IELTS Writing Task 2 Death Penalty (Discussion) Band 9 Sample Answers

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Sample Prompt

Some people think the death penalty is an effective way to deal with serious crimes. Others believe it is wrong and should be abolished. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Model Answers & Scoring Breakdown

Band 6.0 Answer

Scoring Breakdown:

• Task Response (TR): 5.0 – Presents a relevant position but with limitations in depth or development.
• Coherence & Cohesion (CC): 6.0 – Arranges information and ideas into paragraphs but with some unclear relationships.
• Lexical Resource (LR): 6.0 – Uses some less common vocabulary with occasional inaccuracies.
• Grammatical Range & Accuracy (GRA): 6.0 – Makes frequent grammatical errors that obstruct meaning.

Answer:

The death penalty is a very controversial topic. Some people believe it is necessary to stop serious crimes. Others think it is not right to kill people. I think both views have good points.

First, the death penalty can stop people from committing crimes. If people know they will die if they commit a serious crime, they might not do it. Also, it can make people feel safe because criminals are punished severely. In some countries, the death penalty has made crime rates go down.

However, some people think the death penalty is wrong. They believe no one should have the right to take another person’s life, even the government. Also, there is always a chance that an innocent person could be punished. Mistakes can happen in the legal system, and if someone is wrongly given the death penalty, it cannot be undone.

In my opinion, the death penalty should be used very carefully. It should only be for the worst crimes and after a lot of proof. Also, the legal system needs to be very fair to make sure innocent people are not punished. I think it is better to have life in prison instead of the death penalty in many cases.

Band 7.0 Answer

Scoring Breakdown:

• Task Response (TR): 7.0 – Presents a clear position throughout but with some development of arguments.
• Coherence & Cohesion (CC): 7.0 – Uses cohesive devices effectively but with some repetition.
• Lexical Resource (LR): 7.0 – Uses a mix of common and less common vocabulary with occasional errors.
• Grammatical Range & Accuracy (GRA): 7.0 – Makes some grammatical errors but generally communicates clearly.

Answer:

The death penalty is a highly debated issue. While some argue it is an effective deterrent for serious crimes, others contend it is an inhumane practice that should be abolished. This essay will discuss both perspectives before presenting a personal stance.

On one hand, proponents of the death penalty argue it serves as a powerful deterrent. The fear of execution may discourage potential criminals from committing heinous acts. Additionally, it provides closure for victims' families, ensuring that justice is served. Countries that enforce capital punishment often report lower crime rates, suggesting its effectiveness.

On the other hand, opponents of the death penalty highlight its ethical implications. Taking a life, even in punishment, is morally questionable. Furthermore, the legal system is not infallible; innocent people have been wrongly convicted and executed. The irreversible nature of the death penalty makes any mistake catastrophic. Advocates for abolition argue that life imprisonment without parole is a more humane alternative.

In my view, the death penalty should be reserved for the most egregious crimes after an exhaustive legal process. It is crucial to ensure the integrity of the justice system to prevent miscarriages of justice. However, I believe that in many cases, life imprisonment is a more suitable punishment, as it allows for the possibility of rehabilitation.

Band 8.0 Answer

Scoring Breakdown:

• Task Response (TR): 8.0 – Presents a clear position with detailed arguments and relevant examples.
• Coherence & Cohesion (CC): 8.0 – Uses a wide range of cohesive devices effectively, with clear progression.
• Lexical Resource (LR): 8.0 – Uses a variety of vocabulary with some less common lexical items used appropriately.
• Grammatical Range & Accuracy (GRA): 8.0 – Uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms with occasional errors.

Answer:

The debate surrounding the death penalty is multifaceted, with proponents advocating its deterrent effects and opponents highlighting its ethical dilemmas. This essay will explore both viewpoints before presenting a nuanced stance.

Advocates of capital punishment assert its efficacy as a deterrent. The threat of execution may dissuade potential offenders from committing grave crimes. Empirical data from countries like Singapore and the United States indicates a correlation between capital punishment and reduced crime rates. Furthermore, the death penalty provides a sense of justice and closure for victims' families, ensuring that perpetrators face the severest consequences.

Conversely, detractors argue that the death penalty is morally reprehensible. The state-sanctioned taking of a life raises ethical concerns, as it devalues human dignity. Additionally, the legal system is prone to errors; innocent individuals have been executed, a tragedy that cannot be rectified. Proponents of abolition suggest that life imprisonment without the possibility of parole is a more humane and reversible alternative.

In my opinion, the death penalty should be employed judiciously, reserved for the most heinous crimes after a rigorous legal process. It is imperative to uphold the integrity of the justice system to minimize the risk of wrongful convictions. However, I contend that in most instances, life imprisonment is a more appropriate punishment, as it allows for the potential of rehabilitation and redemption.

Band 9.0 Answer

Scoring Breakdown:

• Task Response (TR): 9.0 – Presents a clear, informed, and supported position with relevant, extended arguments.
• Coherence & Cohesion (CC): 9.0 – Uses cohesive devices flexibly and appropriately, with a clear progression of ideas.
• Lexical Resource (LR): 9.0 – Uses a wide range of vocabulary with full flexibility and precision.
• Grammatical Range & Accuracy (GRA): 9.0 – Uses a wide range of complex sentence forms with minimal errors.

Answer:

The contentious issue of capital punishment elicits impassioned arguments from both proponents and opponents. While some contend that it serves as a potent deterrent and a means of delivering justice, others argue that it is an archaic and morally indefensible practice. This essay will delineate both perspectives before articulating a personal stance.

Proponents of the death penalty posit that it acts as a formidable deterrent to heinous crimes. The specter of execution may instill sufficient fear to dissuade potential offenders from committing capital offenses. Statistical evidence from jurisdictions that enforce capital punishment, such as Singapore and certain U.S. states, demonstrates a marked decline in violent crime rates. Additionally, the death penalty affords victims' families a sense of closure and justice, ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.

Conversely, detractors of capital punishment underscore its ethical quandaries. The state-sanctioned execution of individuals raises profound moral questions, as it inherently devalues human life. Furthermore, the fallibility of the legal system cannot be ignored; numerous instances of wrongful convictions have resulted in the execution of innocent individuals, a travesty that is irreversible. Advocates for abolition proffer life imprisonment without the possibility of parole as a more humane and reversible alternative.

In my view, the death penalty should be reserved for the most egregious and irrefutable cases of criminal conduct. It is paramount to ensure the infallibility of the justice system to preclude the execution of innocents. However, I maintain that in the majority of cases, life imprisonment is a more commensurate punishment, as it allows for the potential of rehabilitation and the possibility of redress.

Key Vocabulary

1. Capital punishment – The legal infliction of the death penalty.

• Collocation: enforce capital punishment, abolition of capital punishment

1. Heinous – Extremely wicked or cruel.

• Collocation: heinous crimes, heinous acts

1. Deterrent – Something that discourages or deters.

• Collocation: effective deterrent, act as a deterrent

1. Infallible – Incapable of making mistakes or being wrong.

• Collocation: ensure infallibility, infallible justice system

1. Proponent – A person who supports or advocates a cause.

• Collocation: proponent of capital punishment, strong proponent

1. Detractor – A person who disparages or denigrates.

• Collocation: prominent detractor, vocal detractor

1. Sanctioned – Authorized or approved.

• Collocation: state-sanctioned, legally sanctioned

1. Irrefutable – Impossible to deny or disprove.

• Collocation: irrefutable evidence, irrefutable proof

1. Closure – A sense of finality or resolution.

• Collocation: seek closure, provide closure

1. Abolition – The act of abolishing or ending something.

• Collocation: advocate abolition, call for abolition

1. Rehabilitation – The process of helping someone to readjust to normal life.

• Collocation: potential for rehabilitation, focus on rehabilitation

1. Redress – Compensation or remedy for a wrong or grievance.

• Collocation: seek redress, provide redress

1. Impassioned – Filled with strong emotion.

• Collocation: impassioned arguments, impassioned debate

1. Statistere – A person who makes or keeps records or statistics.

• Collocation: statistical evidence, statistical data

1. Jurisdiction – The official power to make legal decisions.

• Collocation: legal jurisdiction, judicial jurisdiction

1. Travesty – A situation that is not fair or reasonable.

• Collocation: great travesty, tragic travesty

1. Commensurate – Corresponding in size or degree.

• Collocation: commensurate punishment, commensurate reward

1. Articulate – Express oneself fluently and coherently.

• Collocation: articulate arguments, articulate views

1. Judicious – Showing good judgment or sense.

• Collocation: judicious use, judicious decision

1. Fallibility – The state of being liable to err.

• Collocation: acknowledge fallibility, human fallibility

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Overgeneralizing: Avoid making sweeping statements without supporting evidence. For example, “The death penalty is always wrong” without providing specific reasons or examples.

1. Ignoring Counterarguments: Failing to acknowledge and address opposing views weakens your argument. Always present both sides of the debate.

1. Repetition: Repeating the same points or vocabulary can make your essay seem less sophisticated. Use a variety of expressions and examples.

1. Grammatical Errors: Pay attention to subject-verb agreement, tense consistency, and sentence structure. Errors can obscure your meaning and lower your score.

1. Lack of Clarity: Ensure your arguments are clear and logically structured. Use linking words and phrases to guide the reader through your essay.

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