TOEFL® essay about stress

[Gena92]

hello everybody ..
this is my essay about stress i think its not good enough ..
can someone please help me with it?!

write an essay about 150-180 words on how to cope with stress during exam times .

Sometimes in life we feel pretty stressful. We feel stressed around some big moments like first day of school, exams, prom, or applying to college.
You may ask what stress is and what are the signs of it?

Stress is your body's way of responding to any kind of demand. It can be caused by both good and bad experiences. When people feel stressed by something going on around them, their bodies react by releasing chemicals into the blood. These chemicals can be a good thing or a bad thing.

Some of the early signs that you might be under too much stress are: headaches, sleeping badly, loss of appetite, being unusually bad tempered, feeling tired all the time, and feeling sick.

For example exams can bring the best in some people and the worst in others. Some people are smart enough to pass the exams with good marks but when they get stressed they start to forget what they studied before and as a result they'll get bad marks.

Here are some ways to cope with stress and relax:
1-pray: there is nothing like getting closer to god in order to reduce stress.
2-laugh: laughter is really one of the best medicines. When things get stressful do the things that make you laugh. Watch a funny movie. Read a funny book. Laugh with friends and family.
3-take a deep breath: Breathing is a great way to reduce your stress. Taking deep breaths and doing breathing exercises may seem silly, but it does a lot to relax your body and clear up some of the things clouding your head which is really helpful in the exams.
4-plan a head: Most teens don't think much about their date book. They tend to study when test time comes close, do their homework right before it is due, and just "go with the flow." However, having a plan will do a lot to decrease your stress. Give yourself the appropriate amount of time to complete tasks, and break those tasks down into manageable portions.
5-sleep:
Sleep is another great tool in reducing stress. It is essential to allowing our bodies to recover from daily stress. You should be getting at least 6 to 8 hours of sleep per night. And lack of sleep makes you sick or cranky.
6- Manage Expectations - External pressures around exams can be huge. It can be hard to deal with, especially with family and people you respect, but you need to remember that it's your life and your exam, with you in control.
Remember: There's always a light at the end of the tunnel. Exams have a beginning and an end, and the stress that goes along with them should end with them. Once the paper's in, there's nothing more you can do to (legally) influence the outcome - which means you have done your best and now it's your time to relax and enjoy the summer.

TOEFL listening discussions: A conversation between two students in their first class of the term

[Khalid7861]

There are some basic rules of writing an essay on Toefl exam, or on any exam for that matter. One such basic rule is the structure of a five paragraph essay.

Introduction

Paragraph no 1
Supporting detail 1
Supporting detail 2
Supporting detail 3

Paragraph no 2
Supporting detail 1
Supporting detail 2
Supporting detail 3

Paragraph no 3
Supporting detail 1
Supporting detail 2
Supporting detail 3

Conclusion

First thing I noticed in your essay is lack of a clear recommended essay pattern or structure (illustrated above). You tried to write the essay in point form, which is neither standard nor recommended. You must write your essay in a paragraph shape with clear topic sentences and supporting details. Remember, don’t just dump the information all over the place, instead, organize it in paragraphs following with details.
Check out this essay that I have included for you from the web. Try to identify different components of a typical essay.

http://members.tripod.com/~lklivingston/essay/sample.html

"A dog is man's best friend." That common saying may contain some truth, but dogs are not the only animal friend whose companionship people enjoy. For many people, a cat is their best friend. Despite what dog lovers may believe, cats make excellent housepets.

In the first place, people enjoy the companionship of cats. Many cats are affectionate. They will snuggle up and ask to be petted, or scratched under the chin. Who can resist a purring cat? If they're not feeling affectionate, cats are generally quite playful. They love to chase balls and feathers, or just about anything dangling from a string. They especially enjoy playing when their owners are participating in the game. Contrary to popular opinion, cats can be trained. Using rewards and punishments, just like with a dog, a cat can be trained to avoid unwanted behavior or perform tricks. Cats will even fetch!

In the second place, cats are civilized members of the household. Unlike dogs, cats do not bark or make other loud noises. Most cats don't even meow very often. They generally lead a quiet existence. Cats also don't often have "accidents." Mother cats train their kittens to use the litter box, and most cats will use it without fail from that time on. Even stray cats usually understand the concept when shown the box and will use it regularly. Cats do have claws, and owners must make provision for this. A tall scratching post in a favorite cat area of the house will often keep the cat content to leave the furniture alone. As a last resort, of course, cats can be declawed.

Lastly, one of the most attractive features of cats as housepets is their ease of care. Cats do not have to be walked. They get plenty of exercise in the house as they play, and they do their business in the litter box. Cleaning a litter box is a quick, painless procedure. Cats also take care of their own grooming. Bathing a cat is almost never necessary because under ordinary circumstances cats clean themselves. Cats are more particular about personal cleanliness than people are. In addition, cats can be left home alone for a few hours without fear. Unlike some pets, most cats will not destroy the furnishings when left alone. They are content to go about their usual activities until their owners return.

Cats are low maintenance, civilized companions. People who have small living quarters or less time for pet care should appreciate these characteristics of cats. However, many people who have plenty of space and time still opt to have a cat because they love the cat personality. In many ways, cats are the ideal housepet.