This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of the criminal treatment of adults and young people from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Essay: Criminal Treatment

Young people committing crimes should be treated the same as adults by the authorities. 

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

There are reformers today who argue that adults and young people should be treated equally under the law. In my opinion, despite the ostensible fairness of this proposal, it disregards crucial psychological differences.

Those who believe all ages should receive equal treatment, point out that this will engender a greater deterring effect. The main reason that all individuals in society are punished is not for justice alone, but as a means to ensure others will not commit similar crimes. Young people learn in school and the world generally that their actions will have consequences and that crimes are punishable with prison time and other penalties. If these censures are weakened, then the chances a young person will attempt to commit a crime will logically increase, even if the total number of young people engaging in criminal behavior today is lower than at any point in human history.

However, age is a just mitigating factor. Adults who commit crimes have had more time to develop socially and intellectually while young people might not fully grasp the consequences of their choices for themselves and others. For instance, there have been recent cases where young people were influenced by extremist elements now pervasive in social media. Young people are more impressionable in these situations and often lack the confidence and maturity to think for themselves. This vulnerability extends to their emotional and intellectual development and justifies laws that protect young people from receiving overly harsh sentences.

In conclusion, though there are practical reasons to support equal punishments for all ages, this alteration would be unfair to young people. Courts should consider a range of factors before selecting an appropriate punishment.

Analysis

1. There are reformers today who argue that adults and young people should be treated equally under the law. 2. In my opinion, despite the ostensible fairness of this proposal, it disregards crucial psychological differences.

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

1. Those who believe all ages should receive equal treatment, point out that this will engender a greater deterring effect. 2. The main reason that all individuals in society are punished is not for justice alone, but as a means to ensure others will not commit similar crimes. 3. Young people learn in school and the world generally that their actions will have consequences and that crimes are punishable with prison time and other penalties. 4. If these censures are weakened, then the chances a young person will attempt to commit a crime will logically increase, even if the total number of young people engaging in criminal behavior today is lower than at any point in human history.

  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.

1. However, age is a just mitigating factor. 2. Adults who commit crimes have had more time to develop socially and intellectually while young people might not fully grasp the consequences of their choices for themselves and others. 3. For instance, there have been recent cases where young people were influenced by extremist elements now pervasive in social media. 4. Young people are more impressionable in these situations and often lack the confidence and maturity to think for themselves. 5. This vulnerability extends to their emotional and intellectual development and justifies laws that protect young people from receiving overly harsh sentences.

  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. Finish the paragraph strong.

1. In conclusion, though there are practical reasons to support equal punishments for all ages, this alteration would be unfair to young people. 2. Courts should consider a range of factors before selecting an appropriate punishment.

  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.

There are reformers today who argue that adults and young people should be treated equally under the law. In my opinion, despite the ostensible fairness of this proposal, it disregards crucial psychological differences.

Those who believe all ages should receive equal treatment, point out that this will engender a greater deterring effect. The main reason that all individuals in society are punished is not for justice alone, but as a means to ensure others will not commit similar crimes. Young people learn in school and the world generally that their actions will have consequences and that crimes are punishable with prison time and other penalties. If these censures are weakened, then the chances a young person will attempt to commit a crime will logically increase, even if the total number of young people engaging in criminal behavior today is lower than at any point in human history.

However, age is a just mitigating factor. Adults who commit crimes have had more time to develop socially and intellectually while young people might not fully grasp the consequences of their choices for themselves and others. For instance, there have been recent cases where young people were influenced by extremist elements now pervasive in social media. Young people are more impressionable in these situations and often lack the confidence and maturity to think for themselves. This vulnerability extends to their emotional and intellectual development and justifies laws that protect young people from receiving overly harsh sentences.

In conclusion, though there are practical reasons to support equal punishments for all ages, this alteration would be unfair to young people. Courts should consider a range of factors before selecting an appropriate punishment.

Answers

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

reformers people who want to make changes

argue point out, contend

adults older people

young people people who are younger

treated equally under the law have the same punishments and dealt with the same way

despite regardless of

ostensible fairness seemingly just, right

proposal idea

disregards ignores

crucial key

psychological differences mental disparities

receive get

point out argue

engender creates

greater deterring effect does more to stop others from doing the same

justice fairness

as a means to in order to

ensure make sure of

commit similar crimes do the same things

generally overall

actions will have consequences you must be responsible

punishable can be punished in this way

prison time time in jail

penalties punishments

censures admonishments

weakened curbed, limited

chances odds of something happening

attempt try

logically rationally

engaging in taking part in

criminal behavior committing crimes

lower than at any point in human history never better than now

just right, fair

mitigating factor reason to lessen punishment

develop grow

socially relating to others

intellectually relating to the mind

might not fully grasp the consequences of their choices for themselves and others can’t completely understand the results of their actions

recent cases instances that happened not that long ago

influenced impacted

extremist elements strong opinions

pervasive common

social media Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc.

impressionable easily influenced

lack don’t have

confidence self-esteem

maturity feeling like an adult

vulnerability weakness

extends to also includes

emotional related to emotions

justifies gives reason for

protect keep safe

receiving overly harsh sentences get too strict punishments

practical reasons pragmatic causes for

equal punishments the same sentences

alteration change

a range of factors many different elements

selecting choosing

appropriate punishment fitting sentence

Pronunciation

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

rɪˈfɔːməz 
ˈɑːgjuː 
ˈædʌlts 
jʌŋ ˈpiːpl 
ˈtriːtɪd ˈiːkwəli ˈʌndə ðə lɔː
dɪsˈpaɪt 
ɒsˈtɛnsəbl ˈfeənɪs 
prəˈpəʊzəl 
ˌdɪsrɪˈgɑːdz 
ˈkruːʃəl 
ˌsaɪkəˈlɒʤɪkəl ˈdɪfrənsɪz
rɪˈsiːv 
pɔɪnt aʊt 
ɪnˈʤɛndə 
ˈgreɪtə dɪˈtɜːrɪŋ ɪˈfɛkt
ˈʤʌstɪs 
æz ə miːnz tuː 
ɪnˈʃʊə 
kəˈmɪt ˈsɪmɪlə kraɪmz 
ˈʤɛnərəli 
ˈækʃ(ə)nz wɪl hæv ˈkɒnsɪkwənsɪz 
ˈpʌnɪʃəbl 
ˈprɪzn taɪm 
ˈpɛnltiz
ˈsɛnʃəz 
ˈwiːkənd 
ˈʧɑːnsɪz 
əˈtɛmpt 
ˈlɒʤɪkəli 
ɪnˈgeɪʤɪŋ ɪn 
ˈkrɪmɪnl bɪˈheɪvjə 
ˈləʊə ðæn æt ˈɛni pɔɪnt ɪn ˈhjuːmən ˈhɪstəri
ʤʌst 
ˈmɪtɪgeɪtɪŋ ˈfæktə
dɪˈvɛləp 
ˈsəʊʃəli 
ˌɪntɪˈlɛktjʊəli 
maɪt nɒt ˈfʊli grɑːsp ðə ˈkɒnsɪkwənsɪz ɒv ðeə ˈʧɔɪsɪz fɔː ðəmˈsɛlvz ænd ˈʌðəz.
ˈriːsnt ˈkeɪsɪz 
ˈɪnflʊənst 
ɪksˈtriːmɪst ˈɛlɪmənts 
pɜːˈveɪsɪv 
ˈsəʊʃəl ˈmiːdiə
ɪmˈprɛʃnəbl 
læk 
ˈkɒnfɪdəns 
məˈtjʊərɪti 
ˌvʌlnərəˈbɪlɪti 
ɪksˈtɛndz tuː 
ɪˈməʊʃənl 
ˌɪntɪˈlɛktjʊəl 
ˈʤʌstɪfaɪz 
prəˈtɛkt 
rɪˈsiːvɪŋ ˈəʊvəli hɑːʃ ˈsɛntənsɪz
ˈpræktɪkəl ˈriːznz 
ˈiːkwəl ˈpʌnɪʃmənts 
ˌɔːltəˈreɪʃ(ə)n 
ə reɪnʤ ɒv ˈfæktəz 
sɪˈlɛktɪŋ 
əˈprəʊprɪɪt ˈpʌnɪʃmənt

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:

There are r__________s today who a____e that a_____s and y____________e should be t________________________w. In my opinion, d__________e the o______________________s of this p_____________l, it d__________s c_________________________________________s.

Those who believe all ages should r_________e equal treatment, p________t that this will e_________r a g_____________________t. The main reason that all individuals in society are punished is not for j_____e alone, but a__________________________e others will not c____________________s. Young people learn in school and the world g__________y that their a____________________________________s and that crimes are p_____________e with p_________e and other p____________s. If these c____________s are w___________d, then the c_________s a young person will a_________t to commit a crime will l______________y increase, even if the total number of young people e________________n c___________________________r today is l______________________________________________________y.

However, age is a j____t m______________________r. Adults who commit crimes have had more time to d_______________________y and i___________________y while young people m___________________________________________________________________s. For instance, there have been r__________s where young people were i__________d by e____________________s now p___________e in s__________a. Young people are more i___________________e in these situations and often l___k the c____________e and m________y to think for themselves. This v_____________y e_________o their e_____________l and i_______________l development and j________s laws that p__________t young people from r__________________________________s.

In conclusion, though there are p________________s to support e________________________s for all ages, this a__________n would be unfair to young people. Courts should consider a___________________s before s__________g an a________________________t.

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:

Speaking Practice

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

Crime

  1. Why do people commit crimes?
  2. How can criminals be rehabilitated?
  3. What is the purpose of punishment?
  4. Are punishment and revenge the same?
  5. Will crime become less common in the future?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topics below:

Crime rates will fall as advances in technology make it easier to detect and prevent crimes.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

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