This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of music and relaxation from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Essay: Music and Relaxation

Some people think that the most important function of music is to help people relax.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Many believe that music serves primarily as a means of relaxation while others think it is more than that. I am in agreement with the former as there are other purposes for music but they can all be roughly defined as ways of relaxing.

Those who feel music is more than just relaxation point out its other stated uses. For example, many people listen to music in more active settings, such as in night clubs, and dance along. In difficult emotional periods, including after a bad breakup or the loss of a loved one, some individuals turn to music to cope or lift up their spirits. There are also those who view music as an art form no different from literature, painting, and poetry. For them, music serves the myriad purposes of artistic appreciation that include offering insights into life and the artistic expression of others.

Nonetheless, the reasons detailed above can all be generally categorised as forms of relaxation and the most common purpose of music is unadorned enjoyment. People relax in different ways and that can include dancing, connecting with music emotionally or enjoying art. The majority of people, however, simply listen to music throughout the day as a way of escaping from the pressures and demands of work and family. Studies have shown that listening to music regularly can reduce blood pressure and ease the burdens that modern life places on mental health. This is the reason why workers, students, and parents gravitate towards music, in addition to other kinds of light entertainment, at the end of a long day and explains the enduring success of the industry.

In conclusion, music is mainly for relaxation, though this takes on different variations depending on the person in question. This desire to relax is part of a shared humanity that unites all peoples.

Analysis

1. Many believe that music serves primarily as a means of relaxation while others think it is more than that. 2. I am in agreement with the former as there are other purposes for music but they can all be roughly defined as ways of relaxing.

  1. Paraphrase the essay topic.
  2. Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.

1. Those who feel music is more than just relaxation point out its other stated uses. 2. For example, many people listen to music in more active settings, such as in night clubs, and dance along. 3. In difficult emotional periods, including after a bad breakup or the loss of a loved one, some individuals turn to music to cope or lift up their spirits. 4. There are also those who view music as an art form no different from literature, painting, and poetry. 5. For them, music serves the myriad purposes of artistic appreciation that include offering insights into life and the artistic expression of others.

  1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
  2. Explain your main idea or start an example.
  3. Develop the example.
  4. Develop it as fully as possible with specific details.
  5. State the furthest possible result.

1. Nonetheless, the reasons detailed above can all be generally categorised as forms of relaxation and the most common purpose of music is unadorned enjoyment. 2. People relax in different ways and that can include dancing, connecting with music emotionally or enjoying art. 3. The majority of people, however, simply listen to music throughout the day as a way of escaping from the pressures and demands of work and family. 4. Studies have shown that listening to music regularly can reduce blood pressure and ease the burdens that modern life places on mental health. 5. This is the reason why workers, students, and parents gravitate towards music, in addition to other kinds of light entertainment, at the end of a long day and explains the enduring success of the industry.

  1. Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
  2. Explain your new main idea.
  3. Develop it.
  4. Keep adding specific support such as research.
  5. Conclude with a strong statement at the end.

1. In conclusion, music is mainly for relaxation, though this takes on different variations depending on the person in question. 2. This desire to relax is part of a shared humanity that unites all peoples.

  1. Summarise your main ideas and repeat your opinion.
  2. Add a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean?

Many believe that music serves primarily as a means of relaxation while others think it is more than that. I am in agreement with the former as there are other purposes for music but they can all be roughly defined as ways of relaxing.

Those who feel music is more than just relaxation point out its other stated uses. For example, many people listen to music in more active settings, such as in night clubs, and dance along. In difficult emotional periods, including after a bad breakup or the loss of a loved one, some individuals turn to music to cope or lift up their spirits. There are also those who view music as an art form no different from literature, painting, and poetry. For them, music serves the myriad purposes of artistic appreciation that include offering insights into life and the artistic expression of others.

Nonetheless, the reasons detailed above can all be generally categorised as forms of relaxation and the most common purpose of music is unadorned enjoyment. People relax in different ways and that can include dancing, connecting with music emotionally or enjoying art. The majority of people, however, simply listen to music throughout the day as a way of escaping from the pressures and demands of work and family. Studies have shown that listening to music regularly can reduce blood pressure and ease the burdens that modern life places on mental health. This is the reason why workers, students, and parents gravitate towards music, in addition to other kinds of light entertainment, at the end of a long day and explains the enduring success of the industry.

In conclusion, music is mainly for relaxation, though this takes on different variations depending on the person in question. This desire to relax is part of a shared humanity that unites all peoples.

Answers

serves primarily as is mainly for

means of relaxation a way to chill out

I am in agreement with I agree with

former mentioned before

purposes methods

roughly defined generally grouped as

ways of relaxing means of chilling out

point out argue

other stated uses different purposes claimed

more active settings lively places

night clubs places to dance at night

difficult emotional periods tough times

bad breakup breaking up with a significant other

loss of a loved one someone dying

turn to music depend on music

cope deal with

lift up raise

spirits feelings, emotions

art form no different from kind of art the same as

serves the myriad purposes works for multiple reasons

artistic appreciation enjoying art

offering insights into life explains about life

artistic expression self-expression

nonetheless regardless

detailed above mentioned before

generally categorised roughly defined as

forms types

most common purpose why it is usually done

unadorned enjoyment simple pleasure

connecting understanding

emotionally with emotion, feeling

majority most of

throughout all during

a way of escaping getting away from

pressures stresses

demands pressures

studies have shown research supports

regularly on a regular basis

reduce blood pressure healthier heart

ease the burdens relieve stress

modern life the way people live now

places on mental health puts on one’s mind

gravitate move towards

in addition to also

light entertainment TV, movies, music, etc.

at the end of a long day after work

explains illustrates

enduring success continued popularity

mainly mostly

variations differences

depending on in certain situations

desire drive

shared humanity what all humans have in common

unites brings together

Pronunciation

sɜːvz ˈpraɪmərɪli æz 
miːnz ɒv ˌriːlækˈseɪʃən 
aɪ æm ɪn əˈgriːmənt wɪð 
ˈfɔːmə 
ˈpɜːpəsɪz 
ˈrʌfli dɪˈfaɪnd 
weɪz ɒv rɪˈlæksɪŋ
pɔɪnt aʊt 
ˈʌðə ˈsteɪtɪd ˈjuːzɪz
mɔːr ˈæktɪv ˈsɛtɪŋz
naɪt klʌbz
ˈdɪfɪkəlt ɪˈməʊʃənl ˈpɪərɪədz
bæd ˈbreɪkˈʌp 
lɒs ɒv ə lʌvd wʌn
tɜːn tuː ˈmjuːzɪk 
kəʊp 
lɪft ʌp 
ˈspɪrɪts
ɑːt fɔːm nəʊ ˈdɪfrənt frɒm 
sɜːvz ðə ˈmɪrɪəd ˈpɜːpəsɪz 
ɑːˈtɪstɪk əˌpriːʃɪˈeɪʃ(ə)n 
ˈɒfərɪŋ ˈɪnsaɪts ˈɪntuː laɪf 
ɑːˈtɪstɪk ɪksˈprɛʃən 
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs
ˈdiːteɪld əˈbʌv 
ˈʤɛnərəli ˈkætɪgəraɪzd 
fɔːmz 
məʊst ˈkɒmən ˈpɜːpəs 
ˌʌnəˈdɔːnd ɪnˈʤɔɪmənt
kəˈnɛktɪŋ 
ɪˈməʊʃənli 
məˈʤɒrɪti 
θru(ː)ˈaʊt 
ə weɪ ɒv ɪsˈkeɪpɪŋ 
ˈprɛʃəz 
dɪˈmɑːndz 
ˈstʌdiz hæv ʃəʊn 
ˈrɛgjʊləli 
rɪˈdjuːs blʌd ˈprɛʃə 
iːz ðə ˈbɜːdnz 
ˈmɒdən laɪf 
ˈpleɪsɪz ɒn ˈmɛntl hɛlθ
ˈgrævɪteɪt 
ɪn əˈdɪʃ(ə)n tuː 
laɪt ˌɛntəˈteɪnmənt
æt ði ɛnd ɒv ə lɒŋ deɪ 
ɪksˈpleɪnz 
ɪnˈdjʊərɪŋ səkˈsɛs 
ˈmeɪnli 
ˌveərɪˈeɪʃənz 
dɪˈpɛndɪŋ ɒn 
dɪˈzaɪə 
ʃeəd hju(ː)ˈmænɪti 
juːˈnaɪts

Vocabulary Practice

Remember and fill in the blanks:

Many believe that music s________________________s a m___________________n while others think it is more than that. I________________________h the f__________r as there are other p___________s for music but they can all be r__________________d as w___________________g.

Those who feel music is more than just relaxation p__________t its o_________________s. For example, many people listen to music in m____________________s, such as in n____________s, and dance along. In d_________________________s, including after a b_____________p or the l_______________________________e, some individuals t_____________c to c____e or l___________p their s__________s. There are also those who view music as an a_____________________________m literature, painting, and poetry. For them, music s___________________________s of a_______________________n that include o___________________________e and the a__________________n of others.

N________________s, the reasons d_______________e can all be g______________________d as f________s of relaxation and the m______________________e of music is u______________________t. People relax in different ways and that can include dancing, c_____________g with music e________________y or enjoying art. The m_____________y of people, however, simply listen to music t________________t the day as a___________________g from the p_____________s and d____________s of work and family. S_____________________n that listening to music r___________y can r_____________________e and e____________________s that m_______________e p___________________________h. This is the reason why workers, students, and parents g_____________e towards music, i_________________o other kinds of l_____________________t, a_____________________________y and e____________s the e_____________________s of the industry.

In conclusion, music is m___________y for relaxation, though this takes on different v_____________s d_________________n the person in question. This d________e to relax is part of a s_________________y that u_______s all peoples.

Listening Practice

Listen more about this topic below and practice with these ideas:

And a related speaking test here:

Reading Practice

Read more and practice with these news reading activities:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/sleep-newzzz/201812/the-many-health-and-sleep-benefits-music

Speaking Practice

Practice speaking with these real questions from IELTS speaking:

Music

  1. Do you like music?
  2. Which types of music do you like?
  3. Would you like to learn a musical instrument?
  4. Do you prefer listening to music by yourself or with someone else?

Writing Practice

Write about the related topic below and then check with my sample answer:

Many people believe that music is just a form of entertainment, whilst others believe that music has a much larger impact on society today.

Discuss both views and give your own opinion. 

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