IELTS Writing Task 2: Crime & Punishment (Band 9 Sample)
This "discuss both views and give your opinion" question asks whether longer prison sentences or alternative approaches are the better way to reduce crime. A band-9 response presents both sides fairly and then commits to a clear opinion. Below is a model answer of roughly 285 words, followed by a breakdown of why it scores 9 on all four criteria.
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01 · The task
Some people believe that the best way to reduce crime is to give criminals longer prison sentences. Others think there are more effective alternatives. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
02 · Band 9 sample answer
286 words · Band 9How best to reduce crime is a question that divides opinion. Some argue for tougher, longer prison sentences, while others favour alternative measures such as rehabilitation. Having considered both positions, I believe that prevention and reform are ultimately more effective than simply locking people away for longer.
1. The case for longer sentences
Those who support harsher sentencing make two main points. First, keeping offenders behind bars for longer physically prevents them from committing further crimes, which protects the public. Second, the threat of a severe punishment is thought to deter potential criminals, discouraging them from breaking the law in the first place. For serious, violent offences, this argument carries real weight, since some individuals genuinely need to be removed from society.
2. The case for alternatives
However, the opposing view is more persuasive for the majority of crimes. Long sentences do little to address why people offend in the first place — poverty, addiction or a lack of education — so on release many simply reoffend. Alternatives such as education, drug-treatment programmes and community service tackle these root causes, giving offenders a genuine path back into society. Prevention is cheaper and, crucially, breaks the cycle rather than merely postponing it.
In conclusion, while longer sentences may be justified for the most dangerous offenders, I am convinced that rehabilitation and tackling the underlying causes of crime are the wiser long-term strategy, because they reduce the likelihood that offenders will return to crime once they are free.
03 · Why this scores Band 9
The essay does exactly what "discuss both views and give your opinion" asks: it presents the case for longer sentences and the case for alternatives fully and fairly, then states a clear opinion (rehabilitation is wiser) in both the introduction and conclusion. Each view is developed with reasons, not merely mentioned.
The structure is textbook for this essay type — introduction, one paragraph per view, then a conclusion that resolves the opinion. Cohesion is fluent and varied — "First... Second", "However, the opposing view is more persuasive", "crucially", "In conclusion" — and each paragraph keeps to a single idea.
Vocabulary is precise and topic-appropriate — "behind bars", "deter potential criminals", "root causes", "reoffend", "breaks the cycle" — and abstract ideas about crime and reform are expressed with natural collocation rather than showy words.
A wide range is controlled accurately: a participle opener ("Having considered both positions"), a concessive ("while longer sentences may be justified..."), and a because-clause carrying the final judgement. Passive and active forms are mixed cleanly, and the writing stays error-free.
04 · Useful collocations for this task
Tap a phrase to see what it means and how to use it. Natural collocations like these lift your Lexical Resource score.
05 · Frequently asked questions
How do I structure a "discuss both views and give your opinion" essay?
Give one body paragraph to each view, presenting it fairly, then state your own opinion clearly — usually in the introduction and again in the conclusion. This model discusses longer sentences, then alternatives, and sides with alternatives throughout.
Do I have to choose one side, or can I stay neutral?
You must give your own opinion — that is half the task. Staying neutral caps your Task Response score. You can acknowledge the other side ("while longer sentences may be justified for the most dangerous offenders"), but you must commit to a position.
Where should I put my opinion?
State it in the introduction and restate it in the conclusion, so the reader is never in doubt. Some candidates weave it through the body too. Just avoid leaving it until the very last line, which can feel like an afterthought.
How long should the essay be?
At least 250 words; a band-9 answer is usually 260–290. This model is 286 words, enough to present both views and a clear opinion without padding.
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