Hustlers IELTS | Cambridge IELTS 13 (General Training Test 1) | Band 7–9 Opinion Essay
This is an opinion question, so don’t overcomplicate it.
You’re not being asked to “discuss both sides.” You’re being asked:
- What do you think about teenage curfews?
A high-band answer will:
- take a clear stance immediately
- give 2–3 strong reasons
- show awareness of real-world consequences
- suggest realistic alternatives (briefly)
The Task
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?
(Cambridge IELTS Book 13, Test 1 – General Training)
The Strong Position (Clear and Defensible)
A confident position is:
Curfews are a blunt, heavy-handed policy that creates harm, especially for vulnerable families, and there are better ways to reduce youth crime.
That gives you a clear direction and strong paragraph themes.
Band 7–9 Model Essay
Ever since the 1990s, more and more cities in the USA have introduced night-time curfews for children in a bid to reduce youth crime. I personally feel that this heavy-handed solution is likely to create more problems than it solves.
The main problem, I feel, is that it draws children into the criminal justice system unnecessarily. Simply being caught out on the street late at night is enough to subject young people to police questioning, court appearances, fines and a criminal record. This process is only going to alienate young people, and make them less likely to trust the police in the future. If the authorities are serious about keeping youngsters out of criminal activity, constructive engagement is preferable to alienation.
Curfews also discriminate against low income households. Parents may have to work two jobs, one in the day, one in the evening, in order to pay the bills, and so they are not in a position to supervise their children after dark. This means that curfews disproportionately target families on a low income, rather than crime itself, and simply adds to a feeling of alienation and persecution for these households.
Overall, I feel that curfews are a tremendously blunt and short-sighted approach to the problem of youth crime, and there are better ways to deal with it, such as education, initiatives aimed at keeping young people out of trouble, and investment in community facilities. Of course, these are all more expensive than curfews, but they are also more likely to have a real impact.
(255 words)
Why This Essay Scores High
1) It takes a clear position from the start
“I personally feel…” + “heavy-handed solution” makes the stance obvious.
2) The arguments are specific and realistic
Instead of vague claims, it shows consequences:
- police questioning
- court appearances
- fines
- criminal record
- long-term distrust of authorities
This is strong Task Response.
3) It includes a fairness argument (very effective in IELTS)
The essay highlights unequal impact:
- low-income parents working evening jobs
- inability to supervise
- policy targets poverty more than crime
That’s a sophisticated line of reasoning.
4) It proposes alternatives without turning into a “solutions essay”
Education, youth initiatives, community investment—mentioned briefly but effectively.
High-Value Vocabulary & Collocations to Reuse
- a curfew is imposed
- in a bid to reduce
- heavy-handed solution
- create more problems than it solves
- draws children into the criminal justice system
- subject young people to
- police questioning / court appearances / fines
- a criminal record
- alienate young people
- trust the police
- constructive engagement
- discriminate against low-income households
- pay the bills
- not in a position to
- after dark
- disproportionately target
- a blunt and short-sighted approach
- investment in community facilities
- have a real impact
Hustlers IELTS Final Word
- Curfew essays are easy to score high on if you do one thing: stop being vague.
- Be direct. Show real consequences. Show who gets harmed. Offer better alternatives.