Band 7 Example

Question: Why do people choose to do exciting activities, such as extreme sports?

Idea 1

Adrenaline and Thrill
Model Answer
People often choose exciting activities like extreme sports for the adrenaline rush and thrill they provide. The high-risk nature of these activities brings a unique sense of excitement and exhilaration. Moreover, there's a significant thrill in overcoming fears and challenges, which many find in activities like skydiving or bungee jumping. It's about pushing personal boundaries and experiencing the rush that comes with it.
The allure of extreme sports and similarly thrilling activities primarily stems from their ability to deliver an intense adrenaline rush. Individuals are drawn to the heightened sense of excitement and danger inherent in these high-risk endeavors. Additionally, there's an intrinsic appeal in conquering personal fears and tackling daunting challenges head-on. Engaging in such activities provides a unique opportunity to test one's limits and experience a level of exhilaration that routine life seldom offers. It's this combination of thrill, challenge, and the joy of overcoming that captivates many.
Grammar Analysis
Non-restrictive relative clause: "which provides a unique opportunity to test one's limits" uses a non-restrictive relative clause, enhancing the description of the unique experience that extreme sports bring, increasing the depth and detail of the answer. Present participle as adverbial: In "conquering personal fears and tackling daunting challenges," "conquering" and "tackling" serve as present participles, functioning as adverbials, describing the actions of participants facing personal fears and challenges, increasing the complexity of the sentence. Complex noun phrase: "a level of exhilaration that routine life seldom offers" is a complex noun phrase structure that combines multiple concepts to enhance the depth and complexity of the answer.
Vocabulary
  • allure
  • intense adrenaline rush
  • sense of excitement
  • high-risk endeavor
  • intrinsic appeal
  • tackle daunting challenge
  • unique opportunity
  • joy of overcoming

Idea 2

Personal Challenge and Achievement
Model Answer
I think people want to do something unique nowadays. Traditional hobbies aren't really interesting for many people anymore. They don't like collecting things or playing games like chess. They prefer doing something new and exciting. For example, bungee jumping is perfect. It's unique, you can film it, and show it off on social media, and it's thrilling. People today look for more excitement than the previous generation, which is why extreme sports are more popular now.
I'm pretty sure there is a desire to do something different. Traditional hobbies and activities just don't cut it for many people today. They aren't interested in collecting things or playing games like chess. They want the rush from doing something new and distinct. Take bungee jumping for example. It ticks all the boxes. It's different, you can record it and then show it to your friends on social media, you can brag about it, and it gives you a huge rush. People today need more in terms of a thrill than the generation before it and this has given rise to things like extreme sports in my view.
Grammar Analysis
1. Present participle as an adverbial: Using the present participle "doing something new and distinct" as an adverbial adds dynamism and specificity to the sentence, indicating the ability of candidates to describe the characteristics of activities using advanced grammar structures. 2. Conditional adverbial clauses: Using the conditional adverbial clause "if the generation before it" to express contrast with the previous generation. The use of this complex sentence structure adds depth and contrast to the sentence. 3. Infinitive phrases: Using the infinitive phrase "to do something different" to express people's desires and motivations. This usage makes the sentence more specific and direct, while demonstrating candidates' mastery of infinitive structures. 4. Past participle as an attributive: Using the past participle "like extreme sports" as an attributive to describe phenomena such as extreme sports. This usage demonstrates candidates' ability to accurately use complex grammar structures to describe specific trends and phenomena.
Vocabulary
  • desire to do something different
  • don't cut it
  • collect things
  • rush from doing something new and distinct
  • bungee jumping
  • tick all the boxes
  • show it to your friends on social media
  • extreme sports

Idea 3

Escapism and Adventure
Model Answer
People choose to do exciting things like extreme sports because they want to get away from normal life and stress. Doing these sports can be really different from what they usually do, and it makes them feel excited and alive. Extreme sports are also unpredictable, which is part of the fun. It's a chance to do something not normal and feel free for a while.
People often turn to exciting activities like extreme sports as a way to escape from their daily routines and stress. Engaging in such thrilling pursuits allows individuals to step out of their comfort zones and experience a rush of adrenaline, which can be a refreshing change from the monotony of everyday life. Additionally, extreme sports offer an element of unpredictability and challenge that many find exhilarating. This unpredictability stimulates the senses and can make one feel more alive. It's not just about seeking thrills; it's also about finding a sense of freedom and liberation from the constraints of regular life.
Grammar Analysis
Gerunds as subjects: The gerund "Engaging" is used as the subject in "Engaging in such thrilling pursuits," describing an action, which increases the dynamism and richness of expression in IELTS speaking. Present participle phrases as adverbs: In "step out of their comfort zones and experience a rush of adrenaline," the present participle phrases "step out" and "experience" function as adverbs, enhancing the descriptive and cohesive nature of the sentence. Noun phrases: The use of "element of unpredictability and challenge" demonstrates mastery of complex structures while providing detailed and specific information. Simple present tense: The simple present tense is used in "This unpredictability stimulates the senses," expressing a commonly existing phenomenon, showcasing accurate application of basic tenses in IELTS speaking.
Vocabulary
  • exciting activities
  • extreme sports
  • escape
  • daily routine
  • thrilling pursuits
  • step out of their comfort zones
  • rush of adrenaline