This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer from the general training test related to healthy lifestyles.

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Dave

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer: Healthy Lifestyle (General Training)

Many think that in today’s world it is very difficult for people to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Others, however, feel that it is easy for people to be healthy and fit if they want to be.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.

You should write at least 250 words.

Living a healthy lifestyle has become an increasingly important topic as what researchers know about nutrition has evolved. In my opinion, despite some obvious hurdles it is easier than ever for people to be healthy and fit today.

The main hurdles related to fitness today revolve around technology. A few decades ago people led much more active lives that involved more exercising and comparatively less time in front of screens. The advent of computer technology generally and the smartphone in particular has precipitated more passive lifestyles globally. Smartphones are the chief culprit. People become easily addicted to the small dopamine rushes that phones provide and their availability means they are tailor-made to be everyone’s worst habit. This prevents many people from developing healthy exercise patterns and, in cases where people binge watch shows on Netflix or YouTube, can also cause over-eating.

Despite the above mentioned challenges, it is easy to be healthy today because of the amount of information on nutrition available. Doctors a hundred years ago recommended smoking cigarettes and the many sources of heart disease were only documented decades ago. Today everywhere you look there are articles and people on television laying out hard evidence related to nutrition as well as the importance of eating vegetables and limiting meats and fatty foods. There is healthy debate and the consensus on specific foods might fluctuate but the general trend is greater awareness of which foods are healthy and which ones will shorten your life and undermine your fitness goals.

In conclusion, although there are good excuses today to be unfit, people can learn enough about nutrition to lead a healthy life with a degree of ease. Schools should make greater efforts in the future to teach students about nutrition and set them up with the knowledge they need to combat passivity.

Analysis

1. Living a healthy lifestyle has become an increasingly important topic as what researchers know about nutrition has evolved. 2. In my opinion, despite some obvious hurdles it is easier than ever for people to be healthy and fit today.

Rewrite the essay’s overall topic for your first sentence.
Give your opinion – make is 100% clear.

1. The main hurdles related to fitness today revolve around technology. 2. A few decades ago people led much more active lives that involved more exercising and comparatively less time in front of screens. 3. The advent of computer technology generally and the smartphone in particular has precipitated more passive lifestyles globally. 4. Smartphones are the chief culprit. 5. People become easily addicted to the small dopamine rushes that phones provide and their availability means they are tailor-made to be everyone’s worst habit. 6. This prevents many people from developing healthy exercise patterns and, in cases where people binge watch shows on Netflix or YouTube, can also cause over-eating.

Your first sentence should be a topic sentence with your main idea for that paragraph. Keep it short and simple.
I start here with a comparision to the past to explain my main idea.
Be as specific as possible developing your main idea.
Vary your grammar with short, accurate sentences and longer, more complex ones.
The more detail, the better your vocabulary will be.
Don’t switch to a new main idea – just finish developing the main idea from your topic sentence.

1. Despite the above mentioned challenges, it is easy to be healthy today because of the amount of information on nutrition available. 2. Doctors a hundred years ago recommended smoking cigarettes and the many sources of heart disease were only documented decades ago. 3. Today everywhere you look there are articles and people on television laying out hard evidence related to nutrition as well as the importance of eating vegetables and limiting meats and fatty foods. 4. There is healthy debate and the consensus on specific foods might fluctuate but the general trend is greater awareness of which foods are healthy and which ones will shorten your life and undermine your fitness goals.

Write another clear topic sentence with a single main idea.
Develop your main idea with a specific example.
Here I compare this to the amount of information available on nutrition today.
Draw a conclusion/further develop with your last sentence.

1. In conclusion, although there are good excuses today to be unfit, people can learn enough about nutrition to lead a healthy life with a degree of ease. 2. Schools should make greater efforts in the future to teach students about nutrition and set them up with the knowledge they need to combat passivity.

Repeat your opinion.
Include a final detail/extra detail to conclude the essay.

Vocabulary

Living a healthy lifestyle has become an increasingly important topic as what researchers know about nutrition has evolved. In my opinion, despite some obvious hurdles it is easier than ever for people to be healthy and fit today.

The main hurdles related to fitness today revolve around technology. A few decades ago people led much more active lives that involved more exercising and comparatively less time in front of screens. The advent of computer technology generally and the smartphone in particular has precipitated more passive lifestyles globally. Smartphones are the chief culprit. People become easily addicted to the small dopamine rushes that phones provide and their availability means they are tailor-made to be everyone’s worst habit. This prevents many people from developing healthy exercise patterns and, in cases where people binge watch shows on Netflix or YouTube, can also cause over-eating.

Despite the above mentioned challenges, it is easy to be healthy today because of the amount of information on nutrition available. Doctors a hundred years ago recommended smoking cigarettes and the many sources of heart disease were only documented decades ago. Today everywhere you look there are articles and people on television laying out hard evidence related to nutrition as well as the importance of eating vegetables and limiting meats and fatty foods. There is healthy debate and the consensus on specific foods might fluctuate but the general trend is greater awareness of which foods are healthy and which ones will shorten your life and undermine your fitness goals.

In conclusion, although there are good excuses today to be unfit, people can learn enough about nutrition to lead a healthy life with a degree of ease. Schools should make greater efforts in the future to teach students about nutrition and set them up with the knowledge they need to combat passivity.

Answers

healthy lifestyle staying in shap

evolved changed/become more modern

obvious hurdles clear challenges

easier than ever easiest now

main hurdles clearest challenges

revolve around are related to

comparatively less time not as much time for

screens devices

advent beginning of

generally overal

in particular especially

precipitated led to

passive lifestyles globally people being less active today

chief culprit main source of blame

easily addicted can’t stop using

small dopamine rushes a little bit of pleasure

tailor-made made specifically for

prevents stops

healthy exercise patterns good habits for going to the gym

binge watch shows watch multiple episodes in a row

over-eating eating too much

above mentioned challenges difficulties already presented

heart disease heart attacks

documented recorded/noted

laying out making clear

hard evidence scientific proof

limiting containing/stopping/slowing down

healthy debate good arguments

consensus general opinion

general trend overall pattern

greater awareness more know about

shorten make shorter/cut

undermine work against/fight

good excuses justifications

a degreee of ease easier

set them up give them/prepare them

combat passivity make people more active

Pronunciation

ˈhɛlθi ˈlaɪfˌstaɪl
ɪˈvɒlvd
ˈɒbvɪəs ˈhɜːdlz
ˈiːzɪə ðæn ˈɛvə
meɪn ˈhɜːdlz
rɪˈvɒlv əˈraʊnd
kəmˈpærətɪvli lɛs taɪm
skriːnz
ˈædvənt
ˈʤɛnərəli
ɪn pəˈtɪkjʊlə
prɪˈsɪpɪteɪtɪd
ˈpæsɪv ˈlaɪfˌstaɪlz ˈgləʊbəli
ʧiːf ˈkʌlprɪt
ˈiːzɪli əˈdɪktɪd
smɔːl dəʊməmiːn ˈrʌʃɪz
ˈteɪləmeɪd
prɪˈvɛnts
ˈhɛlθi ˈɛksəsaɪz ˈpætənz
bɪnʤ wɒʧ ʃəʊz
ˈəʊvər-ˈiːtɪŋ
əˈbʌv ˈmɛnʃənd ˈʧælɪnʤɪz
hɑːt dɪˈziːz
ˈdɒkjʊmɛntɪd
ˈleɪɪŋ aʊt
hɑːd ˈɛvɪdəns
ˈlɪmɪtɪŋ
ˈhɛlθi dɪˈbeɪt
kənˈsɛnsəs
ˈʤɛnərəl trɛnd
ˈgreɪtər əˈweənəs
ˈʃɔːtn
ˌʌndəˈmaɪn
gʊd ɪksˈkjuːsɪz
ə dɪˈgriː ɒv iːz
sɛt ðɛm ʌp
ˈkɒmbæt pæˈsɪvɪti

Listen and repeat:

Vocabulary Practice

Remember and fill in the blanks:

Living a _____________ has become an increasingly important topic as what researchers know about nutrition has _____________. In my opinion, despite some _____________ it is _____________ for people to be healthy and fit today.

The _____________ related to fitness today _____________ technology. A few decades ago people led much more active lives that involved more exercising and _____________ in front of _____________. The _____________ of computer technology _____________ and the smartphone _____________ has _____________ more _____________. Smartphones are the _____________. People become _____________ to the _____________ that phones provide and their availability means they are _____________ to be everyone’s worst habit. This _____________ many people from developing _____________ and, in cases where people _____________ on Netflix or YouTube, can also cause _____________.

Despite the _____________, it is easy to be healthy today because of the amount of information on nutrition available. Doctors a hundred years ago recommended smoking cigarettes and the many sources of _____________ were only _____________ decades ago. Today everywhere you look there are articles and people on television _____________ _____________ related to nutrition as well as the importance of eating vegetables and _____________ meats and fatty foods. There is _____________ and the _____________ on specific foods might fluctuate but the _____________ is _____________ of which foods are healthy and which ones will _____________ your life and _____________ your fitness goals.

In conclusion, although there are _____________ today to be unfit, people can learn enough about nutrition to lead a healthy life with _____________. Schools should make greater efforts in the future to teach students about nutrition and _____________ with the knowledge they need to _____________.

Listen and check:

Listening Practice

Listen to the video below to review the topic:

Sample Student Corrections

Compare your own writing with my corrections of a student IELTS essay below:

Leading a wholesome life is reckoned [A1] to be one of the primary contributions to people’s wellness. While some health-conscious people cast doubt on the feasibility of this challenging objective [A2] , especially in the present-day context, I personally hold a strong belief that the advances of today world are a substantial assistance [A3] of a healthy lifestyle.

On the one hand, some people claim that it is struggling [A4] to lead a healthy lifestyle in today [A5] world. One significant factor contributing to this fact is penetration [A6] of technology into humans’ daily lives [A7] . There is no doubt that people gradually grow addicted to state-of-the-art gadgets such as smartphones, laptops, smart televisions, etc., [A8] which grasp their rapt attention [A9] and hamper [A10] them from doing physical exercise or outdoor activities. Furthermore, proponents of this viewpoint also state that their hectic schedule is a [A11] main reason preventing them from living healthily. Undoubtedly, the more developed a society becomes, the heavier load of work [A12] people have to handle. Obviously, pressure and work strain [A13] are unavoidable. When spare time is limited, fast food or processed food turns out to be a brilliant solution [A14] for sedentary employees, which eventually results in obesity and other diseases like high blood pressure or diabetes.

On the other hand, albeit aforementioned obstacles [A15] , I would argue that all members of today [A16] society stand a higher chance of a healthier way of life compared to their ancestors thanks to modernization. While opponents of advanced technology reckon it a [A17] stumbling block [A18] , I would say that it offers a significant help to those who are committed to a wholesome diet and habit [A19] . If in the past people struggled to keep track of their exercise routine and lacked healthcare and work-out knowledge [A20] , now all necessary information is just a click away thanks to numerous applications on the Internet [A21] and health programs broadcast on televisions during prime time. Another obvious reason is that as the world becomes more prosperous, people are more health-conscious, which gives rise to the construction of a huge number of facilities like gymnasiums and health-care centers. [A22] Specialized equipment in the gym together with expert advice from specialists will make people more well-informed [A23] and aware of health issues and generate a health living habit.

As expressed above [A24] , though modern life is an undeniable obstruction to people’s healthy lifestyle, I suppose that a wholesome way of life is still achievable [A25] thanks to advanced technology and peoples’ growing awareness of health issues.

Task Achievement: Band 7

This is the closest one to an 8 because you talk about both sides in a lot of detail with lots of support. If your other scores go up, then you can expect an 8. Only a couple things hold you back. 1. Make your opinion clearer in the conclusion. 2. Include an extra detail (check my sample answers to see what I mean). 3. The second paragraph is a little general and could use more specific support.

Grammar: Band 7

There are some slips – which aren’t so important but also some ingrained errors including with possessives and articles that bring you down to 8. To get up to 8, continue trying new complex structures so that you are more flexible with them and fix the few mistakes with grammar that keep coming up. This will take some time to fix.

Vocabulary: Band 7

Lots of great attempts and great vocabulary. Some of it is band 8. But there are also lots of inocrrect collocations and phrases that could be much better. This area will take the longest to improve to band 8.

Cohesion & Coherence: Band 7

Very clear and good in terms of structure and paragraphing. This one is also close to 8. Don’t us a linking work at the beginning of every sentence. Sometimes the wordiness and the complex grammar with mistakes make it more difficult to follow. Improve the grammar and vocabulary and this will easily be an 8 because you understand the structure and ideas very well!

Overall: 7

[A1]Don’t use this word in the passive – awkward. Better to say ‘Many people reckon’ or better ‘It is often claimed’ The sentence doesn’t make sense though because leading a wholesome life is the same as wellness – very confusing to start

[A2]Good!

[A3]Not an english collocation

[A4]Grammar

[A5]grammar

[A6]grammar

[A7]too general

[A8]too informal

[A9]good vocab but very unnatural

[A10]Good vocab but not specific enough for band 8

[A11]grammar

[A12]vocab

[A13]vocab

[A14]vocab

[A15]Doesn’t make sense, you can say ‘despite the aforementioned drawbacks’

[A16]grammar

[A17]grammar

[A18]good!

[A19]grammar

[A20]vocab

[A21]don’t capitalise

[A22]accurate, complex grammar

[A23]Ok, but more specific vocab to get up to band 8. For example ‘has increased the chances that people can take advantage of the latest research into nutrition and exerise and turn these into long-term, healthy habits.’

[A24]Don’t use this phrase. Just say ‘In conclusion’

[A25]Careful! Doesn’t directly answer the question and a strict examiner could give you band 5 for task achievement!

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