Should Young People Be Banned from Sports Competitions? — 20.04.2026
Essay type: Opinion (agree / disagree — to what extent)Band 6.5-8.0Stance: Strongly disagreeTarget ≈ 300 wordsModel essay: Band 8.0
Student's Edition
Ngô Đức Thảo
MTESOL · Academic Director
Task 2 Topic
Some people believe that sports competitions are a source of emotional stress for young people. Therefore, youth should be banned from participating in sports competitions. Do you agree or disagree?
1Task analysis
Item
Detail
Essay type
Opinion (agree / disagree — to what extent)
Main topic
Whether young people should be stopped from taking part in competitive sport because it causes stress
Keywords
sports competitions · emotional stress · young people · banned from participating
Task focus
Judge whether the stress of competition justifies a ban on young people taking part
Required position
Say clearly how far you agree or disagree and keep the same position in every paragraph
Plain-English meaning
Competitions can make young people nervous and upset. Should they be completely stopped from competing?
Hidden trap
The proposal is a total ban. You can accept that competition causes some stress while arguing that a ban is too extreme
Chosen stance
Strongly disagree. Well-structured competition fosters resilience, self-discipline and social skills; harmful stress stems from adult behaviour and can be regulated, making a ban disproportionate
Main-idea plan
BP1 → competition fosters resilience, self-regulation and belonging · BP2 → harmful stress comes from adults and structure, so regulation, not prohibition, is the proportionate response
2Idea generation
Body 1 — Competition as a developmental good
Competition fosters resilience and emotional regulation ✓ strongest
Belonging and identity in a team
Pathway for talented athletes dự phòng
Body 2 — Regulating pressure, not prohibiting participation
Harmful stress comes from adult expectations and early specialisation ✓ strongest
Safeguarding rules and age-appropriate formats
A ban could push sport into unregulated settings dự phòng
✓ strongest = ý dùng trong bài mẫu · dự phòng = ý thay thế, không có trong bài mẫu.
Body 1: Competition → resilience, self-regulation, belonging
Body 2: Stress from adults, structure → safeguards, formats; ban disproportionate
Conclusion: Restate the opinion → summarise both reasons → final thought
4Plan & write your paragraphs
How to use: Read the main idea, tap the cue words to add them to the box, then write
your own sentence. Your essay is built automatically at the bottom and saved in this browser.
Introduction(50–70 words)
0 words
Goal: Topic → rewrite the statement → give your opinion.
General statement
Main idea: Mental health concerns
Starter: Concerns about the mental … ·
Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.
Paraphrased task
Main idea: Rewrite: prohibit participation altogether
Starter: Some go further, arguing … ·
Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.
Thesis
Main idea: Strongly disagree
Starter: I strongly disagree, as … ·
Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.
Body Paragraph 1 — Competition as a developmental good(100–125 words)
0 words
Goal: Reason 1: explain it and give an example.
Topic sentence
Main idea: Develops resilience
Starter: To begin with, appropriately … ·
Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.
Explanation 1
Main idea: Transferable skills
Starter: Learning to perform under … ·
Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.
Example
Main idea: Swimmer analyses calmly
Starter: A young swimmer who … ·
Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.
Explanation 2
Main idea: Belonging protects
Starter: Team competitions also offer … ·
Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.
Further development
Main idea: Less prepared
Starter: Removing these experiences would … ·
Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.
Link
Main idea: Strong case
Starter: The developmental case for … ·
Tap a cue word to insert it at the cursor.
Body Paragraph 2 — Regulating pressure, not prohibiting participation(100–125 words)
