IELTS Writing Task 2: Sample Essays on Fast Food Advertising’s Impact on Children’s Eating Habits

Fast food advertising and its influence on children’s eating habits is a topic that frequently appears in IELTS Writing Task 2 examinations. Based on recent trends and the relevance of this issue in today’s society, it is highly likely that variations of this topic will continue to be featured in future IELTS tests. Let’s explore a specific question related to this theme and analyze sample essays for different band scores.

Some people believe that advertisements targeting children should be banned, especially for products such as fast food. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

Analyzing the Question

This question asks for your opinion on banning advertisements targeting children, particularly for fast food products. The key aspects to address are:

1. Your stance on banning advertisements targeting children
2. Specific focus on fast food advertisements
3. Reasons for agreeing or disagreeing with the statement
4. Potential consequences of such a ban

Now, let’s examine sample essays for different band scores.

Sample Essay 1 (Band 8-9)

In recent years, there has been growing concern about the impact of advertising on children, particularly in relation to unhealthy products like fast food. While some argue for a complete ban on such advertisements, I partially agree with this view, believing that strict regulations rather than an outright ban would be more effective.

Undoubtedly, advertisements targeting children can have a significant influence on their food choices and overall eating habits. Fast food companies often use colorful characters, catchy jingles, and toy promotions to appeal to young audiences, potentially leading to increased consumption of unhealthy foods. This can contribute to childhood obesity and related health issues, which is a valid concern for parents and health professionals alike. Furthermore, children may lack the critical thinking skills to discern between advertising and factual information, making them particularly vulnerable to marketing tactics.

However, a complete ban on these advertisements may not be the most practical or beneficial solution. Firstly, it could be seen as an infringement on commercial free speech, potentially setting a precedent for excessive government control over business practices. Secondly, a ban might drive advertisers to find more subtle and potentially less regulated ways to reach children, such as through social media influencers or product placement in children’s content.

Instead of an outright ban, I believe implementing stricter regulations on fast food advertising to children would be more effective. This could include limiting the times when such advertisements can be shown, requiring clear nutritional information to be displayed, and prohibiting the use of cartoon characters or toys to promote unhealthy foods. Additionally, there should be a greater emphasis on educating children about nutrition and media literacy in schools, equipping them with the skills to make informed choices about their diet.

In conclusion, while I acknowledge the concerns about fast food advertising to children, I believe that a balanced approach of stricter regulations and improved education would be more beneficial than a complete ban. This would protect children from excessive influence while also respecting commercial freedoms and promoting personal responsibility.

(Word count: 319)

Strict regulations on fast food advertising targeting children

Analysis of Band 8-9 Essay

This essay demonstrates excellent qualities that justify a high band score:

1. Task Response: The essay fully addresses all parts of the task, presenting a clear position with a nuanced view (partial agreement). It discusses both the need for regulation and the drawbacks of a complete ban.

2. Coherence and Cohesion: The essay is well-organized with clear paragraphing. Ideas flow logically, and there’s effective use of cohesive devices (e.g., “Undoubtedly,” “However,” “Instead of”).

3. Lexical Resource: The vocabulary used is sophisticated and precise (e.g., “infringement,” “commercial free speech,” “subtle,” “media literacy”). There’s also good use of collocations (e.g., “critical thinking skills,” “commercial freedoms”).

4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay demonstrates a wide range of grammatical structures used accurately. It includes complex sentences and various tenses without noticeable errors.

5. Development of Ideas: Each main point is well-developed with explanations and examples. The essay presents a balanced view, considering multiple perspectives on the issue.

Sample Essay 2 (Band 6-7)

In today’s world, many people think that advertisements for children should not be allowed, especially for fast food. I agree with this opinion to some extent, but I also think there are other ways to deal with this problem.

On one hand, banning fast food ads for kids could be a good idea. Children are easily influenced by what they see on TV or the internet, and they might not understand that ads are trying to sell them something. If they see lots of ads for burgers and fries, they might want to eat these foods more often, which isn’t healthy. This could lead to problems like obesity and other health issues in the future.

However, completely banning these ads might not be the best solution. It could be difficult to enforce, and companies might find other ways to advertise to children anyway. Also, it’s important for kids to learn how to make good choices about what they eat, and banning ads doesn’t teach them this skill.

I think a better approach would be to have stricter rules about how fast food can be advertised to children. For example, ads could be required to show healthier options or include information about the nutritional value of the food. Schools could also teach children about healthy eating and how to understand advertising, so they can make better choices themselves.

Should parents be responsible for their children’s obesity? Parents also play a crucial role in guiding their children’s food choices and can help counteract the effects of advertising.

In conclusion, while I agree that fast food advertising to children is a problem, I believe that education and stricter regulations are better solutions than a complete ban. This way, we can protect children while also helping them learn to make good decisions about food.

(Word count: 295)

Teaching children media literacy and healthy eating habits

Analysis of Band 6-7 Essay

This essay demonstrates good qualities that justify a mid-range band score:

1. Task Response: The essay addresses the main parts of the task and presents a clear position. However, the ideas could be more fully developed.

2. Coherence and Cohesion: The essay has a clear structure with introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. There’s some use of cohesive devices, but it could be more sophisticated.

3. Lexical Resource: The vocabulary is generally appropriate, with some attempts at more advanced words. However, there’s less precision and sophistication compared to the Band 8-9 essay.

4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentences with generally good accuracy. There’s some variety in structures, but not as wide a range as in the higher band essay.

5. Development of Ideas: Main points are supported with some explanation, but the ideas could be more fully elaborated and examples could be more specific.

Key Vocabulary to Remember

1. Advertising tactics (noun) – /ˈædvərtaɪzɪŋ ˈtæktɪks/ – strategies used in advertising
2. Media literacy (noun) – /ˈmiːdiə ˈlɪtərəsi/ – ability to critically analyze and understand media messages
3. Nutritional value (noun) – /njuːˈtrɪʃənl ˈvæljuː/ – the amount of nutrients provided by a food
4. Obesity (noun) – /əʊˈbiːsəti/ – the condition of being very overweight
5. Regulations (noun) – /reɡjʊˈleɪʃnz/ – rules made and maintained by an authority
6. Influential (adjective) – /ˌɪnflʊˈenʃl/ – having great influence on someone or something
7. Enforce (verb) – /ɪnˈfɔːs/ – to make people obey a law or rule
8. Critical thinking (noun) – /ˈkrɪtɪkl ˈθɪŋkɪŋ/ – the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue
9. Commercial free speech (noun) – /kəˈmɜːʃl friː spiːtʃ/ – the right of businesses to advertise and market their products
10. Product placement (noun) – /ˈprɒdʌkt ˈpleɪsmənt/ – the practice of promoting products by featuring them in media

Conclusion

The topic of fast food advertising’s influence on children’s eating habits is a complex and relevant issue for IELTS Writing Task 2. As you’ve seen from the sample essays, there are various approaches to addressing this question, depending on your level of English proficiency and analytical skills.

Why fast food advertising should be restricted is a topic that may appear in future IELTS exams, possibly with variations such as:

• Discuss the pros and cons of regulating fast food advertising to children.
• Should governments be responsible for controlling what food companies advertise to children? Why or why not?
• How effective are bans on junk food advertising in improving children’s health?

To improve your writing skills, try composing your own essay on this topic and share it in the comments section below. This practice will help you refine your ideas and get comfortable with the IELTS Writing Task 2 format. Remember to focus on clear organization, varied vocabulary, and well-developed arguments to achieve a higher band score.