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.
- Paraphrase the essay topic.
- 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.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea or start an example.
- Develop the example.
- Develop it as fully as possible with specific details.
- 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.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Develop it.
- Keep adding specific support such as research.
- 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.
- Summarise your main ideas and repeat your opinion.
- 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
- Do you like music?
- Which types of music do you like?
- Would you like to learn a musical instrument?
- 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.
Several individuals believe that the noticeable pivotal aim of music like jazz, classic, rock, and a host of others, is to aid relaxation, While others think that music provides more than that for people. In my opinion, I concur with the latter. This essay intends to elucidate my argument as well as give a few notable illustrations.
Listening to music can be used to provide different functions other than relaxation for individuals. However, people listen to music in many active settings like sport and night clubs. Research suggests that marathon runners who listened to fast or slow motivational music appear to run faster than those who played calm music while running. Thus, songs emerge to improve sports performances. Besides sports, many people listen to trap music in night clubs and dance along with it.
Furthermore, In a hurdle or downtimes as a consequence of an unpredictable breakup between lovers, people turn to music to uplift their mood. Moreover, some people turn to music for concentration, especially when heeding to the type of song the defined individual finds intriguing. Therefore, music plays other crucial roles rather than relaxation for its victims.
In conclusion, albeit music also supports relaxation, like mitigating anxiety and insomnia by calming the stressed nerves and hormones of a person, I believe that music provides other significant roles like assisting to improve sports performance, concentration, and uplifting individuals’ moods when faced with vile occasions. In addition, it all depends on the reason why a person is heeding to a piece of music as well as the choice of song
great task response with v. well vocab & sentence formation.
Thanks a lot!