This is an IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer from the real IELTS exam about the topic of crime, which comes up frequently on the test.
These questions are really common in the writing test and can come up on IELTS speaking as well.
Read my sample answer below and practice some of the vocabulary related to crime!
Here is some review on IELTS Task 2 Writing structures.
These are some other IELTS Task 2 Writing Sample Answers that I wrote!
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Dave
IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer (Crime and the Police)
Some countries are struggling with increases in crime rates. Some believe that having more police on the streets is best way to reduce and combat crime. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Many countries today are grappling with the best ways to curb rising crime rates and some have suggested that increased police presence on the streets is the optimal solution. Although I think this would have a positive effect for obvious reasons, the best solution is more nuanced and requires a deeper understanding of the sources underlying crime.
There is little doubt that employing greater numbers of police officers will have an adverse affect on criminality. One of the best examples of this would be in New York City under Mayor Rudy Giuliani during the late 1980s and early 90s. At that time, New York was a haven for criminals and many areas of the city were deemed too dangerous by residents to safely live in or walk through at night. One of the many measures that Giuliani used to reduce crime was significantly increasing the number of police officers during his time in office. This led to a reciprocal decline in crime and made the tourist-heavy neighbourhoods almost entirely safe and the rougher districts at least passably crime-free.
The above-mentioned measures were only effective because administrators also tackled the root causes of crime. It is generally agreed upon that the principle causes of crime are related to education indirectly and poverty more directly. If you look at countries with extremely low poverty and unemployment rates, such as Japan, you will see correspondingly low rates of crime. In Japan, this begins with one of the world’s most renowned educational systems. Students graduate from high school and university with immediately employable skills and most are employed throughout their lifetimes. Since they have money to afford a good standard of living there is little incentive for criminal behaviour and the crime rate is among the lowest in the world.
In conclusion, the best way to reduce crime in the long-term is to invest more in education and the economy to stimulate job growth and address the catalysts spurring on crime. Any government that is serious about making their country a safer place must first take steps to improve their educational system as that will have the largest impact on creating the stable jobs that discourage criminality in all its forms.
IELTS Examiner Sample Answer Analysis (Crime and the Police)
1. Many countries today are grappling with the best ways to curb rising crime rates and some have suggested that increased police presence on the streets is the optimal solution. 2. Although I think this would have a positive effect for obvious reasons, the best solution is more nuanced and requires a deeper understanding of the sources underlying crime.
1. My first sentence quickly restates the topic for the essay – spend a lot of time understanding the question correctly but don’t waste time writing this sentence – it isn’t that important!
2. Next is my opinion. State your opinion 100% clearly or you could get a task achievement band 5!
1. There is little doubt that employing greater numbers of police officers will have an adverse affect on criminality. 2. One of the best examples of this would be in New York City under Mayor Rudy Giuliani during the late 1980s and early 90s. 3. At that time, New York was a haven for criminals and many areas of the city were deemed too dangerous by residents to safely live in or walk through at night. 4. One of the many measures that Giuliani used to reduce crime was significantly increasing the number of police officers during his time in office. 5. This led to a reciprocal decline in crime and made the tourist-heavy neighbourhoods almost entirely safe and the rougher districts at least passably crime-free.
1. The first sentence is my topic sentence with the topic (police on the street) and my main idea (negative effect on crime).
2. My second sentence already begins my example. Don’t waste time – run right to your example as fast as you can!
3. The third sentence further develops the same example – don’t run away from the example – stick with it!
4. My fourth sentence continues to develop the same example.
5. Even my fifth sentence develops this same example! You can also include a conclusion sentence for the paragraph if you have time.
1. The above-mentioned measures were only effective because administrators also tackled the root causes of crime. 2. It is generally agreed upon that the principle causes of crime are related to education indirectly and poverty more directly. 3. If you look at countries with extremely low poverty and unemployment rates, such as Japan, you will see correspondingly low rates of crime. 4. In Japan, this begins with one of the world’s most renowned educational systems. 5. Students graduate from high school and university with immediately employable skills and most are employed throughout their lifetimes. 6. Since they have money to afford a good standard of living there is little incentive for criminal behaviour and the crime rate is among the lowest in the world.
1. The first sentence is again the topic sentence for the paragraph with my main idea – tackling the root causes of crime.
2. My second sentence explains my main idea before I get to my example.
3. The third sentence begins my example by mentioning Japan and why its crime is so low.
4. My fourth sentence continues to develop the answer about Japan.
5. The fifth sentence still continues describing the example of Japan.
6. My sixth sentence concludes the example and paragraph.
1. In conclusion, the best way to reduce crime in the long-term is to invest more in education and the economy to stimulate job growth and address the catalysts spurring on crime. 2. Any government that is serious about making their country a safer place must first take steps to improve their educational system as that will have the largest impact on creating the stable jobs that discourage criminality in all its forms.
1. My first sentence says my opinions for the second time. Be clear! Don’t sit in the middle with your opinion, you must choose a side!
2. The second sentence adds an extra detail to the paragraph that many examiners will require for at least band 7 for task achievement.
Sample Answer Vocabulary
What do the words in bold mean? If you’re not sure, don’t use a dictionary – try to figure out the meaning from the whole sentence then check your answers below!
Many countries today are grappling with the best ways to curb rising crime rates and some have suggested that increased police presence on the streets is the optimal solution. Although I think this would have a positive effect for obvious reasons, the best solution is more nuanced and requires a deeper understanding of the sources underlying crime.
There is little doubt that employing greater numbers of police officers will have an adverse effect on criminality. One of the best examples of this would be in New York City under Mayor Rudy Giuliani during the late 1980s and early 90s. At that time, New York was a haven for criminals and many areas of the city were deemed too dangerous by residents to safely live in or walk through at night. One of the many measures that Giuliani used to reduce crime was significantly increasing the number of police officers during his time in office. This led to a reciprocal decline in crime and made the tourist-heavy neighbourhoods almost entirely safe and the rougher districts at least passably crime-free.
The above-mentioned measures were only effective because administrators also tackled the root causes of crime. It is generally agreed upon that the principle causes of crime are related to education indirectly and poverty more directly. If you look at countries with extremely low poverty and unemployment rates, such as Japan, you will see correspondingly low rates of crime. In Japan, this begins with one of the world’s most renowned educational systems. Students graduate from high school and university with immediately employable skills and most are employed throughout their lifetimes. Since they have money to afford a good standard of living there is little incentive for criminal behaviour and the crime rate is among the lowest in the world.
In conclusion, the best way to reduce crime in the long-term is to invest more in education and the economy to stimulate job growth and address the catalysts spurring on crime. Any government that is serious about making their country a safer place must first take steps to improve their educational system as that will have the largest impact on creating the stable jobs that discourage criminality in all its forms.
Answers:
grappling with: strugglling with/fighting
curb: slow down
crime rates: the level of crime
increased police presence: more police on the streets
optimal solution: best way of dealing with
obvious reasons: clear, definite justifications
nuanced: complex
requires a deeper understanding: needs more study/analysis
underlying: root causes/foundation
There is little doubt that: no question that
adverse effect: negative impact
criminality: crime
under: while someone serves in office (under Obama, Trump, Napoleon, etc.)
haven: safe place for
deemed: considered/thought to be
measures: methods
reciprocal decline: related decrease
tourist-heavy neighbourhoods: areas where tourists frequent
rougher districts at least passably crime-free: dangerous areas at least mostly free of crime
above-mentioned: said before
administrators: people working in offices/government
tackled: combatted
root causes: sources
principle causes: main reasons
indirectly: not directly
poverty: being poor
directly: from a clearly identified source
unemployment rates: the number of people without jobs
correspondingly: related
most renowned educational systems: good schools
employable skills: skills that help you to get a job
lifetimes: as long as you live
good standard of living: good quality of life
little incentive: no reason for
long-term: over a long period of time
stimulate job growth: increase the number of jobs for people
catalysts spurring on: causes leading to
take steps: take action towards
stable jobs: good jobs that don’t go away easily
discourage criminality in all its forms: decrease all crimes
Pronunciation
ˈgræplɪŋ wɪð
kɜːb
kraɪm reɪts
ɪnˈkriːst pəˈliːs ˈprɛzns
ˈɒptɪməl səˈluːʃən
ˈɒbvɪəs ˈriːznz
nju(ː)ˈɑːnst
rɪˈkwaɪəz ə ˈdiːpər ˌʌndəˈstændɪŋ
ˌʌndəˈlaɪɪŋ
ðeər ɪz ˈlɪtl daʊt ðæt
ˈædvɜːs ɪˈfɛkt
ˌkrɪmɪˈnælɪti
ˈʌndə
ˈheɪvn
diːmd
ˈmɛʒəz
rɪˈsɪprəkəl dɪˈklaɪn
ˈtʊərɪst–ˈhɛvi ˈneɪbəhʊdz
ˈrʌfə ˈdɪstrɪkts æt liːst ˈpɑːsəbli kraɪm–friː
əˈbʌvˈmɛnʃ(ə)nd
ədˈmɪnɪstreɪtəz
ˈtækld
ruːt ˈkɔːzɪz
ˈprɪnsəpl ˈkɔːzɪz
ˌɪndɪˈrɛktli
ˈpɒvəti
dɪˈrɛktli
ˌʌnɪmˈplɔɪmənt reɪts
ˌkɒrɪsˈpɒndɪŋli
məʊst rɪˈnaʊnd ˌɛdju(ː)ˈkeɪʃənl ˈsɪstɪmz
ɪmˈplɔɪəbl skɪlz
ˈlaɪftaɪmz
gʊd ˈstændəd ɒv ˈlɪvɪŋ
ˈlɪtl ɪnˈsɛntɪv
ˈlɒŋtɜːm
ˈstɪmjʊleɪt ʤɒb grəʊθ
ˈkætəlɪsts ˈspɜːrɪŋ ɒn
teɪk stɛps
ˈsteɪbl ʤɒbz
dɪsˈkʌrɪʤ ˌkrɪmɪˈnælɪti ɪn ɔːl ɪts fɔːmz
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
Many countries today are _____________ the best ways to _____________ rising _____________ and some have suggested that _____________ on the streets is the _____________. Although I think this would have a positive effect for _____________, the best solution is more _____________ and _____________ of the sources _____________ crime.
_____________ employing greater numbers of police officers will have an _____________ on _____________. One of the best examples of this would be in New York City _____________ Mayor Rudy Giuliani during the late 1980s and early 90s. At that time, New York was a _____________ for criminals and many areas of the city were _____________ too dangerous by residents to safely live in or walk through at night. One of the many _____________ that Giuliani used to reduce crime was significantly increasing the number of police officers during his time in office. This led to a _____________ in crime and made the _____________ almost entirely safe and the _____________.
The _____________ measures were only effective because _____________ also _____________ the _____________ of crime. It is generally agreed upon that the _____________ of crime are related to education _____________ and _____________ more _____________. If you look at countries with extremely low poverty and _____________, such as Japan, you will see _____________ low rates of crime. In Japan, this begins with one of the world’s _____________. Students graduate from high school and university with immediately _____________ and most are employed throughout their _____________. Since they have money to afford a _____________ there is _____________ for criminal behaviour and the crime rate is among the lowest in the world.
In conclusion, the best way to reduce crime in the _____________ is to invest more in education and the economy to _____________ and address the _____________ crime. Any government that is serious about making their country a safer place must first _____________ to improve their educational system as that will have the largest impact on creating the _____________ that _____________.
Crime Links from YouTube and Articles
Why Japan’s Crime Rate Is So Low
CRIME:The Animated Series – Marcus Mcghee – MOCAtv (Explicit Language)
Why should you read “Crime and Punishment”? – Alex Gendler
Comment below – Have you ever committed a crime?
Lots of times! I remember once I …
Just the once …
Yeah, a few times…
What?! I’d never…
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