This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of media instead of peer pressure from the real IELTS exam.
IELTS Essay: Peer Pressure
Young people are often influenced in their behaviors by others in the same age group. Some argue that peer pressure is important while others feel it has distinct disadvantages.
Do the disadvantages of peer pressure outweigh the advantages?
Peer pressure refers to the influence young individuals experience within the same age group, affecting their behaviors. This essay will critically evaluate the drawbacks and benefits of peer pressure on young people.
Peer pressure often leads young individuals to engage in risky behaviors. For instance, teenagers may feel compelled to experiment with drugs due to the effect of their peers who engage in such activities. The desire to fit in and be accepted can override their better judgment, exposing them to serious short-term health risks and potential addiction later in life. Moreover, succumbing to negative peer pressure can adversely affect academic performance, as students may prioritize social acceptance over their studies. This desire for approval can result in poor grades, limited educational opportunities, and long-term negative consequences.
On the other hand, positive peer pressure can inspire young individuals to set higher goals, adopt healthier habits, and strive for academic excellence. Many teenagers are pressured by their peers to join a study group, leading to improved learning outcomes and academic success. Relatedly, supportive friends can inspire young individuals to engage in physical fitness activities or pursue positive hobbies and talents, promoting a healthier and more well-rounded lifestyle. This sense of camaraderie and mutual encouragement fostered within positive peer groups can contribute significantly to personal growth and self-confidence. Actively seeking out positive and active peer groups and engaging in behaviors aligned with one’s personal values can help mitigate the adverse effects of negative peer pressure while harnessing the advantages of positive influence.
In conclusion, although peer pressure encourages risky behaviors and hinders personal growth, the motivational and emotional advantage make it a positive on the whole. Ultimately, striking some degree of balance between independence and positive peer interactions is crucial to minimizing the disadvantages and embracing the benefits.
Analysis
1. Peer pressure refers to the influence young individuals experience within the same age group, affecting their behaviors. 2. This essay will critically evaluate the drawbacks and benefits of peer pressure on young people.
1. Peer pressure often leads young individuals to engage in risky behaviors. 2. For instance, teenagers may feel compelled to experiment with drugs due to the effect of their peers who engage in such activities. 3. The desire to fit in and be accepted can override their better judgment, exposing them to serious short-term health risks and potential addiction later in life. 4. Moreover, succumbing to negative peer pressure can adversely affect academic performance, as students may prioritize social acceptance over their studies. 5. This desire for approval can result in poor grades, limited educational opportunities, and long-term negative consequences.
1. On the other hand, positive peer pressure can inspire young individuals to set higher goals, adopt healthier habits, and strive for academic excellence. 2. Many teenagers are pressured by their peers to join a study group, leading to improved learning outcomes and academic success. 3. Relatedly, supportive friends can inspire young individuals to engage in physical fitness activities or pursue positive hobbies and talents, promoting a healthier and more well-rounded lifestyle. 4. This sense of camaraderie and mutual encouragement fostered within positive peer groups can contribute significantly to personal growth and self-confidence. 5. Actively seeking out positive and active peer groups and engaging in behaviors aligned with one’s personal values can help mitigate the adverse effects of negative peer pressure while harnessing the advantages of positive influence.
1. In conclusion, although peer pressure encourages risky behaviors and hinders personal growth, the motivational and emotional advantage make it a positive on the whole. 2. Ultimately, striking some degree of balance between independence and positive peer interactions is crucial to minimizing the disadvantages and embracing the benefits.
Vocabulary
Peer pressure refers to the influence young individuals experience within the same age group, affecting their behaviors. This essay will critically evaluate the drawbacks and benefits of peer pressure on young people.
Peer pressure often leads young individuals to engage in risky behaviors. For instance, teenagers may feel compelled to experiment with drugs due to the effect of their peers who engage in such activities. The desire to fit in and be accepted can override their better judgment, exposing them to serious short-term health risks and potential addiction later in life. Moreover, succumbing to negative peer pressure can adversely affect academic performance, as students may prioritize social acceptance over their studies. This desire for approval can result in poor grades, limited educational opportunities, and long-term negative consequences.
On the other hand, positive peer pressure can inspire young individuals to set higher goals, adopt healthier habits, and strive for academic excellence. Many teenagers are pressured by their peers to join a study group, leading to improved learning outcomes and academic success. Relatedly, supportive friends can inspire young individuals to engage in physical fitness activities or pursue positive hobbies and talents, promoting a healthier and more well-rounded lifestyle. This sense of camaraderie and mutual encouragement fostered within positive peer groups can contribute significantly to personal growth and self-confidence. Actively seeking out positive and active peer groups and engaging in behaviors aligned with one’s personal values can help mitigate the adverse effects of negative peer pressure while harnessing the advantages of positive influence.
In conclusion, although peer pressure encourages risky behaviors and hinders personal growth, the motivational and emotional advantage make it a positive on the whole. Ultimately, striking some degree of balance between independence and positive peer interactions is crucial to minimizing the disadvantages and embracing the benefits.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
Peer pressure refers to Social influence
influence Unsafe actions
within the same age group People the same age
affecting Impacting
behaviors How you act
critically evaluate Have a good opinion about
drawbacks Disadvantages
benefits Advantages
risky behaviors Dangerous actions
feel compelled to experiment with Are obligated to try
due to Because of
engage in Participate in
desire to fit in Need for belonging
be accepted Feel part of a group
override Ignore
better judgment Sound reasoning
exposing Being vulnerable to
serious short-term health risks Grave immediate health dangers
potential addiction later in life Possible future dependency
succumbing to Giving in to
adversely affect academic performance Negatively impact educational achievements
prioritize social acceptance over Care more about what people think of you
desire for approval Craving validation
result in poor grades Lead to low academic marks
limited educational opportunities Restricted learning prospects
long-term negative consequences Bad in the long run
On the other hand However
set higher goals Establish ambitious objectives
adopt healthier habits Embrace more wholesome practices
strive for academic excellence Pursue scholastic mastery
pressured by Encouraged by others
join a study group Study with others
improved learning outcomes Enhanced educational results
academic success Doing well at school
Relatedly Similarly
supportive Encouraging
inspire Encourage
engage in physical fitness activities Participate in exercise routines
pursue positive hobbies and talents Follow constructive interests and abilities
promoting a healthier and more well-rounded lifestyle Advocating for a balanced and wholesome way of living
sense of camaraderie Feeling of comradeship
mutual encouragement fostered within positive peer groups Helping each other out within a friend circle
contribute significantly to personal growth and self-confidence Play a major role in individual development and self-assurance
Actively seeking out positive and active peer groups Energetically pursuing supportive and proactive social circles
engaging in behaviors aligned with one’s personal values Participating in actions that resonate with personal principles
mitigate Lessen negatives
adverse Bad
harnessing Utilizing
encourages Promotes
hinders personal growth Impedes individual development
motivational Inspiring
emotional Sentimental
make it a positive on the whole Turn it into an overall positive experience
Ultimately In the end
striking some degree of balance between independence and positive peer interactions Finding a middle ground between being independent and engaging in positive social interactions
crucial Essential
minimizing Reducing
embracing Accepting
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
pɪə ˈprɛʃə rɪˈfɜːz tuː
ˈɪnfluəns
wɪˈðɪn ðə seɪm eɪʤ ɡruːp
əˈfɛktɪŋ
bɪˈheɪvjəz
ˈkrɪtɪkᵊli ɪˈvæljueɪt
ˈdrɔːbæks
ˈbɛnɪfɪts
ˈrɪski bɪˈheɪvjəz
fiːl kəmˈpɛld tuː ɪkˈspɛrɪmɛnt wɪð
djuː tuː
ɪnˈɡeɪʤ ɪn
dɪˈzaɪə tuː fɪt ɪn
biː əkˈsɛptɪd
ˌəʊvəˈraɪd
ˈbɛtə ˈʤʌʤmənt
ɪksˈpəʊzɪŋ
ˈsɪəriəs ʃɔːt-tɜːm hɛlθ rɪsks
pəˈtɛnʃᵊl əˈdɪkʃᵊn ˈleɪtər ɪn laɪf
səˈkʌmɪŋ tuː
ˈædvɜːsli əˈfɛkt ˌækəˈdɛmɪk pəˈfɔːməns
praɪˈɒrɪˌtaɪz ˈsəʊʃᵊl əkˈsɛptᵊns ˈəʊvə
dɪˈzaɪə fɔːr əˈpruːvᵊl
rɪˈzʌlt ɪn pɔː ɡreɪdz
ˈlɪmɪtɪd ˌɛʤʊˈkeɪʃᵊnᵊl ˌɒpəˈtjuːnətiz
ˈlɒŋtɜːm ˈnɛɡətɪv ˈkɒnsɪkwənsɪz
ɒn ði ˈʌðə hænd
sɛt ˈhaɪə ɡəʊlz
əˈdɒpt ˈhɛlθɪə ˈhæbɪts
straɪv fɔːr ˌækəˈdɛmɪk ˈɛksᵊlᵊns
ˈprɛʃəd baɪ
ʤɔɪn ə ˈstʌdi ɡruːp
ɪmˈpruːvd ˈlɜːnɪŋ ˈaʊtkʌmz
ˌækəˈdɛmɪk səkˈsɛs
rɪˈleɪtɪdli
səˈpɔːtɪv
ɪnˈspaɪə
ɪnˈɡeɪʤ ɪn ˈfɪzɪkᵊl ˈfɪtnəs ækˈtɪvətiz
pəˈsjuː ˈpɒzətɪv ˈhɒbiz ænd ˈtælᵊnts
prəˈməʊtɪŋ ə ˈhɛlθɪər ænd mɔː wɛl-ˈraʊndɪd ˈlaɪfˌstaɪl
sɛns ɒv ˌkæməˈrɑːdᵊri
ˈmjuːʧuəl ɪnˈkʌrɪʤmənt ˈfɒstəd wɪˈðɪn ˈpɒzətɪv pɪə ɡruːps
kənˈtrɪbjuːt sɪɡˈnɪfɪkᵊntli tuː ˈpɜːsᵊnᵊl ɡrəʊθ ænd sɛlf-ˈkɒnfɪdᵊns
ˈæktɪvli ˈsiːkɪŋ aʊt ˈpɒzətɪv ænd ˈæktɪv pɪə ɡruːps
ɪnˈɡeɪʤɪŋ ɪn bɪˈheɪvjəz əˈlaɪnd wɪð wʌnz ˈpɜːsᵊnᵊl ˈvæljuːz
ˈmɪtɪɡeɪt
ˈædvɜːs
ˈhɑːnəsɪŋ
ɪnˈkʌrɪʤɪz
ˈhaɪndəz ˈpɜːsᵊnᵊl ɡrəʊθ
ˌməʊtɪˈveɪʃᵊnᵊl
ɪˈməʊʃᵊnᵊl
meɪk ɪt ə ˈpɒzətɪv ɒn ðə həʊl
ˈʌltɪmɪtli
ˈstraɪkɪŋ sʌm dɪˈɡriː ɒv ˈbælᵊns bɪˈtwiːn ˌɪndɪˈpɛndəns ænd ˈpɒzətɪv pɪər ˌɪntərˈækʃᵊnz
ˈkruːʃᵊl
ˈmɪnɪmaɪzɪŋ
ɪmˈbreɪsɪŋ
Vocabulary Practice
I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:
P_____________________o the i__________e young individuals experience w_________________________p, a__________g their b__________s. This essay will c____________________e the d_____________s and b______s of peer pressure on young people.
Peer pressure often leads young individuals to engage in r__________________s. For instance, teenagers may f________________________________________h drugs d_______o the effect of their peers who e_________n such activities. The d___________________n and b_____________d can o_________e their b_____________t, e_____________g them to s________________________________s and p_____________________________e. Moreover, s_____________o negative peer pressure can a____________________________e, as students may p________________________________________r their studies. This d__________________l can r_____________________s, l_______________________________________s, and l____________________________________s.
O__________________d, positive peer pressure can i____________e young individuals to s_________________s, a_____________________________s, and s_________________________e. Many teenagers are p_____________y their peers to j________________________p, leading to i________________________s and a________________s. R________y, s_______________e friends can i________e young individuals to e_____________________________s or p______________________________________s, p_____________________________________________e. This s________________________e and m___________________________________________________s can c_________________________________________________________________________________e. A________________________________________________________________________s and e________________________________________________________s can help m_________e the a_________e effects of negative peer pressure while h__________g the advantages of positive influence.
In conclusion, although peer pressure e________________s risky behaviors and h________________________h, the m___________________l and e___________l advantage m__________________________e. U____________y, s_________________________________________________________________________________________________s is c_______l to m___________g the disadvantages and e_______________g the benefits.
Listening Practice
Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities:
Reading Practice
Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:
https://raisingchildren.net.au/teens/behaviour/peers-friends-trends/peer-influence
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Friends
- Do you prefer to have a lot of friends or a small group of friends?
- What do you usually do with your friends?
- Do you have a best friend?
- How do friends in your country stay in touch?
Writing Practice
Practice with the related IELTS essay topics below
Many people argue that in order to improve educational quality, high school students should be encouraged to question and offer criticisms on their teachers. Others think this will lead to a loss of respect and discipline in the classroom.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
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