IELTS Writing Task 2 crime questions: ideas, vocabulary and a model essay
Crime and punishment questions ask why people commit crimes, whether prison works, how to deal with young offenders and what role the police, parents and the media should play. They reward clear cause-and-effect reasoning.
Updated 2026-10-23
Common crime themes
- Punishment: prison vs rehabilitation, longer sentences, community service
- Causes: poverty, unemployment, drugs, family background, peer pressure
- Young offenders: treating them as adults or not, parents' responsibility
- Prevention: policing, education, CCTV, youth programmes
- Modern crime: cybercrime, online fraud, the media's influence
Topic vocabulary
| Word or phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| offender | a person who commits a crime | First-time offenders need a second chance. |
| reoffend | commit another crime after punishment | Many prisoners reoffend within two years. |
| rehabilitation | helping offenders live without crime | Rehabilitation reduces reoffending. |
| deterrent | something that discourages an action | Long sentences are meant to be a deterrent. |
| community service | unpaid work as a punishment | Vandals could do community service. |
| custodial sentence | time in prison | Custodial sentences are costly. |
| juvenile delinquency | crime by young people | Juvenile delinquency is linked to school dropout. |
| law enforcement | police and similar agencies | Law enforcement must adapt to cybercrime. |
| petty crime | minor crime such as shoplifting | Petty crime rises in hard economic times. |
| root causes | the deepest reasons | Tackle the root causes of crime, not just symptoms. |
| surveillance | close watching, e.g. by cameras | Surveillance cameras may deter theft. |
| restorative justice | offenders meeting and making up for harm to victims | Restorative justice helps victims recover. |
10 crime questions to practise
- Some people think that the best way to reduce crime is to give longer prison sentences. Others think there are better ways. Discuss both views and give your opinion. (discussion; model essay below)
- Young people who commit serious crimes should be punished in the same way as adults. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (opinion)
- Crime rates among young people are rising in many cities. Why is this happening, and what can be done? (two-part / problem and solution)
- Prisoners should be given education and job training rather than simply being punished. Do you agree or disagree? (opinion)
- Some people believe that criminals should be made to do unpaid community work instead of going to prison. Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages? (advantages and disadvantages)
- Parents should be held legally responsible for crimes committed by their children. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (opinion)
- Cybercrime is increasing. What problems does this cause, and how can individuals and governments respond? (problem and solution)
- Some people say that the media's focus on violent crime makes society more afraid than it should be. Do you agree or disagree? (opinion)
- Many cities have installed surveillance cameras in public places. Is this a positive or negative development? (advantages and disadvantages)
- Poverty is the main cause of crime. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (opinion)
Ideas for the most common questions
Prison or rehabilitation?
| Prison and punishment | Rehabilitation |
|---|---|
| Protects the public from dangerous offenders | Most prisoners are released one day, so they must be able to live without crime |
| Justice for victims | Education and training reduce reoffending |
| A possible deterrent | Prisons are expensive and can teach crime |
Treat young offenders as adults?
| Yes | No |
|---|---|
| Victims suffer the same harm, whatever the offender's age | Young people's judgement is still developing |
| Serious crimes need serious consequences | Adult prisons expose them to hardened criminals |
| May deter gangs from using teenagers | Young offenders respond better to education and support |
Is poverty the main cause?
| Yes | Other causes matter too |
|---|---|
| Petty theft often rises with unemployment | Many poor people never commit crimes |
| Poor areas offer fewer opportunities and youth services | Wealthy people commit fraud and corruption |
| Financial stress increases drug and family problems | Peer pressure, drugs and family breakdown play a role |
Band 9 model essay
Question: Some people think that the best way to reduce crime is to give longer prison sentences. Others think there are better ways. Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Governments everywhere want to reduce crime, but they disagree on how. Some believe that longer prison sentences are the most effective deterrent, while others argue that crime is better prevented through education and rehabilitation. In my view, longer sentences have a limited role, and the more effective approach is to tackle the causes of crime.
Supporters of longer sentences make two main arguments. First, they believe that the threat of a long time in prison discourages people from committing crimes in the first place. Second, while dangerous offenders are in prison, they cannot harm the public, so longer sentences protect society directly. For serious violent crimes, many people also feel that a long sentence is simply what justice requires.
Critics, however, point out that most offenders do not expect to be caught, so the length of a possible sentence has little influence on their decisions. Research has generally found that the likelihood of being caught deters crime more than the severity of the punishment. Prison can also make matters worse: offenders lose jobs and family connections, mix with more experienced criminals and often return to crime after release. Because prisons are expensive, money spent on longer sentences cannot be spent on police, education or support services.
I find the second view more convincing for most types of crime. Long sentences are justified for people who pose a serious danger to others, but for minor and first-time offenders, education and job training, drug treatment and community sentences are more likely to prevent reoffending. Investing in youth programmes and better policing would also stop many crimes from happening at all.
In conclusion, while longer sentences may be appropriate for the most dangerous criminals, addressing the reasons people commit crime and making sure offenders are likely to be caught are more effective ways to make society safer.
Word count: 304
Why this essay works
The writer explains the case for longer sentences fairly, with two separate arguments, before giving the counter-arguments. The opinion distinguishes between types of crime, which is more precise and more persuasive than rejecting prison altogether. See the discussion essay guide.
Related practice
- Society questions, for family and community topics
- Problem and solution essays
- Reading passages on society: IELTS Reading society topic
Frequently asked questions
What crime topics are common in IELTS Writing?
Prison versus rehabilitation, longer sentences, young offenders, the causes of crime, the death penalty, police carrying guns, cybercrime and whether the media glamorises crime.
Should I mention specific laws or statistics in crime essays?
Only if you are sure they are accurate. General statements such as 'many prisoners reoffend after release' are safer than precise figures you cannot check.