Many researchers believe that we can now study the behaviour of children to see if they will grow up to be criminals, while others disagree. To what extent do you think crime is determined by genetics? Is it possible to stop children from growing up to be criminals?
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Sample Response
There are many psychologists today who believe that crime comes from genetic characteristicsinborn, genetic characteristics. In my opinion, genetics play a small role in criminal behaviour and it is much more sensible to combat crime by examining family circumstanceslooking to family circumstances.
Those who believe strongly in the role of genetics in determining future behaviour can point to case studiesexamples and hard data. It is very common for the children of violent criminals to display some degree of abnormal behaviour as children and later in life. Scientists can supportground their theories of crime by mapping the genetic code of an individual and then identifying similarities among family membersbetween the family members of criminals. However, their results may uncover some genetic factors but it is much more likely that a child raised by a criminal will simply have a poor upbringing and social factors will explain their anti-social behaviour. This is supported by recent research into developmental psychology showing the physical changes that occur in brain formation as a result of upbringing.
Therefore, it is largely possible to prevent most crime by taking an active, positive role in childcare. A good counter-example of this comes from the case studies of serialserials killers. Without exception, all serial killers came from abusive, broken homes. The physical and sexual abuse present in their childhood later manifested itselfchildhood, later manifested itself in their compulsions to exert power over others. Naturally, this does not mean that abuse necessarily leads to crime, as many others overcome their difficult backgrounds to become well-adjusted adults. It does, however, imply that a large proportionimply a large proportion of criminal behaviour can be prevented by a supportive family environment. Knowing that they are loved and accepted by their parents will makeparents, will make children less likely to seek attention through bad behaviour or abuse drugs to cope with their problems, both of which are early indicators of possible criminality.
In conclusion, though nature may be a marginal factor in criminal psychology, I believe that the emphasis on the social environmentthat emphasis on the social environment is the real key to fighting crime. It is therefore important to invest in social services, education, and child welfare programs.
Why this response received Band 8.0
The response directly answers both questions with a clear position, well-developed reasoning, and a strong progression from genetic influence to practical prevention. Its main limitation is occasional overstatement and imprecision in supporting claims, alongside a few minor language slips. The highest priority is to qualify broad assertions and support them with more measured evidence so the otherwise sophisticated argument becomes more credible and exact.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
Both parts are fully addressed through a clear position and well-developed arguments, though a few absolute claims weaken the precision of the support.
Qualify sweeping assertions about criminals and serial killers, and use carefully framed evidence to strengthen credibility.
Coherence and Cohesion
The argument progresses logically from evaluating genetic explanations to proposing prevention, with well-managed cohesion and purposeful paragraphing.
Make the transition between the limitations of genetics and the proposed family-based solution even more explicitly causal.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is wide, flexible, and generally precise, with effective use of topic-specific and academic language despite isolated slips.
Proofread for small lexical errors such as serials killers and favour measured wording when presenting contested claims.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A broad range of complex structures is handled well, but a few punctuation, agreement, and clause-boundary errors remain noticeable.
Remove unnecessary commas between subjects and verbs and check agreement in longer introductory-participle constructions.