t, r________________d, c___________________-r. In my opinion, although there are c________________________________o criminals r_____________________d, technology g__________________________________________t.

T__________________________o the n_____________________f technology on crime point out the i____________________________________s. These crimes r__________________________________________________________________________________________________s. I__________________f the internet, such crimes were common online and d_____________________________t. As advances have spread, both law enforcement agencies and criminals have become more t____________________y. A clear example of this would be the o_____________________________________________________________________s that w_____________s to u_________________-s and b________________________________________________________-e.

However, the crimes m__________________e are r___e and t_______________________________w help p____________t many crimes before they even o______-r. The strongest instance i_________________________e the d_______________________________-m security cameras in p___________________________-s. Countries and cities that e____________e the value of these cameras over p_____________________________s are s__________________________________s. A________________________________e cameras that t__________________________________________g and send them s__________________________l or e_________________y. This s______________________________n can g____________________________s and a______________________________________d.

In conclusion, d_________________________________________f new technologies b________________________________y criminals, t_________________________________________-s has made the world c________________-r. There is always a b______________________________________y that must be c______________________d.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

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

https://www.veriff.com/fraud/business/biggest-online-scams

Speaking Practice

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

Technology (IELTS Speaking Part 3)

Question 1: What technology do people currently use?

Question 2: Why do big companies introduce new products frequently?

Question 3: Why are people so keen on buying an iPhone even though they haven’t changed much from one to the next?

Question 4: Does technology deeply affect people’s lives?

Question 5: Is there any difference between technology in cities and in small towns?

Question 6: Do you agree that men are more obsessed with new technology than women?

Question 7: How to teach older generations to use new technology?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topic:

Prison is the common way most countries try to solve the problem of crime. However, a more effective solution is to provide the public a better education.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

IELTS Essay: Solution to Crime