Band 7 Example

Question: What effect does stress have on health?

Idea 1

Negative Effects on Physical Health
Model Answer
Stress is really bad for your health. If you are stressed all the time, you might get headaches or stomachaches, and you might not be able to sleep well. If it goes on for a long time, it can even cause serious problems like heart disease. Also, when people are stressed, they get sick more easily because their bodies can't fight off illness as well.
Stress can have a really negative impact on physical health. For example, it often leads to headaches, stomach problems, and sleep issues. If someone is under stress for a long period, it can even contribute to more serious conditions like heart disease. Plus, stress weakens the immune system, so people tend to catch colds or other illnesses more frequently when they're feeling stressed out.
Grammar Analysis
1. Modal verb: "can have" and "can even contribute" use the modal verb 'can' to talk about possibility and potential effects, which is appropriate for discussing health impacts. 2. Present simple tense: Most of the answer uses present simple tense ("leads to", "weakens", "tend to catch") to describe general truths and common effects of stress. 3. Conditional clause: "If someone is under stress for a long period, it can even contribute..." uses a first conditional structure to explain a possible outcome of long-term stress. 4. Passive voice: "when they're feeling stressed out" uses the passive form to describe the state of being affected by stress, which is natural in spoken English.
Vocabulary
  • negative impact
  • physical health
  • leads to headaches
  • stomach problems
  • sleep issues
  • serious conditions
  • heart disease
  • weakens the immune system
  • catch colds
  • more frequently
  • feeling stressed out

Idea 2

Negative Effects on Mental Health
Model Answer
Stress is also bad for mental health. It can make people feel really anxious or even depressed. When someone is stressed, it's hard to focus or remember things, so studying or working becomes difficult. Sometimes, people feel so overwhelmed that they lose motivation to do anything.
Stress doesn't just affect the body; it also takes a toll on mental health. It can lead to feelings of anxiety and depression, and it often makes it difficult to concentrate or remember things, which can really impact work or studies. When stress becomes too much, people might feel completely overwhelmed and lose their drive to get things done.
Grammar Analysis
1. Present simple tense: Used throughout the answer (e.g., "Stress doesn't just affect the body") to state general truths and facts about stress. 2. Modal verbs: "might feel completely overwhelmed" uses the modal "might" to express possibility, which adds nuance and shows a range of effects. 3. Complex sentences: The use of clauses like "which can really impact work or studies" adds detail and connects ideas smoothly. 4. Parallel structure: "makes it difficult to concentrate or remember things" uses parallel verbs to clearly list effects, making the answer more fluent and natural.
Vocabulary
  • takes a toll on mental health
  • lead to feelings of anxiety and depression
  • makes it difficult to concentrate
  • impact work or studies
  • feel completely overwhelmed
  • lose their drive

Idea 3

Positive Effects (in small amounts)
Model Answer
But I think a little bit of stress can be good sometimes. For example, if you have a deadline, stress can push you to finish your work on time. It can also help you stay focused when something important is happening, like an exam or a sports competition.
However, not all stress is bad. In small amounts, stress can actually be helpful. It can motivate people to work harder and meet deadlines, and it helps them stay alert and focused in important situations, like exams or sports events. Some people even say they perform better when they're under a bit of pressure.
Grammar Analysis
1. Modal verbs: The use of "can" in "stress can actually be helpful" and "can motivate people" shows ability or possibility, which is a common and natural way to express effects or results in spoken English. 2. Present simple tense: Most of the answer is in the present simple tense (e.g., "stress is bad," "it helps them stay alert"), which is appropriate for talking about general truths or facts. 3. Conditional structure: The phrase "when they're under a bit of pressure" uses a present simple conditional to describe a situation and its effect, which adds complexity and clarity. 4. Parallel structure: The answer uses parallel verbs ("motivate," "meet," "helps") to list the positive effects of stress, making the answer more organized and fluent.
Vocabulary
  • stress can actually be helpful
  • motivate people to work harder
  • meet deadlines
  • stay alert and focused
  • perform better
  • under a bit of pressure
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