Plan this problem and solution essay about crime 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:
Online fraud and cybercrime are increasing rapidly in many countries.
What problems does this cause and what solutions can you suggest?
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.
Online fraud and cybercrime are increasing rapidly in many countries. This essay will discuss the problems this causes and propose some solutions.
The most direct problem is financial loss. Individuals lose savings to phishing emails, fake shopping sites and romance scams, and businesses lose millions through data theft and ransomware attacks that lock their systems until a payment is made. Victims, especially elderly people, may also suffer lasting stress and embarrassment, and some never report the crime. Beyond personal harm, cybercrime reduces trust in digital services: if people fear that online banking or shopping is unsafe, they may avoid the convenience and economic benefits of the internet. Attacks on hospitals and public utilities can even endanger lives. For governments, investigating these crimes is costly, particularly because offenders often operate from other countries and are hard to trace.
Several solutions are available. Education is essential, and campaigns in schools, workplaces and the media can teach people to recognise suspicious messages, use strong passwords and enable two-step verification. Banks and online platforms can improve security by detecting unusual transactions, verifying identities and warning customers about known scams. Companies should be legally required to protect personal data and to report breaches quickly. Law enforcement agencies need specialist cybercrime units, better training and enough funding, and since criminals cross borders, international cooperation on investigations and extradition is vital. Agreements such as the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime provide a framework for this, though more countries need to join.
In conclusion, cybercrime causes financial loss, distress and a loss of trust in digital services. Public education, stronger security by companies and effective international policing would help to reduce the threat.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| cybercrime | crime committed online |
| identity theft | using someone's personal details illegally |
| phishing | tricking people into revealing information |
| data breach | leak of private information |
| firewall | software that blocks unauthorised access |
| raise awareness | make people know about a problem |
Answer random Part 1, 2 and 3 questions on an exam timer.
Average your four skill bands, rounded the way IELTS rounds them.
Compare an IELTS band with TOEFL, Duolingo and PTE scores and CEFR levels.
Look up the IELTS score a university asks for, with the source.