This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of curfews from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Essay: Curfews

Some countries are considering imposing curfews in which teenagers will not be allowed outdoors at night unless they are accompanied by an adult.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this policy?

Some governments are considering proposals to institute curfews for teenagers that would require them to be in the presence of an adult after certain hours. In my opinion, the marginal benefits of such a policy would be greatly outweighed by its social drawbacks.

One the one hand, requiring teenagers to remain at home at night could help curb juvenile delinquency. In certain cities, it is common for particular neighborhoods to be full of criminal activity late at night. A teenager who is either engaging in such activity or simply passing through those areas is at significant risk. By staying home, teenagers would be forced to engage in more wholesome activities and the authorities would be better able to police the streets. In this way, governments could limit both crimes commited by and upon teenagers.

However, the cases mentioned above affect a minority of teenagers while this reform would impair the social growth of the majority. Ensuring teenagers stay home essentially limits their social acquaintances to within their family. In many situations, if the family is small or there are issues related to abuse, this could foster an unhealthy psychological and social dependence. When teenagers hang out with friends at concerts, malls, parks, and other public venues they begin to develop their identity and manage the demands of interpersonal relationships. Any reforms that hinder such growth are negative for the progress of society more generally.

In conclusion, despite the positive effect a curfew would have on misbehavior, such suggestions should be ignored in order to guarantee the healthy social development of adolescents. There are less restrictive methods of reducing juvenile deliquency that could instead be considered.

Analysis

1. Some governments are considering proposals to institute curfews for teenagers that would require them to be in the presence of an adult after certain hours. 2. In my opinion, the marginal benefits of such a policy would be greatly outweighed by its social drawbacks.

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

1. One the one hand, requiring teenagers to remain at home at night could help curb juvenile delinquency. 2. In certain cities, it is common for particular neighborhoods to be full of criminal activity late at night. 3. A teenager who is either engaging in such activity or simply passing through those areas is at significant risk. 4. By staying home, teenagers would be forced to engage in more wholesome activities and the authorities would be better able to police the streets. 5. In this way, governments could limit both crimes commited by and upon teenagers.

  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. Extend with some long sentences as well.

1. However, the cases mentioned above affect a minority of teenagers while this reform would impair the social growth of the majority. 2. Ensuring teenagers stay home essentially limits their social acquaintances to within their family. 3. In many situations, if the family is small or there are issues related to abuse, this could foster an unhealthy psychological and social dependence. 4. When teenagers hang out with friends at concerts, malls, parks, and other public venues they begin to develop their identity and manage the demands of interpersonal relationships. 5. Any reforms that hinder such growth are negative for the progress of society more generally.

  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…
  5. as fully as possible!

1. In conclusion, despite the positive effect a curfew would have on misbehavior, such suggestions should be ignored in order to guarantee the healthy social development of adolescents. 2. There are less restrictive methods of reducing juvenile deliquency that could instead be considered.

  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.

Some governments are considering proposals to institute curfews for teenagers that would require them to be in the presence of an adult after certain hours. In my opinion, the marginal benefits of such a policy would be greatly outweighed by its social drawbacks.

One the one hand, requiring teenagers to remain at home at night could help curb juvenile delinquency. In certain cities, it is common for particular neighborhoods to be full of criminal activity late at night. A teenager who is either engaging in such activity or simply passing through those areas is at significant risk. By staying home, teenagers would be forced to engage in more wholesome activities and the authorities would be better able to police the streets. In this way, governments could limit both crimes commited by and upon teenagers.

However, the cases mentioned above affect a minority of teenagers while this reform would impair the social growth of the majority. Ensuring teenagers stay home essentially limits their social acquaintances to within their family. In many situations, if the family is small or there are issues related to abuse, this could foster an unhealthy psychological and social dependence. When teenagers hang out with friends at concerts, malls, parks, and other public venues they begin to develop their identity and manage the demands of interpersonal relationships. Any reforms that hinder such growth are negative for the progress of society more generally.

In conclusion, despite the positive effect a curfew would have on misbehavior, such suggestions should be ignored in order to guarantee the healthy social development of adolescents. There are less restrictive methods of reducing juvenile deliquency that could instead be considered.

Answers

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

considering proposals thinking about policies

institute put into practice

curfews limits on time

teenagers those aged 13-19

require need

in the presence of around

adult people over 18

certain hours times at night

marginal benefits small advantages

policy law

greatly outweighed much stronger than

social drawbacks disadvantages related to society

one the one hand on one side

remain stay the same

curb juvenile delinquency limit crimes amongst younger people

common normal

particular neighborhoods certain areas

full of criminal activity lots of crime

late at night around midnight

engaging in doing

passing through going through

significant risk big chance

by staying home remaining at home

forced to must

engage do

wholesome activities innocent pasttimes

authorities people in charge

better able to police the streets can do a better job keeping order

limit control

crimes commited by and upon hurting other and being hurt

however but

cases mentioned above instances detailed earlier

minority not the majority

reform change

impair harm

social growth development in society

majority most of

ensuring making sure of

essentially limits basically controls

social acquaintances people you know

within their family relatives

in many situations in some cases

issues related to abuse problems having to do with physical and emotional harm

foster encourage

unhealthy psychological and social dependence needing others in a bad way

hang out spend time with

public venues places where everyone can do

begin to start to

identity recognize

manage the demands deal with the responsibilities

interpersonal relationships talking to and being around others

hinder impair

progress development

more generally overall

despite regardless of

misbehavior bad actions

suggestions advice

ignored not paid attention to

in order to so that

guarantee ensure

healthy social development of adolescents normal growth of young people

less restrictive methods not as controlling

reducing decreasing

instead rather than

considered thought about

Pronunciation

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

kənˈsɪdərɪŋ prəˈpəʊzəlz 
ˈɪnstɪtjuːt 
ˈkɜːfjuːz 
ˈtiːnˌeɪʤəz 
rɪˈkwaɪə 
ɪn ðə ˈprɛzns ɒv 
ˈædʌlt 
ˈsɜːtn ˈaʊəz
ˈmɑːʤɪnəl ˈbɛnɪfɪts 
ˈpɒlɪsi 
ˈgreɪtli aʊtˈweɪd 
ˈsəʊʃəl ˈdrɔːbæks
wʌn ðə wʌn hænd
rɪˈmeɪn 
kɜːb ˈʤuːvɪnaɪl dɪˈlɪŋkwənsi
ˈkɒmən 
pəˈtɪkjʊlə ˈneɪbəhʊdz 
fʊl ɒv ˈkrɪmɪnl ækˈtɪvɪti 
leɪt æt naɪt
ɪnˈgeɪʤɪŋ ɪn 
ˈpɑːsɪŋ θruː 
sɪgˈnɪfɪkənt rɪsk
baɪ ˈsteɪɪŋ həʊm
fɔːst tuː 
ɪnˈgeɪʤ 
ˈhəʊlsəm ækˈtɪvɪtiz 
ɔːˈθɒrɪtiz 
ˈbɛtər ˈeɪbl tuː pəˈliːs ðə striːts
ˈlɪmɪt 
kraɪmz kəˈmɪtɪd baɪ ænd əˈpɒn 
haʊˈɛvə
ˈkeɪsɪz ˈmɛnʃənd əˈbʌv 
maɪˈnɒrɪti 
ˌriːˈfɔːm 
ɪmˈpeə 
ˈsəʊʃəl grəʊθ 
məˈʤɒrɪti
ɪnˈʃʊərɪŋ 
ɪˈsɛnʃəli ˈlɪmɪts 
ˈsəʊʃəl əˈkweɪntənsɪz 
wɪˈðɪn ðeə ˈfæmɪli
ɪn ˈmɛni ˌsɪtjʊˈeɪʃənz
ˈɪʃuːz rɪˈleɪtɪd tuː əˈbjuːs
ˈfɒstə 
ʌnˈhɛlθi ˌsaɪkəˈlɒʤɪkəl ænd ˈsəʊʃəl dɪˈpɛndəns
hæŋ aʊt 
ˈpʌblɪk ˈvɛnjuːz 
bɪˈgɪn tuː 
aɪˈdɛntɪti 
ˈmænɪʤ ðə dɪˈmɑːndz 
ˌɪntəˈpɜːsən(ə)l rɪˈleɪʃənʃɪps
ˈhaɪndə 
ˈprəʊgrəs 
mɔː ˈʤɛnərəli
dɪsˈpaɪt 
ˌmɪsbɪˈheɪvjə
səˈʤɛsʧənz 
ɪgˈnɔːd 
ɪn ˈɔːdə tuː 
ˌgærənˈtiː 
ˈhɛlθi ˈsəʊʃəl dɪˈvɛləpmənt ɒv ˌædəʊˈlɛsnts
lɛs rɪsˈtrɪktɪv ˈmɛθədz 
rɪˈdjuːsɪŋ 
ɪnˈstɛd 
kənˈsɪdəd

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:

Some governments are c_________________________s to i_________________s for t_____________s that would r____________e them to be i________________f an a_______t after c_____________s. In my opinion, the m___________________s of such a p_______y would be g___________________d by its s__________________s.

O______________d, requiring teenagers to r__________n at home at night could help c_________________________y. In certain cities, it is c____________n for p____________________________s to be f________________________y l______________t. A teenager who is either e______________n such activity or simply p_________________h those areas is at s____________________k. B_______________e, teenagers would be f______________o e________e in more w_____________________s and the a____________s would be b____________________________s. In this way, governments could limit both c_________________________n teenagers.

H__________r, the c_______________________e affect a m__________y of teenagers while this r__________m would i________r the s_______________h of the m_________y. E___________g teenagers stay home e___________________s their s_____________________s to w_______________y. I_____________________s, if the family is small or there are i_____________________e, this could f______r an u____________________________________e. When teenagers h____________t with friends at concerts, malls, parks, and other p______________s they b__________o develop their i_________y and m______________________s of i________________________________s. Any reforms that h________r such growth are negative for the p_________s of society m________________y.

In conclusion, d_________e the positive effect a curfew would have on m_____________r, such s___________s should be i____________d i________________o g_____________e the h_____________________________________s. There are l_________________________s of r___________g juvenile deliquency that could i____________d be c____________d.

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:

https://www.garda.com/crisis24/news-alerts/506116/vietnam-authorities-imposing-daily-1800-0600-curfew-in-ho-chi-minh-city-from-july-26-update-8

Speaking Practice

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

Staying up Late

  1. Do you often stay up late?
  2. Is it easy to wake up in the morning if you stay up late?
  3. Did you stay up late often when you were younger?
  4. What do you usually do when you stay up late?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topic below:

Some people think that the best way to increase road safety is to increase the minimum legal age for driving cars and riding motorbikes.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

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