Community service instead of prison
This is a model answer written to show what a Band 7 response looks like against the marking criteria. It is a worked example, not a graded submission. To see your own band, paste your writing into the free checker.
The prompt
Some people believe that community service is a more effective punishment than prison for people who commit minor crimes. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Band 7 model answer (267 words)
There is a growing debate about how societies should deal with people who commit minor offences. Some argue that community service is a better response than a prison sentence, and I largely agree, because it repairs the harm done and helps offenders return to normal life.
The main reason I support community service is that it forces offenders to give something back to the community they have harmed. Someone who cleans public parks or helps at a care home for several weeks is reminded, in a very practical way, of their responsibility to others. A short spell in prison, by contrast, teaches nothing and simply removes the person for a while. Community service therefore has a genuine chance of changing behaviour rather than merely punishing it.
A further advantage is that keeping minor offenders out of prison protects them from worse influences. Prisons are often crowded with serious criminals, and a young person locked up for a small theft can easily learn more dangerous habits inside. Community service allows the offender to keep their job and family ties, which are exactly the things that stop people reoffending in the first place.
It is true that some crimes are too serious for community service, and that prison is still needed to protect the public from dangerous individuals. However, for genuinely minor offences the threat of a criminal record and unpaid work is punishment enough.
In conclusion, while prison remains necessary for serious crime, I firmly believe that community service is the more effective punishment for minor offences, because it repairs harm and keeps offenders on a better path.
Why this reaches Band 7
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Task Response
The position is clear from the introduction and held throughout, and both reasons are developed with explanation. The counter-argument that "some crimes are too serious for community service" is acknowledged, which lifts it above a one-sided answer.
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Coherence and Cohesion
Each paragraph carries one central idea, and signposting such as "The main reason" and "A further advantage" guides the reader without feeling mechanical.
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Lexical Resource
Accurate topic language such as "give something back to the community", "keep their job and family ties" and "reoffending", used naturally rather than for show.
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Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A mix of simple and complex sentences, including relative clauses ("which are exactly the things that stop people reoffending"), with very few errors.
The one fix to reach Band 7
A common Band 6 version of this essay names community service and prison but never explains why one works better. The single change that lifts it to Band 7 is to develop each reason with a real consequence, such as how prison exposes minor offenders to worse influences, rather than simply asserting it.
Now check your own answer.
Paste your own attempt at this prompt and Examinerly names the single criterion keeping you below your target band, and shows the sentence-level fix. We never inflate your band.
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