IELTS Writing Task 2: should we avoid or welcome stress?


I want to share an awesome IELTS essay written in my "Writing with New Scientist" course. The essay was so great when I first checked it that I had to read it several times in order to find something to correct or at least suggest. It's absolutely awesome now - it has academic lexis, hedging, a range of cohesive devices, a sharp focus - everything you need for a high score. The author of the essay decided to remain anonymous.

Some people believe stress is such a detrimental force that it should be avoided and minimized as much as possible. Others, however, say that stress should be welcomed as it is a natural part of life and can even be beneficial. Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

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It is generally agreed that stress is an integral part of life, but there is no agreement as to what attitude towards it is best to adopt. Some welcome stress, claiming that it could be turned to their advantage. Others, however, feel that stress should be eliminated or at least reduced, as it is a debilitating influence. In this essay I will discuss both views and agree with the latter.

It is believed that one should not try to avoid stress, not least because the physiological response it produces could be used to one’s advantage. A stressful situation provokes a number of biological reactions resulting in a powerful surge of energy. There is an opinion that this biological mechanism, apart from being indispensable in life-threatening situations, could stand people in good stead when dealing with more mundane challenges such as working towards a tight deadline or performing in a high-stakes competition. The increased alertness and focus resulting from the energy surge could be harnessed and channeled into performing the task at hand to complete it faster and more effectively. This is felt to be a good reason to welcome stress, rather than dodge it.

However, a highly detrimental effect stress has on the human body and mind if experienced for too long or too often is believed by many, myself included, to be a powerful argument in favour of avoiding it. The same stress-related hormones that determine the ability to survive in case of danger, prove extremely harmful if their levels are permanently high. They contribute to cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and mental disorders - the conditions that considerably reduce the quality of life. Also, after the initial energy boost is gone, people under prolonged pressure tend to demonstrate reduced productivity and lower cognitive performance, which, in my opinion, defies the purpose of welcoming stress mentioned above. Therefore, I believe it is vital to avoid stressful situations, or, if they are unavoidable, try to minimize their negative effects.

In conclusion, although stress does result in an energy boost which could potentially help cope with everyday tasks, it is also highly destructive both physically and psychologically. Given the harmful influence of stress on the human mind and body, I feel it should be avoided, rather than welcomed.

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It might sound counter-intuitive, but it's in this course that I get some of the best IELTS essays. Why? First, students write on topics they've read about, so coming up with ideas is much easier - that's one obstacle out of the way. Second, the pesky cohesion - one of the things we work on a lot - also comes easier because it comes from context and we have more time to scrutinize it. Finally, lexis is usually better too - less common and more academic.

My unique course "Writing with New Scientist" is perfect for people who have taken IELTS and want to stay in a good writing shape and for people who are considering taking an academic test some time in the future but don't want to focus on the format yet.


Image credit:  Photo by Aarón Blanco Tejedor on Unsplash

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