Get your personalised IELTS Essay Feedback from a former examiner
Download IELTS eBooks, get everything you need to achieve a high band score
Sample Essay 1
Modern children are increasingly burdened by various pressures, particularly from academic competition, social media influences, and targeted consumer marketing. The demand for high academic performance, often driven by parents and educational institutions, creates mental strain and limits personal development. This essay will examine how the competitive education system and media-driven social expectations contribute to these pressures, and propose solutions such as educational reforms, parental guidance, and stricter regulations on child-targeted advertising.
One key reason for heightened pressure is the evolving academic landscape, which now prioritizes measurable success over holistic learning. Schools often focus on grades, standardized tests, and rankings, leaving children with little room for personal exploration or downtime. Furthermore, parents, driven by societal expectations, often push their children to excel academically, fearing that failure to do so will limit future opportunities. As a result, children may suffer from anxiety, exhaustion, and reduced motivation. For instance, countries like South Korea, known for their competitive education systems, report high levels of student burnout. To address this, educational institutions must shift their focus toward skill-building and emotional well-being. Policies such as reducing homework loads and incorporating mindfulness programs can help foster a healthier balance between performance and mental health.
The second major pressure children face comes from the influence of social media and aggressive consumer marketing. Social media platforms expose children to unrealistic portrayals of life, promoting ideals they feel compelled to meet. This not only affects their self-worth but also fosters a constant need for validation through likes and comments. At the same time, marketers exploit these vulnerabilities by targeting children with enticing advertisements for the latest products, feeding into the fear of missing out (FOMO). Consequently, children may develop unhealthy spending habits and feel excluded if they cannot keep up with trends. A twofold approach is needed to mitigate these influences. Firstly, parents and educators should guide children toward building self-confidence independent of social media metrics. Secondly, stricter regulations are required to limit targeted advertising aimed at young audiences, protecting them from undue commercial pressure.
In conclusion, children today grapple with stress from both academic expectations and the influences of social media and marketing. While reforms in education can reduce academic pressure, promoting self-worth and regulating advertising are crucial in tackling social and commercial stressors. A balanced approach is essential to ensure children grow up with both emotional resilience and a sense of purpose.
Download IELTS eBooks, get everything you need to achieve a high band score
Sample Essay 2
In today’s world, children experience mounting pressures from academic demands, social expectations, and commercial influences. This growing burden can negatively affect their emotional well-being and development. The primary causes are the heightened competition in education, social media expectations, and pervasive marketing targeting young consumers. To alleviate these pressures, collaborative measures are needed, including educational reforms, parental involvement, and regulatory control over advertising directed at children.
The primary sources of pressure on children are academic competition, social expectations, and commercial influences. Schools demand exceptional performance, often overburdening students with homework and encouraging extracurricular activities, leaving little room for rest. This leads to mental fatigue and burnout, particularly for those preparing for elite school admissions with additional tutoring. Social media also contributes significantly, fostering comparison with peers and influencers, which can damage self-esteem and create emotional stress. Furthermore, peer pressure to conform to trends can cause feelings of isolation. Commercial influences add another layer of stress, as companies aggressively market toys, fashion, and fast food, shaping children’s desires and creating financial strain on families. These interconnected factors collectively heighten the pressures children experience today.
To alleviate these pressures, educational reforms, parental support, and stricter advertising regulations are essential. Schools must balance academic rigor with mental well-being by reducing workloads and adopting holistic curricula that foster creativity. Additionally, parents and educators should promote digital literacy and help children build self-esteem beyond social media validation, encouraging real-world friendships to reduce social stress. Commercial pressures require government intervention to regulate child-targeted advertising and limit manipulative marketing. Parents also play a crucial role by teaching children mindful consumption, promoting healthier financial habits. A collaborative approach combining these strategies will provide children with the tools and environment they need to manage pressures and develop emotional resilience, ensuring their well-being and long-term growth.
In conclusion, children today face pressures from academic, social, and commercial spheres, which can hinder their development. Solutions lie in balancing academic expectations, promoting healthy social interactions, and regulating commercial influences. With collaborative efforts, we can ensure children grow up in an environment that nurtures their well-being and potential.
Download IELTS eBooks, get everything you need to achieve a high band score
Sample Essay 3
Children today face an array of challenges, resulting from academic expectations, social influences, and consumerism. The relentless focus on performance, peer dynamics, and marketing exploitation significantly strains their well-being. This essay will explore how academic overemphasis, peer competition, and consumer culture contribute to these pressures and propose reforms in education, social guidance, and advertising regulations to reduce them.
A major contributor to children’s stress is the increasing academic overemphasis, where both schools and parents focus excessively on grades and standardized testing. This relentless pursuit of academic success leaves little room for creative thinking or leisure activities. Many children must juggle homework with extracurricular commitments, leading to emotional exhaustion. Additionally, peer competition amplifies the pressure as children are often compared to others, creating a constant fear of underachievement. Social influences further complicate this issue, especially as children strive to fit into peer groups by meeting certain behavioural and material standards. For instance, children may feel pressured to wear specific brands or own the latest gadgets to be socially accepted. These intertwined forces—from academic demands to social comparisons—significantly heighten the burden on young individuals.
To address these pressures, a multifaceted approach is essential, starting with educational reforms that prioritize students’ well-being. Schools should reduce the emphasis on rote learning and exams, incorporating more practical, skill-based activities that foster creativity. Parental involvement is equally crucial; parents must shift their focus from academic results to holistic development, supporting their children emotionally. Moreover, encouraging children to engage in non-competitive social activities can help them build genuine friendships without feeling the need to conform. On the commercial front, stricter advertising regulations are required to protect children from manipulative marketing strategies. Governments should restrict child-targeted advertisements promoting consumerism. Additionally, parents can teach children the importance of mindful spending and intrinsic value, steering them away from materialistic tendencies. By implementing these measures, children will be better equipped to handle external pressures while nurturing their personal growth.
In conclusion, academic overemphasis, social competition, and consumer culture collectively create immense pressure on children. However, with targeted reforms in education, enhanced parental support, and stricter advertising regulations, these pressures can be alleviated. A balanced approach is necessary to ensure children develop into emotionally resilient individuals capable of thriving in all aspects of life.
Get your personalized IELTS Essay Feedback from a former examiner
Download IELTS eBooks, get everything you need to achieve a high band score