Plan this opinion 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:
Minor crimes such as shoplifting should be punished with fines rather than prison.
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.
Some people believe that minor crimes such as shoplifting should be punished with fines rather than prison. I agree with this view to a large extent, although there are exceptions.
The principal argument is proportionality. Prison is a severe punishment that removes a person's freedom, and it seems excessive for stealing items of low value. A fine or similar penalty is adequate to show that the behaviour is wrong while keeping the punishment in proportion to the harm. Prison is also costly for taxpayers, who must pay for accommodation, food and security for each inmate, and this money could be better spent on crime prevention. In addition, a short prison sentence can do lasting damage. A person might lose their job and housing and, once released, find it hard to get work with a criminal record, making them more likely to steal again. Prisons can also expose petty offenders to more serious criminals, who may encourage them into worse crimes. Fines, by contrast, allow the offender to remain at work and at home, and the income goes to the state.
Nevertheless, fines are not suitable for all cases. People living in poverty may be unable to pay, and a fine could push them into further difficulty or even into jail for non-payment. In such cases, alternatives such as community service, or treatment for addiction or mental illness, may be more effective. Repeat offenders who ignore fines or who steal on a large scale might need stricter measures.
In conclusion, fines and other non-custodial penalties are a fairer and more effective response to minor crimes than imprisonment, as long as the system allows for individual circumstances and repeated offending.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| petty crime | small, less serious crimes |
| impose a fine | order payment as a punishment |
| first-time offender | person committing a crime for the first time |
| hardened criminal | experienced lawbreaker |
| proportionate | suitable in size to the crime |
| shoplifting | stealing from shops |
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