This is an IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer essay on the topic of crime and technology.
This is really efficient, important practice for you because it combines crime and technology – two really common topics on IELTS!
Read on for my sample answer essay, vocabulary, practice, and more!
Dave
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IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: Crime & Technology (Real Past Tests)
The crime rate nowadays is decreasing compared to the past due to advances in technology.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Real Past IELTS Tests
It is often argued that precipitous global declines in crime are principally down to developments in technology. While advanced technology admittedly plays an integral role in crime reduction, I would argue education hits more directly at the cause of crime.
The biggest argument in favour of technology’s impact is the advent of forensic science. In the past, forensics was an unreliable soft science that included notoriously mistake prone practices such as a dental identification and blood splatter analysis. Over the last couple of decades it has grown into a much more accurate tool. Courts now rely heavily on DNA testing, which is nearly 100% conclusive in most cases. This has had a two-fold effect, allowing prosecutors to reopen and investigate cold cases as well as better prosecute and deter current criminals.
However, education still more powerfully underpins decreases in crime because it does more to eradicate poverty. Poverty is far and away the chief cause of crime. Take for example a country such as China, which has developed rapidly in the last 30 years, elevating millions formerly below the poverty line. Their economic rise has been followed by better educational standards which has trickled down into better employment opportunities for graduates. The crime rate in China has plummeted simply because far fewer people have the basic motivation, poverty, to commit crimes.
In conclusion, the impact of technology is negligible next to educational reform, which undermines the deepest roots of crime. Forward-looking countries that prioritise education will also reap benefits that extend well beyond the crime rate.
Analysis
1. It is often argued that precipitous global declines in crime are principally down to developments in technology. 2. While advanced technology admittedly plays an integral role in crime reduction, I would argue education hits more directly at the cause of crime.
- For your first sentence, paraphrase what the overall topic is.
- In the second sentence, clearly state your opinion.
1. The biggest argument in favour of technology’s impact is the advent of forensic science. 2. In the past, forensics was an unreliable soft science that included notoriously mistake prone practices such as a dental identification and blood splatter analysis. 3. Over the last couple of decades it has grown into a much more accurate tool. 4. Courts now rely heavily on DNA testing, which is nearly 100% conclusive in most cases. 5. This has had a two-fold effect, allowing prosecutors to reopen and investigate cold cases as well as better prosecute and deter current criminals.
- Each paragraph should begin with a clear topic sentence that says your main idea.
- Give specific support. The more specific, the clearer your writing will be and the stronger your vocabulary.
- Continue to develop the same main idea.
- Give as much specific evidence/detail as you can to support the same main idea.
- Draw a conclusion or result to finish the paragraph.
1. However, education still more powerfully underpins decreases in crime because it does more to eradicate poverty. Poverty is far and away the chief cause of crime. 2. Take for example a country such as China, which has developed rapidly in the last 30 years, elevating millions formerly below the poverty line. 3. Their economic rise has been followed by better educational standards which has trickled down into better employment opportunities for graduates. 4. The crime rate in China has plummeted simply because far fewer people have the basic motivation, poverty, to commit crimes.
- Write another clear topic sentence.
- Start your example right away.
- Develop the same example.
- The more you develop the same example, the higher your task achievement score.
1. In conclusion, the impact of technology is negligible next to educational reform, which undermines the deepest roots of crime. 2. Forward-looking countries that prioritise education will also reap benefits that extend well beyond the crime rate.
- Restate your opinion – make sure it is the same as what you said in the introduction.
- Add in an extra detail or final thought to get full marks for task achievement.
Vocabulary
Figure out what the words in bold below mean based on the whole sentence:
It is often argued that precipitous global declines in crime are principally down to developments in technology. While advanced technology admittedly plays an integral role in crime reduction, I would argue education hits more directly at the cause of crime.
The biggest argument in favour of technology’s impact is the advent of forensic science. In the past, forensics was an unreliable soft science that included notoriously mistake prone practices such as a dental identification and blood splatter analysis. Over the last couple of decades it has grown into a much more accurate tool. Courts now rely heavily on DNA testing, which is nearly 100% conclusive in most cases. This has had a two-fold effect, allowing prosecutors to reopen and investigate cold cases as well as better prosecute and deter current criminals.
However, education still more powerfully underpins decreases in crime because it does more to eradicate poverty. Poverty is far and away the chief cause of crime. Take for example a country such as China, which has developed rapidly in the last 30 years, elevating millions formerly below the poverty line. Their economic rise has been followed by better educational standards which has trickled down into better employment opportunities for graduates. The crime rate in China has plummeted simply because far fewer people have the basic motivation, poverty, to commit crimes.
In conclusion, the impact of technology is negligible next to educational reform, which undermines the deepest roots of crime. Forward-looking countries that prioritise education will also reap benefits that extend well beyond the crime rate.
Answers
precipitous steep/fast
declines decreases
admittedly can’t debate
integral role important part
hits more directly is at the source of
in favour of over
advent beginning
forensic science crime scene investigation
unreliable soft science hard to trust methods
notoriously mistake prone practices famously makes bad mistakes/is unreliable
dental identification identifying people by their teeth/bites
blood splatter analysis using how blood lands as evidence
rely heavily depend on a lot
DNA testing strong physical evidence
100% conclusive unquestionable
two-fold effect double impact
prosecutors the lawyer who tries to convict
reopen open again
cold cases unsolved criminal cases
deter discourage
underpins serves as the basis for
eradicate poverty get rid of poor households
far and away by far/clearly
elevating lifting
below the poverty line poor
trickled down has an effect on
employment opportunities chances to get a job
plummeted decreased greatly
negligible little impact/meaningless
deepest roots source of
forward-looking countries progressive nations
prioritise emphasise
reap benefits get advantages from
well beyond not limited to
Pronunciation
prɪˈsɪpɪtəs
dɪˈklaɪnz
ədˈmɪtɪdli
ˈɪntɪgrəl rəʊl
hɪts mɔː dɪˈrɛktli
ɪn ˈfeɪvər ɒv
ˈædvənt
fəˈrɛnsɪk ˈsaɪəns
ˌʌnrɪˈlaɪəbl sɒft ˈsaɪəns
nəʊˈtɔːrɪəsli mɪsˈteɪk prəʊn ˈpræktɪsɪz
ˈdɛntl aɪˌdɛntɪfɪˈkeɪʃən
blʌd ˈsplætər əˈnæləsɪs
rɪˈlaɪ ˈhɛvɪli
diː-ɛn-eɪ ˈtɛstɪŋ
100% kənˈkluːsɪv
tuː-fəʊld ɪˈfɛkt
ˈprɒsɪkjuːtəz
ˌriːˈəʊpən
kəʊld ˈkeɪsɪz
dɪˈtɜː
ˌʌndəˈpɪnz
ɪˈrædɪkeɪt ˈpɒvəti
fɑːr ænd əˈweɪ
ˈɛlɪveɪtɪŋ
bɪˈləʊ ðə ˈpɒvəti laɪn
ˈtrɪkld daʊn
ɪmˈplɔɪmənt ˌɒpəˈtjuːnɪtiz
ˈplʌmɪtɪd
ˈnɛglɪʤəbl
ˈdiːpɪst ruːts
ˈfɔːwədˈlʊkɪŋ ˈkʌntriz
praɪˈɒrɪˌtaɪz
riːp ˈbɛnɪfɪts
wɛl bɪˈjɒnd
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the vocabulary blanks:
It is often argued that _______________ global _______________ in crime are principally down to developments in technology. While advanced technology _______________ plays an _______________ in crime reduction, I would argue education _______________ at the cause of crime.
The biggest argument _______________ technology’s impact is the _______________ of _______________. In the past, forensics was an _______________ that included _______________ such as a _______________ and _______________. Over the last couple of decades it has grown into a much more accurate tool. Courts now _______________ on _______________, which is nearly _______________ in most cases. This has had a _______________, allowing _______________ to _______________ and investigate _______________ as well as better prosecute and _______________ current criminals.
However, education still more powerfully _______________ decreases in crime because it does more to _______________. Poverty is _______________ the chief cause of crime. Take for example a country such as China, which has developed rapidly in the last 30 years, _______________ millions formerly _______________. Their economic rise has been followed by better educational standards which has _______________ into better _______________ for graduates. The crime rate in China has _______________ simply because far fewer people have the basic motivation, poverty, to commit crimes.
In conclusion, the impact of technology is _______________ next to educational reform, which undermines the _______________ of crime. _______________ that _______________ education will also _______________ that extend _______________ the crime rate.
Listening Practice
Watch the video below to review some of the ideas from my essay and learn about how forensic science isn’t always accurate:
Reading Practice
Read the article below for an interesting, related story!
https://www.wired.com/story/dna-transfer-framed-murder/
Comment any questions that you have below!
Hello Dave!
I have my IELTS Exam this month, so I am practicing writing according to your techniques. Below I have written a sample essay for you to review and correct me where needed. I really liked few of your sentences so I just paraphrased them in this essay. Hope you don’t mind 🙂 I will be waiting for your response.
Question:
It is often thought that the increase in juvenile crime can be attributed to violence in media. What do you think it is the reason for a growth in the rate of juvenile crime?
What solutions can you offer to deal with this situation?
Sample Answer:
Some people think that the violence shown by the media is propagating juvenile crimes and the crime rate is going upwards. According to my point of view, lack of education and unemployment are the main drivers for this growth and this trend can only be curtailed by providing more educational and better employment opportunities.
One of the main reasons for this upsurging juvenile crime rate is the lack of knowledge and education. Educated people are less prone to fall prey of these media hacks. Through education, a person is better able to understand the difference between good or bad. A knowledgeable person with good jobs hardly found a victim of these criminal record. Poverty is another most significant reason to trigger criminal instinct. Poverty either results into child labor or elderly people committing juvenile crimes to meet their requirements of basic needs which they are otherwise unable to find.
This situation can best be dealt by spreading knowledge of punishment related to these crimes and imparting of free education to poor people. To mark this trend negative, government ought to take responsibility to provide more educational facilities coupled with job opportunities. For Instance, In the recent past, China has alleviated the poverty on greater scale through education and employment leaving behind only a few people to get pricked by these violent broadcasts by media.
in a nutshell, only better educational standards trickling down into better employment opportunities can deter people from committing crimes. Countries looking forward to have crime-free environment should work towards creating awareness programs, free education and earning avenues.
Hi Sehrish!
I wouldn’t say lack of knowledge and education.
Lack of knowledge is a very general term and more or less a paraphrase with education – no need for it!
prey to
between right and wrong
another significant reason
results in
dealt with
Be careful with all the paraphrasing – most of the words changed are just the wrong word now or slightly off!
I’d recommend either try to replicate my answer or writing your own incorporating some phrases I use.
The second line in the opening, AN not AND. Hope you amend this
Thanks for noticing that Kyn – updated!