Many people today are too stressed and unhealthy. What are the reasons for this, and how can we solve these problems?

State a clear position in your introduction regarding the primary drivers of stress and unhealthiness, and how these can be resolved. While it's crucial to acknowledge that individual choices play a role, your essay should consistently advocate for the broader societal or systemic factors as the main culprits and propose solutions that address these larger issues, rather than solely focusing on personal responsibility.

To provide depth, consider specific arguments such as the impact of demanding work cultures and constant digital connectivity leading to burnout syndrome, exemplified by phenomena like Japan's 'karoshi' (death from overwork) or the 'always-on' expectation in many industries. For solutions, discuss the effectiveness of government-led public health campaigns promoting active lifestyles, similar to Singapore's efforts in urban planning for pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, or corporate wellness initiatives that foster better work-life balance.

The most common mistake students make on this specific question is listing too many reasons and solutions superficially without developing any of them in sufficient depth or establishing clear connections between a specific problem and its proposed remedy. To avoid this, select 2-3 main reasons and 2-3 corresponding solutions, dedicating a full paragraph to each, ensuring you elaborate with explanations, examples, and implications.

Employ a 'problem-solution pairing' linking strategy. After detailing a specific reason for stress or unhealthiness in one paragraph, use a transition phrase at the start of the subsequent paragraph to introduce its direct solution. For instance, after discussing 'the pressures of a hyper-connected work environment,' you could begin the next paragraph with 'To mitigate the pervasive issue of work-related stress, it is imperative that...' thereby creating a cohesive flow.

Examiners look for a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted nature of modern stress and unhealthiness, moving beyond simplistic explanations. A band 8-9 answer will demonstrate a sophisticated grasp of both individual and systemic factors, offering well-reasoned, holistic solutions that consider various stakeholders (individuals, governments, corporations), all while employing a wide range of precise vocabulary and complex grammatical structures with minimal error.