Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-08-14

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In some areas of the US, a 'curfew' is imposed, in which teenagers are not allowed to be out of doors after a particular time at night unless they are accompanied by an adult.

What is your opinion about this?

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

 

Student answer (Band 7.5)

Youth curfews are a topic of ongoing debate across American municipalities. While proponents argue that restricting unattended teenagers at night prevents crime and keeps youth safe, imposing strict legal curfews is ultimately an ineffective and overly restrictive approach to youth management.

Why Legal Curfews Are Counterproductive

Deterrence vs. Displacement: Criminal activity and juvenile victimization are rarely stopped by curfew laws alone. Studies often show that enforced curfews simply shift problematic behaviors to daytime hours or indoor settings rather than eliminating them.

Infringement on Personal Liberty: Blanket curfews penalize responsible teenagers who are engaged in constructive activities—such as late-night shifts at jobs, extracurricular events, or study groups. Criminalizing ordinary presence outdoors damages trust between young people and local law enforcement.

Inefficient Use of Police Resources: Enforcing curfews requires law enforcement officers to spend valuable time stopping, questioning, and processing non-violent minors, diverting critical resources away from investigating serious criminal offenses.

A Constructive Alternative

Rather than relying on punitive legal measures, communities achieve far better outcomes by investing in positive infrastructure. Expanding access to late-night community centers, youth sports facilities, and organized extracurricular programs offers teenagers safe, supervised environments without treating them like potential offenders.

Conclusion

Curfews offer a superficial sense of order, but they fail to address the root causes of youth crime or safety. Encouraging responsible behavior through positive community engagement, parental accountability, and constructive evening activities is a far more effective strategy than criminalizing a teenager's presence after dark

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response presents a clear position throughout and addresses the prompt effectively by discussing the implications of curfews and offering alternatives. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the points regarding the displacement of crime and the strain on police resources. However, the response is 10 words under the 250-word minimum requirement. While the quality of the content is high, this failure to meet the length constraint necessitates a penalty, as the development of ideas is slightly curtailed by the brevity of the text.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, distinct body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The use of headings is a helpful structural choice, and the progression of ideas is smooth. Cohesive devices such as 'While', 'Rather than', and 'Instead' are used effectively to link arguments. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct points. The flow is logical, and the reader can easily follow the writer's line of reasoning from the initial thesis to the final recommendation.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

The vocabulary is precise and sophisticated, demonstrating a wide range of topic-specific language. Phrases such as 'ongoing debate', 'juvenile victimization', 'blanket curfews', and 'punitive legal measures' show a high level of lexical control. The writer uses collocations accurately and maintains a formal, academic tone throughout. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or spelling, and the vocabulary is well-suited to the task of discussing social policy.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences and varied clause types. The control over punctuation and syntax is excellent, with no significant errors. The use of participial phrases (e.g., 'encouraging responsible behavior...') and conditional-like structures adds to the sophistication of the writing. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the grammatical accuracy is consistent throughout the entire piece, reflecting a high level of proficiency.

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