Level: IELTS Academic Writing Task 2
Task type: Causes and solutions
Recommended time: 40 minutes
Word count: At least 250 words

Question

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.

Write about the following topic:

In some countries, the number of young people involved in crime has increased.

What are the causes of this problem?

What solutions can you suggest?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

How to Write This Essay

This is a causes and solutions essay. You need to explain:

Why more young people may be becoming involved in crime
What can be done to reduce the problem

A strong essay should not only say that young people commit crimes because they are “bad” or “irresponsible”. That is too simple. You need to look at wider causes, such as family problems, poverty, lack of education, peer pressure and limited opportunities.

A good overall position could be:

Youth crime is often caused by social and family problems, so the best solutions involve education, family support, youth programmes and better job opportunities.

Suggested Essay Structure

Introduction
Paraphrase the question and say that there are several social causes and practical solutions.

Body paragraph 1: Causes
Explain two or three reasons why youth crime may increase.

Possible ideas:

Poverty and unemployment can push young people towards crime.
Weak family support may leave teenagers without guidance.
Peer pressure can encourage risky or illegal behaviour.
Poor school attendance may reduce discipline and future opportunities.
Social media and online groups may sometimes expose young people to criminal behaviour.

Body paragraph 2: Solutions
Explain practical ways to reduce youth crime.

Possible ideas:

Schools should identify at-risk students early.
Governments should fund sports, arts and youth centres.
Families may need support from social services.
Vocational training can help young people find work.
Police and communities should work together to prevent crime, not only punish it.

Conclusion
Summarise the main causes and solutions clearly.

Useful Vocabulary for This Topic

youth crime
young offenders
juvenile offending
anti-social behaviour
peer pressure
family breakdown
lack of guidance
unemployment
poverty
poor school attendance
at-risk teenagers
community programmes
youth centres
vocational training
social services
rehabilitation
early intervention
crime prevention

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Do not write only about punishment. The question asks for causes and solutions, not whether criminals should go to prison.

Do not blame only parents. Family problems may be one cause, but a stronger essay should include wider social factors too.

Do not give vague solutions such as “the government should do something”. Explain what governments, schools or communities should actually do.

Do not ignore young people’s age. Solutions for teenagers should focus on guidance, education, prevention and rehabilitation.

Do not write about crime in general. Keep the essay focused on young people involved in crime.

Band 6.5 Model Answer

In some countries, more young people are becoming involved in crime. This is a serious problem because it can damage both the lives of young offenders and the safety of society. There are several causes of this issue, but practical solutions are possible.

One important cause is family problems. Some teenagers grow up without enough support, discipline or attention from their parents. As a result, they may spend more time outside the home and become influenced by the wrong people. Peer pressure is another major reason. Young people often want to feel accepted by their friends, so they may copy criminal behaviour such as stealing, vandalism or using drugs. In addition, poverty and unemployment can make the situation worse. If young people feel that they have no future, they may turn to crime as a way to get money or status.

There are several ways to deal with this problem. First, schools should give more support to students who have poor attendance or behavioural problems. Teachers and counsellors can identify at-risk teenagers before they commit serious crimes. Second, governments should provide more youth centres, sports clubs and training programmes. These activities can keep young people busy and help them develop useful skills. Finally, young offenders should not only be punished. They should also receive education and rehabilitation so that they can return to society and avoid crime in the future.

In conclusion, youth crime is often caused by family problems, peer pressure and a lack of opportunities. The best solutions are early support, better community activities and programmes that help young people build a more positive future.

Word count: 267 words

Band 6.5 Feedback

This is a clear and relevant essay. It answers both parts of the question and gives practical causes and solutions.

Why this is around Band 6.5:

Task Response:
The essay clearly explains several causes, including family problems, peer pressure, poverty and unemployment. It also gives solutions such as school support, youth centres and rehabilitation. However, some ideas are still quite general and could be developed with more depth.

Coherence and Cohesion:
The structure is logical: introduction, causes, solutions and conclusion. The paragraphs are easy to follow. Linking phrases such as “as a result”, “in addition” and “finally” are used accurately, but the organisation is fairly simple.

Lexical Resource:
The vocabulary is suitable for the topic, including “young offenders”, “peer pressure”, “vandalism”, “at-risk teenagers” and “rehabilitation”. However, the range is not especially sophisticated.

Grammar:
The grammar is mostly accurate. There is some variety in sentence structure, but many sentences are still quite direct and simple.

How to improve it:
To reach Band 7 or higher, the essay would need more precise development, stronger examples and more flexible grammar.

Band 8 Model Answer

In a number of countries, youth crime appears to be rising, which is worrying because early involvement in illegal behaviour can affect a person’s entire future. This problem is usually not caused by one factor alone, but by a combination of family instability, social pressure and limited opportunities. Therefore, the most effective solutions should focus on prevention as well as punishment.

One major cause of youth crime is a lack of guidance at home. Teenagers who grow up in unstable families, or whose parents are absent for long periods, may not receive the emotional support and discipline they need. As a result, they can become more vulnerable to negative influences outside the home. Peer pressure is also highly significant. Young people may join gangs or take part in theft, violence or drug-related activity because they want protection, status or a sense of belonging. Economic conditions can make this worse. In deprived areas where schools are weak and job prospects are poor, crime may seem to some teenagers like the quickest route to money or respect.

To address this issue, governments should invest more in early intervention. Schools can play a crucial role by identifying students with poor attendance, aggressive behaviour or difficult home lives, and then connecting them with counsellors or social workers. Community programmes are also important. Affordable sports clubs, music projects, mentoring schemes and youth centres can give teenagers a safer environment and a more positive identity. In addition, vocational training should be expanded so that young people can see a realistic path into employment. For those who have already offended, rehabilitation should be prioritised alongside appropriate punishment, because simply sending young people to prison may expose them to more serious criminals.

In conclusion, youth crime is often linked to weak family support, harmful peer influence and a lack of opportunity. Reducing it requires a long-term strategy based on education, community support, employment prospects and rehabilitation.

Word count: 315 words

Band 8 Explanation

This is a stronger essay because the causes and solutions are explained in a more developed and connected way.

Task Response:
The essay fully answers both parts of the question. It explains the causes of youth crime and gives practical solutions. The ideas are not just listed; they are connected logically. For example, the essay explains how family instability can make young people more vulnerable to peer pressure, and how poor job prospects can make crime seem attractive.

Coherence and Cohesion:
The structure is clear and controlled. The first body paragraph focuses on causes. The second body paragraph focuses on solutions. The conclusion summarises the argument without adding new information. The essay also uses cohesive phrases naturally, such as “as a result”, “also”, “in addition” and “for those who have already offended”.

Lexical Resource:
The vocabulary is more advanced and topic-specific:

youth crime
illegal behaviour
family instability
limited opportunities
prevention as well as punishment
vulnerable to negative influences
deprived areas
job prospects
early intervention
mentoring schemes
vocational training
rehabilitation

The vocabulary is accurate and natural.

Grammar:
The essay uses a strong range of sentence structures:

“Teenagers who grow up in unstable families… may not receive…”
“In deprived areas where schools are weak and job prospects are poor…”
“For those who have already offended, rehabilitation should be prioritised…”
“Reducing it requires a long-term strategy based on…”

The grammar is flexible, controlled and mostly error-free.

Key Lesson for Students

For a causes and solutions essay, make sure you answer both questions clearly. Do not spend the whole essay describing the problem.

A strong position for this question is:

Youth crime is often caused by family problems, peer pressure and lack of opportunity, so the best solutions are early support, community programmes, training and rehabilitation.

Useful Phrases for This Essay

Introducing causes

One major cause of youth crime is…
This problem is often linked to…
A lack of guidance at home can lead to…
Peer pressure may encourage teenagers to…
In deprived areas, young people may feel that…
Poor job prospects can make crime seem like…

Introducing solutions

One effective solution would be to…
Schools can play a crucial role by…
Governments should invest more in…
Community programmes can help young people…
Vocational training can provide a realistic path into employment.
Young offenders should receive rehabilitation as well as punishment.

Writing the conclusion

In conclusion, youth crime is usually caused by a combination of…
Reducing this problem requires…
The most effective approach is to focus on prevention, support and rehabilitation.

Practice Task

Before reading the model answers again, write your own essay using this position:

Youth crime is usually caused by family problems, peer pressure and limited opportunities, so governments should focus on prevention, education and rehabilitation.

Try to include:

a clear conclusion that summarises both causes and solutions

one paragraph explaining two or three causes

one paragraph giving practical solutions

IELTS Writing Task 2: Crime and Young People