The topic of advertising’s influence on teenage consumerism is a recurring theme in IELTS Writing Task 2. Based on past exam trends and current societal relevance, this subject has a high probability of appearing in future tests. Let’s explore a relevant question that has been featured in recent IELTS exams:
Some people think that advertisements targeting children should be banned. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
Analyzing the Question
This question requires candidates to discuss their stance on banning advertisements aimed at children. Key points to consider:
- The main focus is on advertisements targeting children specifically
- The question asks for your opinion on banning these ads
- You need to explain the extent to which you agree or disagree
- Supporting reasons and examples are crucial
Sample Essays
Band 8-9 Essay
In today’s consumer-driven society, the debate over whether advertisements targeting children should be prohibited has gained significant traction. While I acknowledge the concerns of those who support such a ban, I partially disagree with this stance and believe that a more nuanced approach is necessary.
On the one hand, there are valid reasons to consider restricting advertisements aimed at young audiences. Children, with their impressionable minds and limited critical thinking skills, are particularly vulnerable to manipulative marketing tactics. Exposure to constant advertisements can lead to materialistic attitudes, unhealthy food choices, and unrealistic expectations about products. Moreover, the psychological impact of these ads can be detrimental, potentially fostering low self-esteem and promoting a culture of instant gratification.
However, I contend that a complete ban on child-targeted advertisements is neither practical nor entirely beneficial. Firstly, in our interconnected digital age, implementing such a ban would be exceedingly challenging, if not impossible. Children are exposed to various forms of media across multiple platforms, making it difficult to isolate and eliminate all advertising content. Secondly, advertisements, when created responsibly, can serve educational purposes and raise awareness about important products or services, such as educational tools or health-related items.
Instead of an outright ban, I propose a more balanced approach. This could include stricter regulations on the content and frequency of advertisements targeting children, mandatory educational components in ads, and increased efforts to teach media literacy in schools. By empowering children with the skills to critically analyze advertisements, we can better prepare them to navigate the commercial world responsibly.
In conclusion, while the concerns about child-targeted advertisements are valid, a complete ban may be an oversimplification of a complex issue. A more effective solution lies in a combination of thoughtful regulation, educational initiatives, and fostering critical thinking skills in young consumers. This approach would strike a balance between protecting children and preparing them for the realities of our consumer-driven world.
(Word count: 309)
IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Essay on Advertising's Impact
Band 6-7 Essay
The question of banning advertisements that target children is a complex issue in today’s society. While there are some strong arguments for such a ban, I partially agree with this idea because I think there are both advantages and disadvantages to consider.
On one hand, banning ads aimed at children could have some positive effects. Children are easily influenced and may not understand the persuasive nature of advertising. This can lead to them pestering their parents to buy things they don’t really need. Also, some ads promote unhealthy foods or expensive toys, which can be bad for children’s health and family finances.
However, completely banning these ads might not be the best solution. Advertising can sometimes provide useful information about new products that could benefit children, such as educational toys or healthy snacks. Additionally, learning to understand and critically evaluate advertisements can be an important life skill for children as they grow up.
I believe a better approach would be to have stricter rules for advertisements targeting children. For example, ads could be required to include clear information about the product’s real benefits and limitations. There could also be limits on how often these ads can be shown during children’s TV programs or on websites popular with kids.
In conclusion, while I understand the concerns about advertising to children, I think a complete ban is too extreme. Instead, better regulation and education about media literacy could help protect children while still allowing them to learn about new products in a more controlled way.
(Word count: 253)
Band 5-6 Essay
Nowadays, many people think advertisements for children should not be allowed. I agree with this opinion because I think these ads can be bad for kids.
First, advertisements make children want to buy many things. They see toys or snacks on TV and ask their parents to buy them. This can be expensive for families. Also, some ads show unhealthy foods like sweets or fast food. This is not good for children’s health.
Second, children are young and don’t understand ads well. They might think everything in ads is true. This can make them feel bad if they don’t have the things they see in ads. It’s not fair to children.
However, some people might say ads can be good too. They can tell children about new things like books or educational games. But I think parents can find this information in other ways.
In conclusion, I agree that ads for children should be banned. It will help protect children from wanting too many things and believing everything they see on TV. This is better for children and their families.
(Word count: 169)
Scoring Explanation
Band 8-9 Essay
This essay demonstrates excellence in several key areas:
- Task Response: Addresses all parts of the task with a clear position and well-developed ideas.
- Coherence and Cohesion: Logical organization with clear progression and effective use of cohesive devices.
- Lexical Resource: Wide range of vocabulary used with precision and sophistication.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Diverse sentence structures with high accuracy.
Band 6-7 Essay
This essay shows competence but with some limitations:
- Task Response: Addresses the task, but some aspects are underdeveloped.
- Coherence and Cohesion: Generally coherent with some logical organization.
- Lexical Resource: Adequate vocabulary, but less precision and sophistication than the higher band essay.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Mix of simple and complex sentences with some errors.
Band 5-6 Essay
This essay demonstrates basic competence with noticeable limitations:
- Task Response: Addresses the task in a basic way with limited development of ideas.
- Coherence and Cohesion: Some organization but not always logical.
- Lexical Resource: Limited vocabulary with some repetition.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Mainly simple sentences with frequent errors.
Key Vocabulary
- Manipulative (adjective) /məˈnɪpjələtɪv/ – Clever at controlling or influencing people
- Materialistic (adjective) /məˌtɪəriəˈlɪstɪk/ – Excessively concerned with material possessions
- Instant gratification (noun phrase) /ˈɪnstənt ˌɡrætɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/ – The desire for immediate satisfaction
- Media literacy (noun phrase) /ˈmiːdiə ˈlɪtərəsi/ – The ability to critically analyze and evaluate media
- Oversimplification (noun) /ˌəʊvəˌsɪmplɪfɪˈkeɪʃn/ – The act of making something seem simpler than it really is
- Consumer-driven (adjective) /kənˈsjuːmə drɪvn/ – Influenced or determined by consumer demand
- Impressionable (adjective) /ɪmˈpreʃənəbl/ – Easily influenced or affected by others
Key Vocabulary for IELTS Writing Task 2
In conclusion, the topic of advertising’s impact on teenage consumerism remains a crucial and relevant subject for IELTS Writing Task 2. As you prepare for your exam, consider practicing with similar topics such as:
- The influence of social media advertising on young adults
- Regulation of online advertisements targeting children
- The role of schools in teaching media literacy
We encourage you to write your own essay on the topic provided in this article and share it in the comments section. This practice will help you refine your writing skills and receive valuable feedback from fellow learners and instructors.