IELTS Curfew Essay

Today, I want to show you a sample band 9 answer to an interesting question for IELTS writing task 2. This concerns the subject of curfews.

You might be wondering what a curfew is because it is not a common word, but don’t worry, the question contains a definition, so you would still be able to understand it.

Question

Here is the question we will look at today:

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?

As you can see, the word “curfew” is defined as not being “allowed to be out of doors after a particular time at night.” In other words, in these places, teenagers must stay at home after a certain time. Here is the Wikipedia page about curfews. It could help you to learn new language and ideas.

So how would we answer a question like this?

First of all, decide upon your opinion. Personally, I disagree with the concept of curfews for teenagers, so I will argue that they are a bad thing. However, your essay would obviously give your own opinion.

You must then think about how to develop your answer. It is really important that you can justify each claim by giving explanations and examples. Find out how to generate ideas for IELTS essays here.

I would structure my answer like this:

Paragraph one	Introduce the topic and clearly state my opinion (how to write an introduction)
Paragraph two	Explain why it is discriminatory to assume that teenagers are going to get into trouble
Paragraph three	Suggest that mental health issues could arise from being forced to stay at home
Paragraph four	Give a conclusion that restates my main point

Note that I typically favour writing a four-paragraph essay, but it is not the only way to structure an answer.

Vocabulary

Here are some phrases that I will use in my essay:

• juvenile delinquency
• discriminatory
• impose (a curfew)
• petty crime
• illegal activities
• prohibited from
• demographic
• teenagers’ psyches
• subconscious
• miscreants

Take note of how I use these words and phrases in the following essay.

Sample Band 9 Answer

Some people have suggested that a curfew be imposed upon teenagers in order to curb problems like juvenile delinquency, but this essay will argue against that notion because it is inherently discriminatory.

The first and most important reason why a curfew should not be imposed on teenagers is that it is based upon the false assumption that teenagers are always looking for trouble. Whilst it is certainly true that teenagers perpetrate a high level of petty crime, you cannot punish all teens for the actions of a few. It is fundamentally wrong to ban young people from leaving their homes just because some of them are involved in illegal activities. This is a clear case of discrimination. Imagine if all thirtysomethings were prohibited from going outside because most burglaries were committed by people in that demographic. It sounds laughable, doesn’t it?

Aside from that, the potential effect on teenagers’ psyches is troubling. By forcing them to stay indoors after a certain time, society is effectively telling them that they are like criminals. This could be extremely damaging to their mental health, as it imparts certain negative associations on their subconscious. Teenagers need freedom as they are growing into young adults, and they need societal trust in order to grow into mature people. When others treat them like miscreants, they will grow up feeling inferior to those around them.

In conclusion, a curfew might seem like a reasonable response to the problems of juvenile delinquency, but in fact it is probably more damaging to teenagers’ well-being and should not be implemented.