This is a model response to a Writing Task 2 topic from High Scorer’s Choice IELTS Practice Tests book series (reprinted with permission). This answer is close to IELTS Band 9.
Set 5 Academic book, Practice Test 22
Writing Task 2
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
It is a fact that the majority of people who are sent to prison commit further crime after their release.
What is causing this? What can be done to change this?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your knowledge or experience.
You should write at least 250 words.
Sample Band 9 Essay
It is a sad fact that criminals who leave prison go on to commit further crime. There are various reasons for this, but there are also some things that can be done to prevent it from happening.
One reason for this recidivism is due to a lack of legitimate income. Many people turn to crime as they cannot find an alternative to earn money. When such person comes out of prison, it is very often the case that they have the same few opportunities for a legitimate income. In fact, these opportunities will even be reduced, as employers are often less willing to give an ex-prisoner a job. Some people also return to crime, as they spend all the time of their prison sentence with other criminals. This is not a great environment for rehabilitation, and sometimes even a network of contacts can be made to help develop criminal activities on release.
One important way to help address this problem is education. Criminals who have turned to illegal activities because of no alternatives to earn a living need to learn a way to earn a wage, such as a trade or vocational skills. Computer skills, for example, are in high demand and someone trained in these could very possibly find work. In addition, governments can offer incentives to employers to attract them to give jobs to newly-released prisoners. This would help people who don’t really want to return to crime achieve a fresh start. As keeping people in prison is an expensive business, governments might find it cheaper to pay these incentives.
To sum up, people returning to crime is a tragedy that should be avoided if at all possible in today’s society. Education and incentives can directly address the reasons for it and could make society a happier and safer place.
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It is a sad fact that individuals who are released from prison often go on to commit further crimes. There are various reasons for this, but there are also measures that can be taken to prevent it from happening.
One primary cause of recidivism is the lack of legitimate income opportunities. Many people turn to crime because they cannot find alternative ways to earn money. Unfortunately, even after leaving prison, they often face limited options for legal employment. In fact, their chances may diminish as employers tend to be reluctant to hire ex-prisoners. Additionally, spending time in prison alongside other criminals hinders rehabilitation and can lead to establishing new criminal connections upon release.
Effectively addressing this issue requires a focus on education. Individuals who have resorted to illegal activities due to limited alternatives need access to learn marketable skills or trades that enable them to secure lawful means of earning a living. For instance, providing training in high-demand fields like computer skills could significantly improve their prospects for finding employment opportunities. Furthermore, governments can incentivize employers by offering benefits or rewards for hiring newly-released prisoners. This approach would provide those who genuinely wish not returnto crime with an opportunity for a fresh start. Given the high costs associated with incarceration, governments might find investing in these incentives more cost-effective.
In conclusion, minimizing the recurrence of criminal behavior among former offenders is crucial in our modern society.The solutions lie ineducation and incentives which directly address the root causes behind recidivism while contributing towards creating safer communities where individuals have better opportunities for productive lives.
一个可悲的事实是，从监狱获释的人往往会继续犯下更多的罪行。造成这种情况的原因有很多，但也可以采取一些措施来防止这种情况的发生。
累犯的一个主要原因是缺乏合法的收入机会。许多人转向犯罪是因为他们找不到其他赚钱的方法。不幸的是，即使在离开监狱后，他们也经常面临有限的合法就业选择。事实上，由于雇主往往不愿意雇佣前囚犯，他们的机会可能会减少。此外，与其他罪犯一起在监狱里度过的时间阻碍了康复，并可能导致在获释后建立新的犯罪关系。
有效解决这一问题需要把重点放在教育上。由于替代方案有限而诉诸非法活动的个人需要学习有市场的技能或交易，使他们能够获得合法的谋生手段。例如，提供计算机技能等高需求领域的培训可以显著改善他们寻找就业机会的前景。此外，政府可以通过为雇佣新获释囚犯提供福利或奖励来激励雇主。这种方法将为那些真正希望不再犯罪的人提供一个重新开始的机会。考虑到监禁的高昂成本，政府可能会发现投资于这些激励措施更具成本效益。
总之，在我们的现代社会中，最大限度地减少前科犯犯罪行为的再次发生至关重要。解决方案在于不适当的教育和激励措施，直接解决再犯背后的根本原因，同时有助于创建更安全的社区，让个人有更好的机会过上富有成效的生活。
Here is a list of commonly used words and collocations based on this essay, along with their Chinese translations:
1. Recidivism – 再犯率
2. Commit further crimes – 再度犯罪
3. Released from prison – 出狱
4. Measures to prevent – 预防措施
5. Lack of legitimate income opportunities – 合法收入机会的缺乏
6. Turn to crime – 转向犯罪活动/走上犯罪道路
7. Alternative ways to earn money – 赚钱的替代方法
8. Limited options for legal employment – 有限的合法就业选择权
9.Reluctant to hire ex-prisoners- 不愿雇佣前囚犯
10.Spending time in prison alongside other criminals- 与其他罪犯一起在监禁期间度过
11.Hinders rehabilitation- 妨碍康复
12.Establishing new criminal connections- 建立新的罪恶联系
13.Focus on education 专注于教育
14.Resort to illegal activities 指向非法活动
15.Learn marketable skills or trades 学习有市场价值技能或行业
16.Secure lawful means of earning a living 获取合法谋生手段
17.High-demand fields like computer skills 计算机技能等高需求领域
18.Improve prospects for finding employment opportunities 提高找到就业机会前景
19.Incentivize employers 给雇主提供激励措施
20.Offer benefits or rewards 提供福利或奖励
21.Newly-released prisoners 刚刚释放的囚犯
22.Wish not return to crime 希望不再犯罪
23.Provide an opportunity for a fresh start 提供重新开始的机会
24.Given the high costs associated with incarceration 鉴于关押所带来的高成本
25.Minimizing the recurrence of criminal behavior 减少犯罪行为再次发生
26.Former offenders 前罪犯
27.Crucial in our modern society 在我们现代社会中至关重要
28.Address the root causes behind recidivism 解决再度回归原因
29.Contribute towards creating safer communities 有助于创造更安全的社区
30.Better opportunities for productive lives 更好地创造有意义生活的机会