IELTS Writing Task 2: Juvenile Justice (Two Part Question) — Band 6/7/8/9 Model Answers

Related guides:

• IELTS Writing Task 2: Social Media Influencers - Band 7.0…
• IELTS Writing Task 2: Road Safety – Band 8.0 Sample with…
• IELTS Writing Task 2 Rehabilitation: Band 9.0 Sample Answer
• IELTS Writing Task 2: Juvenile Justice – Band 8.0 Sample…
• IELTS Writing Task 2: Juvenile Justice - Band 7.0 Sample…

The Prompt

Juvenile justice systems exist in many countries. Some people believe that young offenders should be punished just like adults, while others feel that their age should be considered when determining penalties. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Band 6.0 Answer

Some people have different opinions about how to handle young criminals. In my opinion, I believe that young offenders should be treated differently from adults because of their age.

There are people who think that young criminals should be punished in the same way as adults. They believe that if young people commit crimes, they should face the same consequences as adults. For example, if an adult steals something, they go to jail, and a young person who steals should also go to jail. This is because it teaches them a lesson and makes them understand that crime is not acceptable. Additionally, treating young offenders like adults might deter other young people from committing crimes.

However, I think that age should be considered when punishing young offenders. Young people are still developing and might not fully understand the consequences of their actions. For instance, a 16-year-old who commits a crime might not have the same level of understanding as a 30-year-old. Therefore, it is important to consider their age and provide them with rehabilitation rather than just punishment. This can help them become better individuals in the future.

In conclusion, while some people believe that young offenders should be punished like adults, I think that their age should be taken into account. This is because young people are still developing and might not fully understand the consequences of their actions. Therefore, providing them with rehabilitation is a better approach.

Scoring Breakdown

• Task Response (TR): 6.0 - Presents a position but does not extend arguments with supporting ideas
• Cohesion and Cohesion (CC): 6.0 - Uses some cohesive devices but with some inaccuracies
• Lexical Resource (LR): 6.0 - Uses some less common vocabulary but with some repetition
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA): 6.0 - Makes frequent grammatical errors that may impede understanding

Band 7.0 Answer

The debate surrounding juvenile justice systems is contentious, with proponents of strict penalties advocating for equal treatment of young and adult offenders, whereas others emphasize the importance of considering age in sentencing.

Advocates of severe punishment for young offenders argue that equitable treatment is essential to maintain justice. For instance, if a 17-year-old commits a violent crime, they should face the same legal consequences as an adult, as this sends a strong message to society about the severity of their actions. Furthermore, proponents of this view contend that leniency may encourage recidivism, as young offenders might perceive the justice system as weak. A study by the National Institute of Justice found that young offenders who receive harsh penalties are less likely to reoffend.

Conversely, those who advocate for age-considerate sentencing posit that young offenders should not be held to the same standards as adults. Adolescents are still developing cognitively and emotionally, which can impair their decision-making abilities. For example, a 16-year-old who vandalizes property might do so out of peer pressure or immaturity, rather than malice. Therefore, rehabilitation programs tailored to their developmental stage may be more effective than incarceration. According to a report by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, rehabilitation programs reduce recidivism rates by up to 20%.

In my opinion, age should be a mitigating factor in sentencing young offenders. While it is crucial to hold them accountable for their actions, it is equally important to recognize their developmental stage and provide opportunities for growth and rehabilitation.

Scoring Breakdown

• Task Response (TR): 7.0 - Presents a clear position with some supporting ideas and examples
• Cohesion and Cohesion (CC): 7.0 - Uses a mix of cohesive devices effectively but with some inconsistencies
• Lexical Resource (LR): 7.0 - Uses a mix of less common and some sophisticated vocabulary
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA): 7.0 - Makes some grammatical errors that may impede understanding

Band 8.0 Answer

The contentious issue of juvenile justice has sparked a heated debate, with proponents of retributive justice advocating for stringent penalties for young offenders, while proponents of restorative justice emphasize the importance of considering age and developmental factors in sentencing.

Proponents of stringent penalties for young offenders argue that equitable treatment is essential to uphold the principles of justice and deterrence. For instance, if a 17-year-old commits a violent crime, they should face the same legal consequences as an adult, as this sends a strong message to society about the severity of their actions. Furthermore, proponents of this view contend that leniency may encourage recidivism, as young offenders might perceive the justice system as weak. A study by the National Institute of Justice found that young offenders who receive harsh penalties are less likely to reoffend.

Conversely, those who advocate for age-considerate sentencing posit that young offenders should not be held to the same standards as adults. Adolescents are still developing cognitively and emotionally, which can impair their decision-making abilities. For example, a 16-year-old who vandalizes property might do so out of peer pressure or immaturity, rather than malice. Therefore, rehabilitation programs tailored to their developmental stage may be more effective than incarceration. According to a report by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, rehabilitation programs reduce recidivism rates by up to 20%.

In my opinion, age should be a mitigating factor in sentencing young offenders. While it is crucial to hold them accountable for their actions, it is equally important to recognize their developmental stage and provide opportunities for growth and rehabilitation. A balanced approach that combines accountability with rehabilitation is more likely to yield positive long-term outcomes for both the offenders and society.

Scoring Breakdown

• Task Response (TR): 8.0 - Presents a clear position with well-developed arguments and examples
• Cohesion and Cohesion (CC): 8.0 - Uses a range of cohesive devices effectively
• Lexical Resource (LR): 8.0 - Uses a range of sophisticated vocabulary with some flexibility
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA): 8.0 - Uses a range of complex sentence structures with minimal errors

Band 9.0 Answer

The vexed question of how societies should address juvenile delinquency has ignited impassioned debate, with some espousing retributive approaches that advocate for the imposition of adult-like penalties on young offenders, while others champion restorative justice models that prioritize rehabilitation and age-appropriate sentencing.

Those who advocate for stringent penalties for young offenders contend that such measures are essential to uphold the principles of justice, deterrence, and societal protection. For instance, if a 17-year-old commits a violent crime, they should face the same legal consequences as an adult, as this sends a strong message to society about the severity of their actions. Furthermore, proponents of this view argue that leniency may encourage recidivism, as young offenders might perceive the justice system as weak. A study by the National Institute of Justice found that young offenders who receive harsh penalties are less likely to reoffend. Moreover, equitable treatment of all offenders, regardless of age, is crucial to maintain public trust in the justice system.

Conversely, proponents of restorative justice models posit that young offenders should be treated differently from adults due to their developmental immaturity and potential for rehabilitation. Adolescents are still developing cognitively and emotionally, which can impair their decision-making abilities. For example, a 16-year-old who vandalizes property might do so out of peer pressure or immaturity, rather than malice. Therefore, rehabilitation programs tailored to their developmental stage may be more effective than incarceration. According to a report by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, rehabilitation programs reduce recidivism rates by up to 20%. Moreover, restorative justice practices, such as victim-offender mediation, can help young offenders understand the consequences of their actions and take responsibility for them.

In my opinion, a balanced approach that combines elements of both retributive and restorative justice is the most effective way to address juvenile delinquency. While it is crucial to hold young offenders accountable for their actions and maintain public trust in the justice system, it is equally important to recognize their developmental stage and provide opportunities for growth and rehabilitation. A balanced approach that incorporates both punishment and rehabilitation is more likely to yield positive long-term outcomes for both the offenders and society.

Scoring Breakdown

• Task Response (TR): 9.0 - Presents a clear position with well-developed, extended, and supported arguments
• Cohesion and Cohesion (CC): 9.0 - Uses a range of cohesive devices effectively and flexibly
• Lexical Resource (LR): 9.0 - Uses a wide range of sophisticated vocabulary with precision and flexibility
• Grammatical Range and Accuracy (GRA): 9.0 - Uses a wide range of complex sentence structures with minimal errors

Vocabulary Highlights

1. Contentious (adj.) - causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial

• Example: The issue of juvenile justice is highly contentious.

1. Retributive (adj.) - relating to or denoting punishment that is proportional to the offense committed

• Example: Proponents of retributive justice argue for stringent penalties.

1. Restorative (adj.) - relating to or denoting a form of justice that focuses on the rehabilitation of offenders and the repair of harm caused by criminal behavior

• Example: Restorative justice models prioritize rehabilitation and age-appropriate sentencing.

1. Impair (v.) - weaken or damage (a mental or physical faculty)

• Example: Adolescents' cognitive and emotional development can impair their decision-making abilities.

1. Recidivism (n.) - the tendency of a convicted criminal to reoffend

• Example: Rehabilitation programs reduce recidivism rates by up to 20%.

1. Vexed (adj.) - causing or characterized by anxiety or distress; troublesome

• Example: The vexed question of juvenile delinquency has sparked impassioned debate.

1. Espouse (v.) - to adopt or support a cause, belief, or course of action

• Example: Some espouse retributive approaches that advocate for stringent penalties.

1. Champion (v.) - to support, defend, or fight for a cause, idea, or principle

• Example: Others champion restorative justice models that prioritize rehabilitation.

1. Impassioned (adj.) - filled with or showing strong emotion

• Example: The issue of juvenile justice has ignited impassioned debate.

1. Cognitively (adv.) - relating to or involving the mental processes of perception, memory, judgment, and reasoning

• Example: Adolescents are still developing cognitively and emotionally.

1. Mediation (n.) - intervention in a dispute in order to bring about an agreement or reconciliation

• Example: Victim-offender mediation can help young offenders understand the consequences of their actions.

1. Proportional (adj.) - corresponding in size, degree, or amount

• Example: Retributive justice advocates for penalties that are proportional to the offense committed.

1. Immaturity (n.) - lack of full development or ripeness; not fully grown or developed

• Example: Young offenders should be treated differently from adults due to their developmental immaturity.

1. Deterrence (n.) - the action of discouraging or deterring someone from doing something

• Example: Stringent penalties are essential to uphold the principles of justice and deterrence.

1. Mitigating (adj.) - tending to lessen the severity, seriousness, or painfulness of something

• Example: Age should be a mitigating factor in sentencing young offenders.

1. Accountability (n.) - the fact or condition of being accountable; responsibility

• Example: It is crucial to hold young offenders accountable for their actions.

1. Incarceration (n.) - the state of being confined in prison; imprisonment

• Example: Rehabilitation programs may be more effective than incarceration.

1. Long-term (adj.) - continuing or enduring for a long period of time

• Example: A balanced approach is more likely to yield positive long-term outcomes.

1. Impede (v.) - to obstruct or hinder the progress or progress of

• *Example: Some grammatical errors may impede understanding.

1. Flexibility (n.) - the quality of bending easily without breaking; adaptability

• Example: Sophisticated vocabulary should be used with flexibility and precision.

Common Mistakes Students Make on This Prompt

1. Focusing on only one side of the argument: Students often fail to address both views equally, which can result in a lower Task Response score. Make sure to discuss both sides of the argument and provide relevant examples.

1. Lack of specific examples: Students may present general ideas without supporting them with specific examples, which can weaken their arguments. Use real-life examples or statistics to support your points.

1. Poor organization: Students may present their ideas in a disorganized manner, making it difficult for the examiner to follow their arguments. Use paragraphs to separate ideas and use cohesive devices to connect them.

1. Vague vocabulary: Students may use vague or repetitive vocabulary, which can limit their Lexical Resource score. Use a range of sophisticated vocabulary with precision and flexibility.

1. Grammatical errors: Students may make frequent grammatical errors, which can impede understanding and lower their Grammatical Range and Accuracy score. Proofread your essay for grammatical errors and use a range of complex sentence structures.

Get Your Own Response Scored by AI on English AIdol

Ready to test your writing skills? Get your own response scored by AI on English AIdol. Our advanced scoring system provides instant feedback on Task Response, Cohesion and Cohesion, Lexical Resource, and Grammatical Range and Accuracy. Start improving your IELTS Writing Task 2 score today!