Crime rates are likely to decline as the advancements in technology which help prevent and solve crimes in an easier way.

Practice this IELTS Writing Task 2 question on IELTSX. Crime rates are likely to decline as the advancements in technology which help prevent and solve crimes in an easier way.

Technology Advances Crime Prevention Solving Decline - IELTS Writing Task 2

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Do you agree or disagree?

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 7.5 ยท 307 words.

People have different views on whether developments in technology can reduce crime rates. While some people argue that modern tools can help police officers detect criminal cases more easily, I believe that advancements in technology can create new types of crimes if not controlled carefully.

Advocates of modern technologies cite various reasons to support their stance. Once law enforcement agencies use modern tools such as CCTV cameras, facial recognition systems, and DNA testing, they can monitor public places, track suspicious behaviours, and gather reliable evidence, which helps them to arrest criminals in the first place without errors. As a result, these effective investigations and justice systems create fear of being caught and punished among potential criminals, thereby discouraging them from committing offences. In a world where technology is playing a crucial role in every aspect of life, using it as a means of crime detection can make a big difference when it comes to preventing illegal activities and creating a safer society.

From my perspective, technology might pave the way for new types of crimes, too. As soon as potential criminals master the use of new devices, they tend to misuse this knowledge to hack private accounts, steal sensitive information, and commit online fraud. As a result, victims may lose their hard-earned money, privacy, and confidence in online platforms, which discourages them from using digital services like online banking, shopping, and even education. Gone are the days when criminals stole money and other valuable belongings in a physical world, since the advancement in technology has created a world where offenders are committing crimes in a more hidden, secure, and sophisticated way.

In conclusion, although new inventions have made it easy for police to detect and investigate physical criminal cases in an effective way, I hold the view that modern devices have increased the number of digital offences.

Examiner feedback

This is a very strong essay that demonstrates high-level control over language and structure. The candidate uses sophisticated grammatical structures and a wide range of vocabulary. The score is primarily limited to a 7.5 (rounded down to 7.5 based on a 7.75 average) because while the task is well-addressed, the argument regarding whether crime rates will actually* decline is slightly overshadowed by the discussion of the shifting nature of crime.

Task Response - 7

- The candidate addresses all parts of the task and presents a clear position throughout the essay. - Main ideas are extended and supported, though the counter-argument about technology creating crimes could be more explicitly linked back to the 'decline' of overall rates mentioned in the prompt. - The response presents a balanced view of both the benefits for law enforcement and the risks of cybercrime.

Coherence & Cohesion - 8

- Information and ideas are sequenced logically with a very clear progression throughout the response. - Cohesive devices such as 'thereby', 'as a result', and 'once' are used effectively and naturally to link ideas. - Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each paragraph containing a clear central topic sentence.

Lexical Resource - 8

- A wide range of vocabulary is used fluently to convey precise meanings (e.g., 'facial recognition', 'sophisticated', 'pave the way'). - There is high awareness of style and collocation, such as 'commit online fraud' and 'hard-earned money'. - Spelling and word formation are accurate throughout.

Grammatical Range & Accuracy - 8

- A wide range of structures is used, including complex conditional-style structures and inversion ('Gone are the days...'). - The majority of sentences are error-free, demonstrating high control of grammar and punctuation. - Minor slips do not impede communication and are extremely rare.

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