Plan this opinion essay about cities with the ideas and outline below, write it on a 40-minute timer, then compare it with a band-8 model answer.
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Installing surveillance cameras in all public places is the best way to reduce crime in cities.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
GoPrep wrote this practice question in the style of the exam. It is not an official IELTS question.
Pick two or three points from one or both columns. You do not need all of them, and your own examples score better than memorised ones.
Spend the first few minutes planning, then write.
0 words of 250 minimum
Your answer stays on this page only. Copy it before you leave.
Write your own answer first, then compare: how it answers the exact question, what each paragraph does, and which phrases you could borrow.
It is sometimes claimed that installing surveillance cameras in every public place is the best way to reduce crime. I disagree with this view: cameras are helpful, but they are neither the best solution nor free from serious drawbacks.
There are certainly benefits. Visible cameras can discourage some offences, particularly opportunistic crimes like theft and vandalism, and recorded footage helps police identify suspects and provide evidence in court. Cameras can also make people feel safer in car parks, stations and busy streets, and they allow emergency services to respond faster to incidents. In London, which has one of the densest camera networks in the world, footage has been crucial in solving many serious cases.
However, there are significant concerns. Constant monitoring raises serious privacy issues, as innocent people are recorded wherever they go, and the information could be misused by officials, hackers or companies. A society in which everyone is watched may also feel oppressive and could be used to suppress legitimate protest. More importantly, evidence on effectiveness is mixed: cameras may simply move crime to areas without them, and they do little to stop violent crimes committed in anger or in private. They are expensive to install, maintain and monitor, and money spent on thousands of cameras might achieve more if it were spent elsewhere.
In my view, the best way to cut crime is to address its causes. Investing in education, youth programmes, employment and housing reduces the motivation to offend, while well-lit streets and visible police patrols improve safety without constant recording. Cameras could be used selectively in high-risk locations under clear legal limits.
In conclusion, surveillance can assist in detecting crime, but it is not the best solution, and a balanced strategy that prioritises prevention and protects privacy would be more effective.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| surveillance | close watching |
| crime prevention | stopping crime |
| civil liberties | personal freedoms |
| deterrent | something that discourages action |
| public safety | protection of people |
| invasion of privacy | intrusion into private life |
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