This is an IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer taken from the real test related to reducing stress.
Here it is:
Many psychologists recommend that the best way to relieve stress is to do nothing at all for a period of time during the day.
Do you agree or disagree?
Real Past IELTS Tests
The structure of the essay is an agree/disagree essay.
For these IELTS essays you must choose a side. You can write about both sides but by the end you must choose an overall point of view.
If you don’t, you will get band 5 for task achievement.
It is a seemingly simple question but when I started to write about it there are a couple of thorny (difficult) issues.
The question is about whether or not taking a break is the best way to reduce stress.
If you write about how taking a break is the best way to reduce stress – it is really hard!
That is because it is obvious: take a break = less stress. How can you further support that?
Read below to see what I did with the question.
You can read more about IELTS structures here.
My exclusive essays are available only on Patreon.
Dave
IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer: Stress
Many pschologists recommend that the best way to relieve stress is to do nothing at all for a period of time during the day.
Do you agree or disagree?
Real Past IELTS Tests
One of the most pressing issues for first world countries is how to reduce their stress levels and this has led some psychologists to propose a daily period of rest. Although I think that daily rest would be helpful, it is more important to take an active role in stress relief.
Proponents of a rest period suggest that taking a break has proven health benefits related to stress reduction. It is very common in Latin American countries and some Southeast Asian countries to take an afternoon ‘siesta’ or short nap before resuming work. Research has supported the myriad health benefits related to this stress-free period. It lowers blood pressure, increases serotonin in the brain, and aids memory function. Besides the statistics from studies that breaks reduce stress, there is also anecdotal evidence that taking a break energises people in both the short and long term. Plowing on without breaks, on the contrary, can lead to an increase in stress and has been linked to related health problems.
Instead of taking a rest, I believe that joining a team sport will do more to relieve stress. Doctors and scientists agree that exercise is the best way to cut down on stress overall. In most parts of the world, football is the most common sport both to watch and participate in. Playing football reduces your stress by releasing endorphins in the brain that make people happier, strengthening the heart to better withstand stressful situations, and helping people to relax by working in a team towards a shared goal. The teamwork aspect cannot be underestimated, and is integral to most sports, as it does more to reduce stress and reset your body for a new day than any other activity.
To conclude, although taking a rest certainly helps reduce stress, the best way to unwind is to play a sport. People should set aside time at least once a week to partake in team sporting activities.
Analysis
1. One of the most pressing issues for first world countries is how to reduce their stress levels and this has led some psychologists to propose a daily period of rest. 2. Although I think that daily rest would be helpful, it is more important to take an active role in stress relief.
- The first sentence restates/paraphrases the main topic for the essay. Don’t spend a lot of time on this – write it quikly and get going!
- The second sentence gives my opinion – be clear and choose a side!
1. Proponents of a rest period suggest that taking a break has proven health benefits related to stress reduction. 2. It is very common in Latin American countries and some Southeast Asian countries to take an afternoon ‘siesta’ or short nap before resuming work. 3. Research has supported the myriad health benefits related to this stress-free period. 4. It lowers blood pressure, increases serotonin in the brain, and aids memory function. 5. Besides the statistics from studies that breaks reduce stress, there is also anecdotal evidence that taking a break energises people in both the short and long term. 6. Plowing on without breaks, on the contrary, can lead to an increase in stress and has been linked to related health problems.
- The first sentence is a topic sentence giving the main idea for the whole paragraph – health benefits related to stress.
- My second sentence begins a specific example. Try to be as specific as possible.
- The third sentence continues to support the same main idea with research.
- The fourth sentence gives specific examples of the parts of the brain impacted by taking a break.
- My fifth sentence further supports the same main idea.
- The last sentence concludes the paragraph by using a counter-point to again support my main idea. Focus on 1 main idea, fully developed!
1. Instead of taking a rest, I believe that joining a team sport will do more to relieve stress. 2. Doctors and scientists agree that exercise is the best way to cut down on stress overall. 3. In most parts of the world, football is the most common sport both to watch and participate in. 4. Playing football reduces your stress by releasing endorphins in the brain that make people happier, strengthening the heart to better withstand stressful situations, and helping people to relax by working in a team towards a shared goal. 5. The teamwork aspect cannot be underestimated, and is integral to most sports, as it does more to reduce stress and reset your body for a new day than any other activity.
- The first sentence of the second paragraph is also a topic sentence with my main idea – doing a sport does more to reduce stress overall. Notice that I keep my opinion weak – it has a greater overall impact.
- My second sentence begins my support for this main idea.
- The third sentence focuses on the very specific example of football.
- My next sentence details the specific ways that football reduces stress – be as specific as possible.
- The final sentence adds more support for the same main idea – sports do more to help reduce stress.
1. To conclude, although taking a rest certainly helps reduce stress, the best way to unwind is to play a sport. 2. People should set aside time at least once a week to partake in team sporting activities.
- The first sentence of my conclusion restates my opinion – make sure that you have a clear, overall opinion!
- My final sentence gives an extended detail that most examiners require for band 7+ for task achievement. Read more about it here.
Vocabulary
Try to figure out what the words in bold mean below or think of a synonym for each one, then check your answers in the answer key:
One of the most pressing issues for first world countries is how to reduce their stress levels and this has led some psychologists to propose a daily period of rest. Although I think that daily rest would be helpful, it is more important to take an active role in stress relief.
Proponents of a rest period suggest that taking a break has proven health benefits related to stress reduction. It is very common in Latin American countries and some Southeast Asian countries to take an afternoon ‘siesta‘ or short nap before resuming work. Research has supported the myriad health benefits related to this stress-free period. It lowers blood pressure, increases serotonin in the brain, and aids memory function. Besides the statistics from studies that breaks reduce stress, there is also anecdotal evidence that taking a break energises people in both the short and long term. Plowing on without breaks, on the contrary, can lead to an increase in stress and has been linked to related health problems.
Instead of taking a rest, I believe that joining a team sport will do more to relieve stress. Doctors and scientists agree that exercise is the best way to cut down on stress overall. In most parts of the world, football is the most common sport both to watch and participate in. Playing football reduces your stress by releasing endorphins in the brain that make people happier, strengthening the heart to better withstand stressful situations, and helping people to relax by working in a team towards a shared goal. The teamwork aspect cannot be underestimated, and is integral to most sports, as it does more to reduce stress and reset your body for a new day than any other activity.
To conclude, although taking a rest certainly helps reduce stress, the best way to unwind is to play a sport. People should set aside time at least once a week to partake in team sporting activities.
Answers:
pressing issues important problems
first world countries rich, developed countries
reduce their stress lessen anxiety
propose suggest
active role more proactive about
stress relief reducing stress
proponents supporters
siesta break
resuming work getting back to work
myriad health benefits many ways it is good for health
lowers blood pressure good for your heart
serotonin a chemical in the brain
aids memory function helps you remember better
statistics figures/facts
anecdotal hearsay
energises gives energy to
plowing on without breaks continuing to work without stopping
cut down on reduce
participate in take part in
releasing endorphins making you happier
strengthening making stronger
withstand get through
shared goal common purpose
underestimated think too little of
integral essential
reset your body recharge
unwind relax
set aside time make time for
partake participate in
Pronunciation
ˈprɛsɪŋ ˈɪʃuːz
fɜːst wɜːld ˈkʌntriz
rɪˈdjuːs ðeə strɛs
prəˈpəʊz
ˈæktɪv rəʊl
strɛs rɪˈliːf
prəˈpəʊnənts
sɪˈɛstə
rɪˈzjuːmɪŋ wɜːk
ˈmɪrɪəd hɛlθ ˈbɛnɪfɪts
ˈləʊəz blʌd ˈprɛʃə
serotonin
eɪdz ˈmɛməri ˈfʌnŋkʃən
stəˈtɪstɪks
ˌænɪkˈdəʊt(ə)l
ˈɛnəʤaɪzɪz
ˈplaʊɪŋ ɒn wɪˈðaʊt breɪks
kʌt daʊn ɒn
pɑːˈtɪsɪpeɪt ɪn
rɪˈliːsɪŋ endorphins
ˈstrɛŋθənɪŋ
wɪðˈstænd
ʃeəd gəʊl
ˌʌndəˈrɛstɪmeɪtɪd
ˈɪntɪgrəl
ˌriːˈsɛt jɔː ˈbɒdi
ʌnˈwaɪnd
sɛt əˈsaɪd taɪm
pɑːˈteɪk
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks:
One of the most ____________________ for ____________________ is how to ____________________ and this has led some psychologists to ____________________ a daily period of rest. Although I think that daily rest would be helpful, it is more important to take an ____________________ in ____________________.
____________________ of a rest period suggest that taking a break has proven health benefits related to stress reduction. It is very common in Latin American countries and some Southeast Asian countries to take an afternoon ‘ ____________________‘ or short nap before ____________________. Research has supported the ____________________ related to this stress-free period. It ____________________, increases ____________________ in the brain, and ____________________. Besides the ____________________ from studies that breaks reduce stress, there is also ____________________ evidence that taking a break ____________________ people in both the short and long term. ____________________, on the contrary, can lead to an increase in stress and has been linked to related health problems.
Instead of taking a rest, I believe that joining a team sport will do more to relieve stress. Doctors and scientists agree that exercise is the best way to ____________________ stress overall. In most parts of the world, football is the most common sport both to watch and ____________________. Playing football reduces your stress by ____________________ in the brain that make people happier, ____________________ the heart to better ____________________ stressful situations, and helping people to relax by working in a team towards a ____________________. The teamwork aspect cannot be ____________________, and is ____________________ to most sports, as it does more to reduce stress and ____________________ for a new day than any other activity.
To conclude, although taking a rest certainly helps reduce stress, the best way to ____________________ is to play a sport. People should ____________________ at least once a week to ____________________ in team sporting activities.
Reading Practice
Read and review the causes of anxiety and stress:
https://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/causes-anxiety
Comment any questions that you have below!
Hi Dave,
Very well-written essay. It was very interesting to read it and I feel like I have learned a thing or two from it. Just a quick comment: I’d prefer using more appropriate nomenclatures like developed countries or leading nations to first world, because first world may sound offensive to some people, especially those from underdeveloped (or third-world as you might say) countries. Also, first-world is an outdated term, implying countries that were aligned with the United States, and other westernized countries as opposed to countries that aligned with the former-Soviet Union.
Cheers,
Duy Anh
Thank you, Duy Anh. Great points! I was trying to paraphrase but you are absolutely correct that first-world / third-world have rightly fallen out of usage in general.