Prompt
Causes + solutions – Youth crime
In some countries, the number of crimes committed by young people is increasing. What are the causes of this problem and what solutions can you suggest?
Band 9 sample answer
Band 9 sample answer
In several nations, youth offending is on the rise, a trend that threatens public safety and wastes human potential. This increase is usually driven by a combination of weakened social support and powerful external influences, and it can be reduced through early intervention, better opportunities and proportionate justice.
One major cause is family instability and inadequate supervision. When parents work multiple jobs, experience addiction, or are absent altogether, teenagers often lack consistent boundaries and emotional support, making them more susceptible to antisocial peer groups. A second driver is social and economic marginalisation. In deprived neighbourhoods, limited access to quality schooling, apprenticeships and safe recreational spaces can make crime appear like a realistic route to income or status. Finally, online culture can intensify these pressures by normalising violence, facilitating cyberbullying, and enabling quick recruitment into local gangs.
Addressing the problem requires coordinated solutions. First, governments should fund preventive programmes that identify at‑risk children early—through schools, community clinics and social workers—and provide parenting classes, counselling and mentoring. Second, education systems must offer credible pathways into work, such as vocational tracks, paid internships and partnerships with local employers, so that legitimate progress competes with illegal alternatives. Third, policing and sentencing should be smarter rather than simply harsher: diversion schemes, restorative justice and compulsory training for first-time offenders can reduce reoffending, while serious repeat crimes should still attract firm penalties.
Overall, youth crime increases when young people grow up with fragile support networks and few legitimate prospects. Tackling it effectively means strengthening families and communities while expanding education-to-employment routes and using rehabilitation-focused justice where appropriate.
Verified word count: 265
Why this answer works
explanation
The essay answers both parts of the question with distinct, well-explained causes and directly matched solutions. It maintains a clear position: youth crime is multi-causal and best addressed through prevention, opportunity expansion, and proportionate justice. Paragraphing is logical (introduction, causes, solutions, overall conclusion), and the solutions are practical and targeted rather than vague. Language is precise and varied, with accurate complex structures and topic-appropriate vocabulary.
what this question tests
This is a causes-and-solutions Task 2 question. It tests whether you can (1) identify multiple plausible drivers of rising youth crime, (2) prioritise and explain them with clear logic and examples, (3) propose practical, targeted solutions linked directly to those causes, and (4) organise ideas coherently while maintaining an academic tone and accurate grammar.
Useful vocabulary and phrases
family instability
Gives a precise, academic label to a common cause.
Family instability can leave teenagers without supervision or guidance.
economic marginalisation
Helps explain structural drivers beyond individual blame.
Economic marginalisation can make illegal income seem attractive.
susceptible to peer pressure
Common IELTS collocation used accurately.
Some adolescents are susceptible to peer pressure from delinquent groups.
early intervention
Links directly to prevention-focused solutions.
Early intervention through schools can prevent later offending.
diversion schemes
Specific, credible policy language.
Diversion schemes for first-time offenders can reduce reoffending.
restorative justice
Shows nuanced understanding of criminal-justice approaches.
Restorative justice can hold youths accountable while supporting rehabilitation.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Listing causes and solutions without explaining how they lead to crime or how they would work in practice.
- Proposing only punitive measures (e.g., longer prison sentences) without prevention or rehabilitation.
- Using overgeneralised claims like “young people are bad today” instead of evidence-based drivers such as family breakdown or deprivation.
- Writing an ‘opinion’ essay rather than a causes-and-solutions structure.
- Failing to link each solution to a specific cause.
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