- 74.6KShares
This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of education in prison from the real IELTS exam.
Thank you for reading my essays and if you want to support my work, please consider signing up for my Patreon here where you will get exclusive access to my IELTS Ebooks and essay!
Dave
IELTS Essay: Education in Prison
Studies show that crime rates are lower among those with educational degrees. Therefore, the best way to reduce the crime rate is to educate criminals while they are still in prison.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Research has shown that educational level is a key determiner of potential criminal behaviour, leading many to suggest reorienting prisons to focus on helping inmates earn degrees. In my opinion, this approach would be ineffective relative to other measures.
Reformers point to the bulk of studies supporting this practice. The last 50 years have witnessed a growth in prison programs funded by federal governments and private activists aiding prisoners earning either a high school or university degree. Tracking those who are released with a degree compared to those without has shown a marked decrease in reoffenders among the former group. The reasons for this are self-evidently related to the better jobs available for individuals with diplomas. This tangible effect is heartening as prisons should ideally serve to rehabilitate convicts for civilian life and not simply punish them for past transgressions while limiting their future career options to more criminal activity.
However, the efficacy of prison education is limited compared to improved education for underprivileged segments of society. The research on education while incarcerated is dwarfed by studies on the primacy of education before the onset of criminal activity. A good example of this would be the persistently high crime rates among inner city youth who do not have access to good public schools. Those who fail to graduate from high school have drastically higher rates of later criminality ranging from burglary to robbery to violent crimes. If a student is supported in their studies, they have no need to turn to crime later in life to make ends meet. Once a convicted felon, even for the rare individuals who earn a degree, it is difficult to find good work later.
In conclusion, the unequivocal benefits of prison education reform do not justify its priority over more impactful educational measures. There should be a degree of balance but the most efficient solution should invariably receive the most resources.
Analysis
1. Research has shown that educational level is a key determiner of potential criminal behaviour, leading many to suggest reorienting prisons to focus on helping inmates earn degrees. 2. In my opinion, this approach would be ineffective relative to other measures.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Reformers point to the bulk of studies supporting this practice. 2. The last 50 years have witnessed a growth in prison programs funded by federal governments and private activists aiding prisoners earning either a high school or university degree. 3. Tracking those who are released with a degree compared to those without has shown a marked decrease in reoffenders among the former group. 4. The reasons for this are self-evidently related to the better jobs available for individuals with diplomas. 5. This tangible effect is heartening as prisons should ideally serve to rehabilitate convicts for civilian life and not simply punish them for past transgressions while limiting their future career options to more criminal activity.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop it.
- State the results.
- Finish with the furthest possible results.
1. However, the efficacy of prison education is limited compared to improved education for underprivileged segments of society. 2. The research on education while incarcerated is dwarfed by studies on the primacy of education before the onset of criminal activity. 3. A good example of this would be the persistently high crime rates among inner city youth who do not have access to good public schools. 4. Those who fail to graduate from high school have drastically higher rates of later criminality ranging from burglary to robbery to violent crimes. 5. If a student is supported in their studies, they have no need to turn to crime later in life to make ends meet. 6. Once a convicted felon, even for the rare individuals who earn a degree, it is difficult to find good work later.
- Write another topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Give a specific example.
- Develop the example.
- Continue with the same example and main idea.
- Conclude with a strong statement.
1. In conclusion, the unequivocal benefits of prison education reform do not justify its priority over more impactful educational measures. 2. There should be a degree of balance but the most efficient solution should invariably receive the most resources.
- Repeat your opinion and summarise your main ideas.
- Add a final thought/detail. Learn more about how to write your conclusion here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
Research has shown that educational level is a key determiner of potential criminal behaviour, leading many to suggest reorienting prisons to focus on helping inmates earn degrees. In my opinion, this approach would be ineffective relative to other measures.
Reformers point to the bulk of studies supporting this practice. The last 50 years have witnessed a growth in prison programs funded by federal governments and private activists aiding prisoners earning either a high school or university degree. Tracking those who are released with a degree compared to those without has shown a marked decrease in reoffenders among the former group. The reasons for this are self-evidently related to the better jobs available for individuals with diplomas. This tangible effect is heartening as prisons should ideally serve to rehabilitate convicts for civilian life and not simply punish them for past transgressions while limiting their future career options to more criminal activity.
However, the efficacy of prison education is limited compared to improved education for underprivileged segments of society. The research on education while incarcerated is dwarfed by studies on the primacy of education before the onset of criminal activity. A good example of this would be the persistently high crime rates among inner city youth who do not have access to good public schools. Those who fail to graduate from high school have drastically higher rates of later criminality ranging from burglary to robbery to violent crimes. If a student is supported in their studies, they have no need to turn to crime later in life to make ends meet. Once a convicted felon, even for the rare individuals who earn a degree, it is difficult to find good work later.
In conclusion, the unequivocal benefits of prison education reform do not justify its priority over more impactful educational measures. There should be a degree of balance but the most efficient solution should invariably receive the most resources.
Answers
educational level how much you have studied, your degrees
key determiner crucial element
potential criminal behaviour possible criminal actions
leading making
suggest advise
reorienting prisons changing the direction of incarceration
inmates people in prison
degrees certificates
ineffective relative to not as useful compared to
measures actions
reformers people who want to make changes
bulk of studies majority of research
practice institution, way of doing things
witnessed has seen
prison programs jail reforms
funded by given money by
federal governments the national government
private activists not the government, individuals
aiding helping
tracking following
released let out
marked decrease clear fall
reoffenders among the former group people who commit crimes again in the first mentioned group
self-evidently obviously
diplomas certificates
tangible effect clear impact
heartening gives you hope
ideally serve to in a perfect world works to
rehabilitate convicts fix prisoners
civilian life living among normal society
punish hurt
past transgressions mistakes in the past
limiting their future career options not many job opportunities
criminal activity bad behaviour
efficacy how well it works
limited contained
improved education better schools
underprivileged segments of society poorer groups of people
incarcerated in prison/jail
dwarfed made lesser
primacy importance
onset beginning
persistently high crime rates always committing a lot of crimes
inner city youth kids living in the city
access to good public schools can go to good government schools
fail to graduate do not get out of high school
drastically higher rates clearly more of them
later criminality ranging from … to … to after that commit crimes including
later in life when they’re older
make ends meet make enough money
convicted felon incarcerated individual
rare not common
unequivocal benefits clear advantages
priority more important
impactful educational measures effectual policies related to education
a degree of balance some equality
efficient solution cost-effective remedy
invariably always
resources money, time, etc.
Pronunciation
ˌɛdju(ː)ˈkeɪʃənl ˈlɛvl
kiː dɪˈtɜːmɪnə
pəʊˈtɛnʃəl ˈkrɪmɪnl bɪˈheɪvjə
ˈliːdɪŋ
səˈʤɛst
ˌriːˈɔːriɛntɪŋ ˈprɪznz
ˈɪnmeɪts
dɪˈgriːz
ˌɪnɪˈfɛktɪv ˈrɛlətɪv tuː
ˈmɛʒəz
rɪˈfɔːməz
bʌlk ɒv ˈstʌdiz
ˈpræktɪs
ˈwɪtnɪst
ˈprɪzn ˈprəʊgræmz
ˈfʌndɪd baɪ
ˈfɛdərəl ˈgʌvnmənts
ˈpraɪvɪt ˈæktɪvɪsts
ˈeɪdɪŋ
ˈtrækɪŋ
rɪˈliːst
mɑːkt ˈdiːkriːs
ˌriːəˈfɛndəz əˈmʌŋ ðə ˈfɔːmə gruːp
sɛlf-ˈɛvɪdəntli
dɪˈpləʊməz
ˈtænʤəbl ɪˈfɛkt
ˈhɑːtnɪŋ
aɪˈdɪəli sɜːv tuː
ˌriːəˈbɪlɪteɪt ˈkɒnvɪkts
səˈvɪljən laɪf
ˈpʌnɪʃ
pɑːst trænsˈgrɛʃənz
ˈlɪmɪtɪŋ ðeə ˈfjuːʧə kəˈrɪər ˈɒpʃənz
ˈkrɪmɪnl ækˈtɪvɪti
ˈɛfɪkəsi
ˈlɪmɪtɪd
ɪmˈpruːvd ˌɛdju(ː)ˈkeɪʃən
ˌʌndəˈprɪvɪlɪʤd ˈsɛgmənts ɒv səˈsaɪəti
ɪnˈkɑːsəreɪtɪd
dwɔːft
ˈpraɪməsi
ˈɒnsɛt
pəˈsɪstəntli haɪ kraɪm reɪts
ˈɪnə ˈsɪti juːθ
ˈæksɛs tuː gʊd ˈpʌblɪk skuːlz
feɪl tuː ˈgrædjʊət
ˈdræstɪk(ə)li ˈhaɪə reɪts
ˈleɪtə ˌkrɪmɪˈnælɪti ˈreɪnʤɪŋ frɒm … tuː … tuː
ˈleɪtər ɪn laɪf
meɪk ɛndz miːt
kənˈvɪktɪd ˈfɛlən
reə
ˌʌnɪˈkwɪvəkəl ˈbɛnɪfɪts
praɪˈɒrɪti
ˈɪmpæktf(ə)l ˌɛdju(ː)ˈkeɪʃənl ˈmɛʒəz
ə dɪˈgriː ɒv ˈbæləns
ɪˈfɪʃənt səˈluːʃən
ɪnˈveərɪəbli
rɪˈsɔːsɪz
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
Research has shown that e_____________________l is a k___________________r of p______________________________r, l___________g many to s__________t r_______________________s to focus on helping i___________s earn d__________s. In my opinion, this approach would be i____________________________o other m_____________s.
R_____________s point to the b_________________s supporting this p____________e. The last 50 years have w___________d a growth in p_________________s f_______________y f_______________________s and p_________________s a__________g prisoners earning either a high school or university degree. T_____________g those who are r___________d with a degree compared to those without has shown a m________________e in r_______________s a____________________________p. The reasons for this are s___________________y related to the better jobs available for individuals with d____________s. This t_________________t is h_____________g as prisons should i___________________o r______________________s for c__________________e and not simply p___________h them for p_____________________s while l_______________________________s to more c____________________y.
However, the e_____________y of prison education is l____________d compared to i___________________n for u__________________________________y. The research on education while i_________________d is d_______________d by studies on the p_____________y of education before the o________t of criminal activity. A good example of this would be the p_____________________________s among i_______________________h who do not have a_______________________________s. Those who f_________________e from high school have d__________________________s of l_________________y r_______________m burglary ____ robbery ____ violent crimes. If a student is supported in their studies, they have no need to turn to crime l_______________e to m__________________t. Once a c________________n, even for the r_____e individuals who earn a degree, it is difficult to find good work later.
In conclusion, the u_______________________s of prison education reform do not justify its p___________y over more i________________________________s. There should be a_____________________e but the most e___________________n should i__________________y receive the most r_________________s.
Listening Practice
Learn more about a project related to this from Bard College and use these ideas to practice:
Reading Practice
Read more about this topic from a review about a TV show here and practice with the following reading activities:
Speaking Practice
Answer the following 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
Write about the related topic below and then check with my sample answer:
The most common solution for criminal behaviour is prison but many believe education is a better method.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
- 74.6KShares