This is an IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay related to extreme sports from the real IELTS test.

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer: Extreme Sports (Real IELTS Test)

Extreme sports such as sky diving and skiing are very dangerous and should be banned.

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this view?

Real Past IELTS Tests

The increasing popularity of so-called extreme sports such as base jumping and rock climbing have led to backlash calling for them to be banned. Although these sports are potentially fatal, they should not be banned as they are also fun and can be undertaken responsibly.

The reason that many have demanded limits on extreme sports is their potential for injury and death. Take for example one of the most notorious extreme sports: base jumping. In this sport, participants jump off a given point (a cliff or building, for example) with a parachute. There is very little time before they hit the ground so unforeseen parachute malfunctions are possible and the fatality rate is extremely high. Those that do not die may suffer severe, debilitating injuries such as paralysis and brain damage. Base jumping is something of an outlier on the spectrum of dangerous sports but all these sports involve varying degrees of danger.

Despite the aforementioned concerns, I believe the fun people have outweighs potential injury when they are cautious. Base jumping is the most perilous extreme sport but other sports such as skiing, deep-sea diving, and rock climbing are relatively safe. Rock climbing is a good example of a sport that can be very safe and fun if proper precautions are taken. You should sign up for training and go with someone who knows how to safely rig up the harness and tie the requisite knots. Many people who try it end up become passionate rock climbers because it is an exhilirating experience. Most extreme sports, taken seriously, present little real danger and are an enjoyable pasttime.

In conclusion, extreme sports are fun and do not have to be particularly dangerous. People should take the opportunity to responsibly try out at least one extreme sport in their lives in order to see if it is to their liking.

Analysis

1. The increasing popularity of so-called extreme sports such as base jumping and rock climbing have led to backlash calling for them to be banned. 2. Although these sports are potentially fatal, they should not be banned as they are also fun and can be undertaken responsibly.

  1. Paraphrase the overall topic – don’t spend too much time on this simple sentence.
  2. Give your opinion and make it clear.

1. The reason that many have demanded limits on extreme sports is their potential for injury and death. 2. Take for example one of the most notorious extreme sports: base jumping. 3. In this sport, participants jump off a given point (a cliff or building, for example) with a parachute. 4. There is very little time before they hit the ground so unforeseen parachute malfunctions are possible and the fatality rate is extremely high. 5. Those that do not die may suffer severe, debilitating injuries such as paralysis and brain damage. 6. Base jumping is something of an outlier on the spectrum of dangerous sports but all these sports involve varying degrees of danger.

  1. Write about the other side first.
  2. Begin your example for your main idea right away.
  3. Develop the same example.
  4. Keep developing it, don’t switch to a new example.
  5. Add as much detail as you can to you example.
  6. Generalise from your example with your last sentence.

1. Despite the aforementioned concerns, I believe the fun people have outweighs potential injury when they are cautious. 2. Base jumping is the most perilous extreme sport but other sports such as skiing, deep-sea diving, and rock climbing are relatively safe. 3. Rock climbing is a good example of a sport that can be very safe and fun if proper precautions are taken. 4. You should sign up for training and go with someone who knows how to safely rig up the harness and tie the requisite knots. 5. Many people who try it end up become passionate rock climbers because it is an exhilirating experience. 6. Most extreme sports, taken seriously, present little real danger and are an enjoyable pasttime.

  1. Talk about the side that you agree with in your third paragraph.
  2. Focus on a different example.
  3. Develop your new example.
  4. The more specific the details you include, the higher your task achievement and vocabulary scores.
  5. Include the result of your example.
  6. Conclude your paragraph by tieing it back to your main idea.

1. In conclusion, extreme sports are fun and do not have to be particularly dangerous. 2. People should take the opportunity to responsibly try out at least one extreme sport in their lives in order to see if it is to their liking.

  1. Repeat your opinion.
  2. Add in an extra detail or final thought.

Vocabulary

Try to figure out what the words in bold mean:

The increasing popularity of so-called extreme sports such as base jumping and rock climbing have led to backlash calling for them to be banned. Although these sports are potentially fatal, they should not be banned as they are also fun and can be undertaken responsibly.

The reason that many have demanded limits on extreme sports is their potential for injury and death. Take for example one of the most notorious extreme sports: base jumping. In this sport, participants jump off a given point (a cliff or building, for example) with a parachute. There is very little time before they hit the ground so unforeseen parachute malfunctions are possible and the fatality rate is extremely high. Those that do not die may suffer severe, debilitating injuries such as paralysis and brain damage. Base jumping is something of an outlier on the spectrum of dangerous sports but all these sports involve varying degrees of danger.

Despite the aforementioned concerns, I believe the fun people have outweighs potential injury when they are cautious. Base jumping is the most perilous extreme sport but other sports such as skiing, deep-sea diving, and rock climbing are relatively safe. Rock climbing is a good example of a sport that can be very safe and fun if proper precautions are taken. You should sign up for training and go with someone who knows how to safely rig up the harness and tie the requisite knots. Many people who try it end up become passionate rock climbers because it is an exhilirating experience. Most extreme sports, taken seriously, present little real danger and are an enjoyable pasttime.

In conclusion, extreme sports are fun and do not have to be particularly dangerous. People should take the opportunity to responsibly try out at least one extreme sport in their lives in order to see if it is to their liking.

Answers

increasing popularity more and more common

so-called allegedly

base jumping jumping from a low point with a parachute

backlash calling for people objecting to

potentially fatal could kill you

undertaken responsibly done with care

demanded limits regulated

take for example consider the instance of

notorious infamous

participants people taking part in

given point a random spot

parachute opens to save your life after jumping….

unforeseen can’t be predicted

malfunctions doesn’t work

fatality rate the number of people hurt/dying

debilitating injuries handicapped

paralysis can’t move

brain damage mental handicaps

outlier outside the norm

spectrum the full range of

varying degrees different levels

aforementioned concerns what was mentioned before

outweighs is stronger than

cautious careful

perilous dangerous

relatively safe somewhat risk-free

proper precautions well-prepared

sign up for joining

rig up set up/get read for

harness holds you when climbing

requisite knots what you must tie to climb

end up finally

passionate love for

exhilirating experience exciting time

taken seriously not treated lightly

present little real danger not actually that risky

enjoyable pasttime fun hobby

responsibly try out take seriously

to their liking what they like

Pronunciation

ɪnˈkriːsɪŋ ˌpɒpjʊˈlærɪti 
ˈsəʊˈkɔːld 
beɪs ˈʤʌmpɪŋ 
ˈbæklæʃ ˈkɔːlɪŋ fɔː 
pəʊˈtɛnʃəli ˈfeɪtl
ˌʌndəˈteɪkən rɪsˈpɒnsəbli
dɪˈmɑːndɪd ˈlɪmɪts 
teɪk fɔːr ɪgˈzɑːmpl 
nəʊˈtɔːrɪəs 
pɑːˈtɪsɪpənts 
ˈgɪvn pɔɪnt 
ˈpærəʃuːt
ˌʌnfɔːˈsiːn 
mælˈfʌŋkʃənz 
fəˈtælɪti reɪt 
dɪˈbɪlɪteɪtɪŋ ˈɪnʤəriz 
pəˈrælɪsɪs 
breɪn ˈdæmɪʤ
ˈaʊtˌlaɪə 
ˈspɛktrəm 
ˈveəriɪŋ dɪˈgriːz 
əˌfɔːˈmɛnʃənd kənˈsɜːnz
aʊtˈweɪz 
ˈkɔːʃəs
ˈpɛrɪləs 
ˈrɛlətɪvli seɪf
ˈprɒpə prɪˈkɔːʃənz 
saɪn ʌp fɔː 
rɪg ʌp 
ˈhɑːnɪs 
ˈrɛkwɪzɪt nɒts
ɛnd ʌp 
ˈpæʃənɪt 
ɪgˈzɪləreɪtɪŋ ɪksˈpɪərɪəns
ˈteɪkən ˈsɪərɪəsli
ˈprɛznt ˈlɪtl rɪəl ˈdeɪnʤə 
ɪnˈʤɔɪəbl pɑːstaɪm
rɪsˈpɒnsəbli traɪ aʊt 
tuː ðeə ˈlaɪkɪŋ

Vocabulary Practice

Remember and fill in the blanks with the vocabulary:

The ______________ of ______________ extreme sports such as ______________ and rock climbing have led to ______________ them to be banned. Although these sports are ______________, they should not be banned as they are also fun and can be ______________.

The reason that many have ______________ on extreme sports is their potential for injury and death. ______________ one of the most ______________ extreme sports: base jumping. In this sport, ______________ jump off a ______________ (a cliff or building, for example) with a ______________. There is very little time before they hit the ground so ______________ parachute ______________ are possible and the ______________ is extremely high. Those that do not die may suffer severe, ______________ such as ______________ and ______________. Base jumping is something of an ______________ on the ______________ of dangerous sports but all these sports involve ______________ of danger.

Despite the ______________, I believe the fun people have ______________ potential injury when they are ______________. Base jumping is the most ______________ extreme sport but other sports such as skiing, deep-sea diving, and rock climbing are ______________. Rock climbing is a good example of a sport that can be very safe and fun if ______________ are taken. You should ______________ training and go with someone who knows how to safely ______________ the ______________ and tie the ______________. Many people who try it ______________ become ______________ rock climbers because it is an ______________. Most extreme sports, ______________ , ______________ and are an ______________.

In conclusion, extreme sports are fun and do not have to be particularly dangerous. People should take the opportunity to ______________ at least one extreme sport in their lives in order to see if it is ______________.

Listening Practice

Watch the video below to review about this topic:

https://www.theatlantic.com/video/index/602047/fast-horse/

Reading Practice

Read the article below to learn about the first extreme sport from the video above:

https://www.theatlantic.com/video/index/602047/fast-horse/

Student Sample Corrections

Read the corrections below to get some idea of your own score. Sign up for corrections here.

Recent years have witnessed the proliferation of extreme sports such as sky diving and base jumping as a form of recreational activities activity among youngsters. While it is often suggested that these dangerous sports should be prohibited for its their potentially deleterious effects on players, I personally object to that idea because of the indisputable benefits these sports offer.[G1] 

On the one hand, opponents of adventure sports come up with numerous reasons why these sports should be banned. [G2] First, since the inherently dangerous nature of extreme sports is life-threatening and traumatic, participants are bound to encounter serious injuries such as bone fractures, head trauma and even fatalities situations. For example, indulging in skiing down a slope at great speed or jumping off a cliff could cost players’ invaluable livescould cost someone their life in case of a slightest carelessness or equipment malfunction. Furthermore, if extreme sports athletets suffer from permanent physical handicaps, they will become burdens for their families and society because extra medical welfare shall be allocated for them. A reported heart-wrenching story of a father who lost his legs in a car race, leaving all financial burdens and responsibilities on the mother can beis a salient example for why these sports should be banned.   [G3] 

Notwithstanding the aforementioned arguments, I concur that adventure sports should be welcomed moreare to be embraced. It has been scientically proven that engaging in any dangerous sports could can bolster participants’ personal lives happiness and mentalitymental well-being. In fact, when by overcoming nerve-racking moments and conquering their own fears, players could can feel a sense of achievement and satisfaction, which adds to their personal experience and boosts their courage and self-esteem. For instance, a rock climber who has conquered Everest might mark that as his the most significant milestone and take pride in this accomplishment for his whole life. Another salient point [G4] to clarify my view is that it is a human right to freely partake in any recreational activityies. If a person is willing to risk his life for an extreme sport to satisfy his desire, the endeavor of prohibiting those sports from governments will be merely in vain since he would likely secretly play engage in it elsewhere. [G5] 

To conclude, though the prohibition of adventure sports does appear plausible to some extent, I would argue that participation in these sports offers far more enormous benefits and thus, should be encouraged. As long as players are fullywell-equipped, well-trained and mentally prepared for the challenges of these risky sports, they can live their dreams and enjoy them to the fullest. [G6] 

Task achievement: 8

Lots of good support for both of your main ideas and a clear overall opinion. Your support was more concrete, specific and for one paragraph you focused on one main idea – well done!

Cohesion/coherence 8

Clear throughout and good referencing, ellipsis and paragraphing. You might want to look into theme/rheme which is the principle that in English writing is clearer if you put the topic/old information at the beginning of a sentence and what you want to say about it in the second part of the sentence (as in the last sentence of paragraph 2). Otherwise great!

Vocabulary 7

Great vocabulary throughout – good enough for band 8 but a few too many mistakes and poor word choice bring this down to a 7 this time.

Grammar 7

Complex sentences great as usual but mistakes in almost every sentence and some simple ones with modal and articles bring this down to a 7.


 [G1]Great introduction!

 [G2]Good clear topic sentence and you develop that one main idea for the entire paragraph – well done!

 [G3]Swap around to make it: a salient example that supports banning these sports is…

 [G4]Salient is a great word but don’t use it in both paragraphs – try noteworthy

 [G5]Can’t fully develop this second main idea, so why have it at all?

 [G6]Perfect conclusion – how long is it taking you to write these? They are a little long…

Comment your questions/thoughts below!

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