You should spend about 40 minutes on IELTS writing task 2.
Some people think sports are important for society, while others believe they should be taken as leisure activities. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience. You should write at least 250 words.
Sample Answer
The existence of sports dates back to 2000 BC. Every country had practiced it in some way like gymnastics, javelin, fishing, swimming, etc. It is more organized and structured now. Some people think sports and games are vital for society, whereas others believe they should be treated only as a pastime. I think that sports and games should occupy an important place in society. In the following paragraphs, I shall discuss both the ideas and explain which is beneficial for society.
Sport dissolves barriers and binds people together. For example, in a cricket team, there are players from all the states of India, and fans from across India cheer for them. So a feeling of one- ness builds up. A cricket match between India and Australia may be scheduled in Chennai, and a fan from Australia may visit Chennai to watch the game. This way, sports improve the tourism sector and contribute to the economy.
Research shows that sport has a positive impact on people. People who play sports such as football or tennis improve their cardiovascular system and are at less risk of conditions like blood pressure. So, it helps in maintaining good health. Also, a person learns how not to get demotivated during failures. So, it helps manage stress effectively.
On the flip side, sports have become one of many businesses to make money. So players are under tremendous pressure to win and resort to drugs to get the extra energy. This ruins their health and brings down the image of the nation they represent. Under severe compulsion to win, they treat their opponent as an enemy, and sometimes the referee has to penalize a player for harming the other. These may be the reason people argue that sports have to practice only as a leisure activity and are not taken seriously.
To recapitulate, sports help a great deal in creating an ideal society and should be given utmost importance. But we should also be careful not to make it a business.
Structure of the essay
You were given a discussion essay for which you had to give an opinion. Choose a side. State your opinion on it.
Introduction (Question Paraphrased): The existence of sports dates back to 2000 BC. Every country had practiced it in some way like gymnastics, javelin, fishing, swimming, etc. It is more organized and structured now. Some people think sports and games are vital for society, whereas others believe they should be treated only as a pastime.
Opinion – I think that sports and games should occupy an important place in society.
A thesis statement – In the following paragraphs, I shall discuss both the ideas and explain which is beneficial for society.
Body Paragraph 1: Why sports are important for society?
Supporting points:
- Acts a binding force
- Improves tourism
- Contributes to economic development
- Reduces the risk of diseases
- Teaches stress management
Body Paragraph 2: Why should sports be taken only as a leisure activity?
Supporting points:
- Professional sports has become a business
- Players are pressured to win
- Players resort to drugs and ruin their health
- In a game, they treat each other as enemies
Conclusion:
Reiterated that sports is important for creating an ideal society and supported the side taken in the introduction.