Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-07-24

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In some societies, stress is now regarded as a major problem, and it is thought that people suffer from more stress than they did in the past. However, others feel that the amount of stress people have today is exaggerated. They say that previous generations were under more pressure, but the idea of suffering from stress did not exist.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

You should use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your arguments with examples and relevant evidence.

Student answer (Band 8.0)

In some countries, stress is perceived as a major issue. While some believe that people face more pressure than they did in the past, others think that previous generations suffered from more stress. I would argue that different generations have various sources of stress and that there is no comparison between different types of stress.

Firstly, the reason why it is thought that people are suffering more stress is that we are living in a more competitive society. To illustrate this: while the general public can access more information on the internet, the adoption of the internet has been making the job market far more competitive as well. Despite the fact that job seekers can keep improving their skill sets by taking online courses, they still cannot keep up with the rapid development of science and technology, which leads them to experience significant pressure.

On the other hand, people in the past could not even communicate with one another easily because of the limitation of geography. In addition to this inconvenience, due to the absence of the internet, our parents' generation could not avoid duplicating efforts, working on tasks that had already been done by others without realizing. This could bring a tremendous amount of pressure on them as they might have thought that they were wasting time.

Finally, even though younger generations and previous generations face completely different pressures, this difference, though, does not necessarily mean that one generation faces more stress than others. The reason is that people only feel stressed when they want to challenge their limitations. Once they decide to step back, the pressure they have put on themselves will disappear automatically.

In conclusion, some believe that the current generation faces more stress because of a competitive society, whereas others argue that previous generations suffered more because of the lack of technology. In my opinion, although different people face different types of stress, deep down they all stem from people's desire and are not comparable.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both perspectives and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant and logically developed, such as the comparison between modern competitive pressures and the logistical challenges of the past. The position is consistent throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, the development of the arguments could be slightly more nuanced; for example, the final paragraph introduces the idea that stress stems from 'desire,' which is an interesting point that could have been integrated earlier to strengthen the analytical depth. Overall, the response is well-focused and meets the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the two viewpoints is smooth. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly,' 'On the other hand,' and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader. The referencing is generally clear, though the phrase 'this difference, though, does not necessarily mean' in the fourth paragraph is slightly clunky due to the placement of 'though.' Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate, and the flow of information is logical and easy to follow throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. You use a range of relevant terms such as 'competitive society,' 'rapid development,' and 'duplicating efforts.' There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, which is generally successful. While the word choice is accurate, it could be further elevated to demonstrate more sophisticated control. For instance, instead of 'bring a tremendous amount of pressure,' you could use 'exert significant psychological strain.' The spelling is accurate throughout, and the lexical range is adequate to convey precise meanings without any impediment to communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use complex constructions effectively, such as 'Despite the fact that job seekers can keep improving their skill sets...' and 'even though younger generations and previous generations face completely different pressures.' There are very few grammatical errors, and punctuation is generally handled well. The sentence structure is varied, which helps maintain the reader's interest. The occasional minor awkwardness, such as the redundant 'though' in the fourth paragraph, does not detract from the overall clarity or accuracy of the writing.

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