Many criminals commit further crimes as soon as they are released from prison.

Practice this IELTS Writing Task 2 question on IELTSX. Many criminals commit further crimes as soon as they are released from prison.

Criminals committing further crimes after release from prison - IELTS Writing Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

What do you think are the causes of this? What possible solutions can you suggest?

Write at least 250 words.

A student's answer to this task, and the feedback on it

Written by an IELTSX user under exam conditions and published unedited and anonymously. Band 7 ยท 262 words.

In the modern era, the number of cases in which criminals keep committing crimes has significantly increased. While this can be largely attributed to the difficulty of finding employment, I personally believe that this problem can be effectively addressed through government support.

One compelling reason why offenders return to crime is long-term unemployment. Since former criminals are often considered unreliable and suspicious, many employers are unwilling to hire them, thereby increasing the financial pressure they face. A lack of practical experience and skills prevents them from obtaining well-paid jobs and pushes them to reoffend because of feelings of hopelessness. Without financial security, offenders cannot access quality healthcare or nutritious food, ultimately worsening their health. Consequently, the effects are not limited to financial problems but also extend to health issues. Therefore, unemployment is the main reason why offenders return to crime.

To address the problem of reoffending, it is imperative for the government to take decisive action by investing in correctional centres, where former criminals can be provided with basic human needs such as housing and employment. When they are under strict supervision and follow a structured lifestyle, they demonstrate better behaviour. By maintaining a healthy work-life balance and remaining under supervision until they fully change their lives, they are much more likely to become law-abiding citizens. Thus, correctional centres provide a genuine opportunity for offenders to rebuild their lives, successfully reintegrate into society, and effectively resolve the problem of returning to crime.

In conclusion, although unemployment is the primary reason why offenders commit crimes again, providing support can resolve this ever-growing issue.

Examiner feedback

This essay is well-structured and clearly addresses the prompt with a coherent line of argument. The language use is generally precise and grammatically sound, placing it solidly in the Band 7 range.

Task Response - 7

- Fully addresses the prompt by acknowledging the causes of reoffending and proposing government support as a solution - Presents a clear position throughout with relevant and supported main ideas - Extends ideas logically, though some support in the final body paragraph leans slightly toward generalities rather than detailed examples

Coherence & Cohesion - 7

- Logically organises information with a clear progression from problem to solution - Uses appropriate cohesive devices such as 'Consequently', 'Therefore', and 'Thus' - Paragraphing is clear, with distinct introductions to main points and a concise conclusion

Lexical Resource - 7

- Uses a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow flexibility and precision - Incorporates less common lexical items like 'reoffend', 'reintegrate', and 'correctional centres' - Collocations are mostly natural, with only rare minor stylistic infelicities

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 7

- Employs a variety of complex structures with frequent error-free sentences - Demonstrates strong control over grammar and punctuation throughout the essay - Minor complex sentence attempts remain accurate and well-punctuated

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