IELTS Writing Task 2 with sample answer
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write at least 250 words.
Young people committing crimes should be treated the same as adults by the authorities.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Sample Answer:
It is often said that young people are the future of our society and should be treated as such. However, when young people commit crimes, it is often argued that they should be treated differently by the authorities compared to adults. This essay will discuss whether or not young people committing crimes should be treated the same as adults.
On the one hand, there are good reasons for treating young people differently when it comes to criminal activity. Firstly, young people are more likely to make mistakes due to their age, lack of experience and knowledge. Therefore, punishing them too harshly could be seen as unfair and could lead to further criminal behaviour. Secondly, the criminal justice system should take into account the fact that young people are still developing, and their criminal behaviour may be a result of immaturity or peer pressure. Therefore, it could be argued that leniency is needed in order to help young people learn from their mistakes and to set them on the right path.
On the other hand, there are also arguments for why young people committing crimes should be treated the same as adults. Firstly, young people need to be aware that there are consequences for their actions and that they will be held accountable for their behaviour. This will ensure that they understand the seriousness of their actions and that they are deterred from committing further crimes. Secondly, treating young people differently could be seen as a form of discrimination and is unlikely to be viewed positively by society. Therefore, it could be argued that young people should be treated the same as adults in order to ensure fairness and equality.
In conclusion, it can be seen that there are both arguments for and against young people committing crimes being treated the same as adults. Ultimately, each case should be judged on its own merits and the criminal justice system should take into account the age, level of maturity and the circumstances of each individual when deciding on an appropriate punishment.