[Yatagan]

Hiho,
I need to sit the IELTS exams and score at least 7 out 9 in the four components.

So, to give me an idea, how would you rate this?


In most countries, prison is the most common solution when people commit a crime. However, if they were to receive better education, it could prevent them from becoming criminals. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
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The first decades in life are said to greatly determine an individual’s fate. When people are young, they are more receptive to be influenced by their teachers, parents and classmates. Education is seen as so important, since it provides children with a basic understanding of how society works. Furthermore, a well-educated student is presented with a great variety of opportunities to advance in adult life.
Criminals, arguably, have chosen to disregard the rules of society by doing harm upon others. Some people assert that a better education would have taught them the importance of observing the law. This argument, however, is based on the premise that uneducated people are less able to be upstanding citizens. Since criminals are present in every socioeconomic class, this cannot be true. A better education in this regard, thus, does not necessarily help to alleviate the problem with crime.
On the other hand, it is important to keep in mind that criminals have an incentive to break the law. Some commit crimes out of necessity and need, since they may not be able to support either themselves or their family. Hence, crimes in low-income areas may be prevented, if more people were to enjoy a better education that provides them with the opportunities to climb the socioeconomic ladder. In the presence of those kinds of opportunities, people will find less incentive to risk living a criminal life.
Overall, a good education in itself might not suffice in dissuading crime, yet it can serve as a stepping-stone to find a decent and perfectly legal job.
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[rocket0612]

Have you got the marking scheme for the IELTS exams?

[Yatagan]

Yes. I am not a native speaker or anything. I wouldn't know how to rate using the rating table.

[rocket0612]

Well the problem is to most people on this forum they are not familiar with IELTS and therefore don't know how it's marked; is it grammar, argument, or something else they mark against?

[Yatagan]

http://www.ielts.org/pdf/UOBDs_WritingT2.pdf

Okay, fair enough. The scoring criteria can be found under that link.