It is a fact that people are under more pressure nowadays and their lives are becoming increasingly stressful. What could be the possible reasons for this? What are some solutions to address this issue?

Same question Compare 2 different answers (Band 5.5–6)

Sample Response

The life of humans in today's society is becoming more and more stressful. People have to face many problems and overcome a lot of hurdles to live in the current society. There are a couple of reasons for this miserable life, some have family issues and some have office disturbance and while others have business disputes. In this essay, I will discuss some key reasons for stressful life and in the end, I will give solutions to the situation.

Firstly, the main problem which is causing our lives more problematic is the traffic problem, whether you have to go to college, school or office, have to overcome the traffic congestion, blockage or line-in in at the traffic signals. Heavy rush at roads causes the stress and when they reach their destination still they are feeling the miseries of the route, and at the end, they are not so fresh to start their day. The same situation while going back home adding up to the office tension and resulting in home fights. Secondly, the household problems are adding a huge part in stressful life. When you have less income than your expenditure than problems start in your married life and having one kid adds up the tension. You always worry about grocery, garments, rents and bills; these all necessities dominate your income and leave you with only tensions.

These problems could be eradicated wisely by taking decisions. You can overcome traffic problems by shifting nearer to your office or business. The government can balance this issue by building multi-tier flats in nearby commercial areas or commuting transports or trams to office thus reducing the travel time and miseries. Another step Government should be taking is by lowering the bills and grocery items and setting the minimum wages for the general public. But eventually, every person should have to take steps to remove the stress by own efforts or helping each other to live a happy life.

IELTS Writing Correction

  • 1. Use natural phrasing Original: The life of humans Suggested revision: Human life Why it matters: “Human life” is the natural and concise expression.
  • 2. Improve the collocation Original: current Suggested revision: modern Why it matters: “Modern society” is a more natural collocation in this context.
  • 3. Add the article Original: reasons for stressful life Suggested revision: reasons for a stressful life Why it matters: The singular countable phrase requires an article.
  • 4. Name the problem clearly Original: solutions to the situation Suggested revision: solutions to these problems Why it matters: The revision refers more precisely to the problems introduced earlier.
  • 5. Correct the collocation Original: Heavy rush at roads Suggested revision: Heavy traffic on the roads Why it matters: “Heavy traffic on the roads” is the standard expression.
  • 6. Remove the article Original: causes the stress Suggested revision: causes stress Why it matters: “Stress” is used uncountably in this general statement.
  • 7. Clarify the result Original: and at the end, they are not so fresh Suggested revision: so they are too tired Why it matters: The revision states the result more directly and uses a clearer connector.
  • 8. Fix the expression Original: household problems are adding a huge part in stressful life Suggested revision: household problems contribute greatly to stress Why it matters: The original verb phrase and preposition do not form a natural English expression.
  • 9. Correct then and than Original: expenditure than problems Suggested revision: expenditure, then problems Why it matters: “Then” marks the consequence, while “than” is used for comparisons.
  • 10. Use formal wording Original: having one kid Suggested revision: having a child Why it matters: “Child” is more appropriate than the informal “kid” in an academic essay.
  • 11. Correct the phrasal verb Original: up Suggested revision: to Why it matters: “Add to” means increase something, while “add up” has a different meaning.
  • 12. Use the plural noun Original: grocery Suggested revision: groceries Why it matters: “Groceries” is the standard plural noun for household food purchases.

Suggested Rewrites

  • The life of humans Human life
  • current modern
  • reasons for stressful life reasons for a stressful life
  • solutions to the situation solutions to these problems
  • Heavy rush at roads Heavy traffic on the roads
  • causes the stress causes stress
Overall assessment

Why this response received Band 5.5

The response's strongest feature is its relevant identification of traffic and financial pressures, with corresponding practical suggestions. However, several explanations become unclear or weakly connected, and frequent grammatical and collocational errors make the argument harder to follow. Prioritise forming complete, accurately controlled sentences and develop each cause-solution pair with a clear explanation of how the proposed measure would reduce stress.

Band score breakdown

IELTS Writing Criteria Scores

TR

Task Response

6.0
Scoring rule

Both questions are answered with relevant causes and solutions, although several proposals are only briefly or unclearly explained.

Next step

Develop each solution by explicitly showing how it addresses the corresponding cause and why it would be workable.

CC

Coherence and Cohesion

5.5
Scoring rule

The broad cause-then-solution structure is clear, but long sentences, weak referencing, and loosely connected clauses disrupt progression.

Next step

Use shorter topic-led sentences and separate distinct ideas before linking them with precise cohesive devices.

LR

Lexical Resource

5.5
Scoring rule

The response has sufficient vocabulary for the topic, but frequent inaccurate collocations and word choices reduce precision and naturalness.

Next step

Replace combinations such as 'office disturbance,' 'miseries of the route,' and 'commuting transports' with standard, context-appropriate phrasing.

GRA

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

5.0
Scoring rule

Some complex structures are attempted, but frequent errors in sentence boundaries, articles, agreement, and clause construction sometimes strain meaning.

Next step

Focus first on producing complete clauses with clear subjects and verbs, then check articles, prepositions, and agreement systematically.

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IELTS Writing Task 2

It is a fact that people are under more pressure nowadays and their lives are becoming increasingly stressful. What could be the possible reasons for this? What are some solutions to address this issue?

Your response

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40:00

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