Band 9 model answer
It is widely observed that the young embrace danger more readily than their elders, whether through reckless driving, extreme sports or experimentation with substances. This essay will examine why such risk-taking is common in youth and argue that, on balance, it is more positive than negative when properly channelled.
Several factors explain this appetite for risk. Biologically, the part of the brain governing impulse control matures late, so adolescents are inclined to prioritise immediate excitement over distant consequences. Psychologically, the young are still defining their identities and testing limits, and a degree of daring helps them establish independence from their parents. The desire to impress peers, combined with a sense of invulnerability, further encourages bold and occasionally hazardous choices.
Whether this tendency is desirable depends largely on its direction. Clearly, recklessness that endangers life, such as drunk driving, is wholly negative and demands firm prevention. Yet the same willingness to take risks, when guided constructively, fuels creativity, entrepreneurship and exploration. Many scientific breakthroughs and pioneering businesses owe their existence to young people unafraid of failure, who attempted what cautious adults would have avoided. A society that crushes all risk would also stifle its own innovation.
In conclusion, youthful risk-taking arises from a combination of incomplete brain development and the natural drive towards independence. Although some of its expressions are genuinely dangerous and must be curbed, the underlying boldness is a valuable resource. The wisest response is not to suppress it but to redirect it towards adventurous yet productive ends.
Examiner’s notes
- Task Response: the essay tackles both the 'why' and the evaluative 'positive or negative' parts, reaching a clear, defensible judgement ('more positive than negative when properly channelled').
- Cohesion and Coherence: the evaluation paragraph uses a conditional frame ('depends largely on its direction') to balance negatives against positives, keeping the reasoning coherent and even-handed.
- Grammatical Range: varied structures including conditional and concessive clauses ('A society that crushes all risk would also stifle its own innovation') are handled with accuracy and flexibility.