Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · IELTS Complete Catalyst · 2026-09-28

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 7.5)

In many societies, stress is increasingly viewed as a serious problem, with some people arguing that modern life places greater psychological pressure on individuals than ever before. Others, however, maintain that contemporary concerns about stress are overstated and that previous generations endured far greater hardships without using the term. While both perspectives have some validity, I believe that the nature of stress has changed rather than simply increased or decreased.

On the one hand, there are several reasons why modern people may experience unusually high levels of stress. The pace of contemporary life is considerably faster, and many employees are expected to remain productive in highly competitive workplaces. Moreover, smartphones and social media have blurred the boundary between work and personal life, meaning that people can feel obliged to respond to messages or remain available outside working hours. Social media can also encourage constant comparison with others, potentially creating anxiety about financial success, appearance or lifestyle. For instance, an employee who checks work emails late at night may never feel completely disconnected from professional responsibilities, even while at home.

On the other hand, it is reasonable to argue that previous generations faced pressures that were considerably more severe. Before modern healthcare and social welfare systems became widespread, people were more vulnerable to disease, poverty, workplace accidents and premature death. In addition, physically demanding labour was common, and many families had little financial security. Historical examples such as industrial workers operating in dangerous factories demonstrate that earlier generations were exposed to forms of hardship that many people in affluent societies rarely encounter today. The fact that they did not commonly describe these experiences as “stress” does not necessarily mean that they were psychologically unaffected.

In my view, therefore, it is misleading to compare stress across generations simply in terms of quantity. Modern society has reduced many physical and economic hardships, but it has also created new forms of psychological pressure. Consequently, although people today may not necessarily suffer more overall, their stress is often more continuous, technology-driven and difficult to escape.

In conclusion, both modern and previous generations have faced substantial pressures, but these pressures have differed in nature. Rather than claiming that one generation was universally more stressed than another, it is more accurate to recognise that each era has produced its own distinctive sources of psychological strain.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both views—that modern life causes unprecedented stress and that previous generations faced worse hardships without naming it—while providing a well-reasoned personal opinion. The position is clear throughout the essay. Ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as the comparison between modern workplace connectivity via smartphones and historical industrial labour. The writer avoids simple over-generalisation by nuanced evaluation of how stress has qualitatively changed rather than simply increased. This performance clearly aligns with the Band 8 descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The essay is logically organised with a clear progression from introduction to body paragraphs exploring each view, followed by a nuanced synthesis in the conclusion and a concise final summary. Paragraphing is used skillfully, with each body paragraph dedicated to a central topic (modern stress vs. historical hardship). Cohesive devices are used naturally and unobtrusively, such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'Consequently', which guide the reader smoothly through the arguments. Referencing is consistently clear throughout the text. This meets the criteria for Band 8.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

The writer demonstrates a wide and flexible vocabulary resource appropriate for an academic discussion on stress and lifestyle. Less common lexical items are used naturally and precisely, including phrases such as 'psychological pressure', 'contemporary concerns', 'blurred the boundary', and 'distinctive sources of psychological strain'. Word choices and collocations are generally very accurate, with only occasional minor slips that do not impede communication. The range of vocabulary allows for fluid and precise expression of complex ideas, supporting a solid Band 7.5 or 8.0 performance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The response displays a wide range of complex grammatical structures used with a high degree of accuracy. The majority of sentences are error-free, featuring sophisticated constructions such as conditional clauses, participial phrases ('operating in dangerous factories'), and well-managed subordinate clauses ('While both perspectives have some validity, I believe that...'). Control of grammar and punctuation is strong throughout, with only very occasional minor inaccuracies. This level of syntactic variety and error-free execution comfortably matches the Band 8 descriptors.

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