Plan this discussion 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:
Some people believe that prison is the best punishment for criminals. Others think that community service is more effective.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
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.
Some people believe that prison is the best punishment for criminals, while others think community service is more effective. In my opinion, prison should be used for serious offenders, while community service is better for minor crimes.
Those who support prison have some strong arguments. Locking up dangerous criminals protects the public, since they cannot reoffend while they are inside. The prospect of losing freedom may also deter others from committing crimes, and for serious offences like murder or armed robbery, imprisonment shows that society takes the harm seriously and offers justice to victims.
However, prison has significant drawbacks, especially for less serious offenders. It is very expensive for taxpayers, and overcrowded prisons can become schools for crime, where first-time offenders learn from hardened criminals. Many prisoners lose their jobs, homes and family ties, and after release they find it difficult to rebuild their lives, which makes reoffending more likely. In countries such as the United Kingdom, short prison sentences have been associated with high reoffending rates. Community service, by contrast, allows offenders to remain with their families and in employment while repaying society through useful work, such as cleaning public spaces or helping in care homes. This approach can teach responsibility and give offenders a sense of purpose, and it costs far less. Communities benefit directly from the work done.
Therefore, I believe that the justice system should be flexible. Prison should be reserved for violent and dangerous criminals, while people who commit minor offences such as petty theft or vandalism should be given community service, together with training or counselling where needed.
In conclusion, prison is necessary for serious crimes, but community service is a cheaper and more constructive punishment for minor ones.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| custodial sentence | punishment of time in prison |
| reoffend | commit another crime |
| deterrent | something that discourages action |
| rehabilitation | helping a criminal return to normal life |
| minor offence | small crime |
| community service | unpaid work as a punishment |
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