The topic of advertising to children has been a recurring theme in IELTS Writing Task 2 exams. Based on past exam patterns and current societal concerns, it is highly likely that questions related to this subject will continue to appear in future tests. This article will provide sample essays for different band scores, focusing on the following question that has appeared in recent IELTS exams:
Some people think that advertisements targeting children should be banned. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Analyzing the Question
This question requires candidates to express their opinion on whether advertising aimed at children should be prohibited. The key aspects to consider are:
- The impact of advertising on children
- The responsibility of parents, advertisers, and society
- Potential benefits and drawbacks of banning such advertisements
- Alternative solutions to protect children from harmful advertising
Let’s examine sample essays for different band scores to understand how to approach this topic effectively.
Sample Essay 1 (Band 8-9)
In today’s consumer-driven society, the issue of advertising targeted at children has become increasingly contentious. While some argue for an outright ban on such practices, I believe that a more nuanced approach is necessary to balance the interests of businesses, parents, and children themselves.
Undoubtedly, there are valid concerns about the negative effects of advertising on young minds. Children are particularly vulnerable to persuasive messages, often lacking the critical thinking skills to discern between genuine needs and manufactured desires. This susceptibility can lead to increased pressure on parents to purchase unnecessary products, potentially straining family finances and fostering materialistic attitudes in children. Moreover, advertisements for unhealthy foods and beverages have been linked to rising childhood obesity rates, how fast food advertising influences eating habits in children, highlighting the need for some form of regulation.
However, a complete ban on child-directed advertising may be an overly simplistic solution to a complex problem. Advertising plays a crucial role in informing consumers about new products and services, including those beneficial to children’s education and development. A blanket prohibition could inadvertently limit access to information about valuable resources for parents and children alike. Furthermore, exposure to advertising can serve as an opportunity for parents to educate their children about media literacy and critical consumption, fostering important life skills.
Instead of an outright ban, I propose a more balanced approach that combines stricter regulations with educational initiatives. Governments should implement and enforce stringent guidelines for advertisers, prohibiting manipulative tactics and ensuring that all claims are factual and age-appropriate. Additionally, there should be restrictions on the types of products that can be advertised to children, particularly those that may be harmful to their health or well-being.
Simultaneously, schools and parents should play a more active role in teaching children how to interpret and critically evaluate advertising messages. By equipping young people with media literacy skills, we can empower them to make informed decisions as consumers, both in childhood and later in life.
In conclusion, while the concerns about advertising to children are legitimate, a nuanced approach that combines regulation, education, and parental guidance is more likely to yield positive outcomes than an outright ban. By fostering a generation of critical thinkers and informed consumers, we can mitigate the negative impacts of advertising while still reaping its potential benefits.
(Word count: 398)
Balancing regulation and education in child-directed advertising
Essay Analysis (Band 8-9)
This essay demonstrates excellent writing skills and a sophisticated approach to the topic, warranting a Band 8-9 score. Here’s why:
Task Achievement: The essay fully addresses all parts of the task, presenting a clear position with a nuanced view of the issue. It discusses both the negative impacts of advertising on children and the potential drawbacks of a complete ban.
Coherence and Cohesion: The essay is well-organized with clear progression throughout. Each paragraph has a central topic, and ideas are logically connected using appropriate linking words and phrases.
Lexical Resource: The writer uses a wide range of vocabulary accurately and appropriately. Complex phrases like “consumer-driven society,” “materialistic attitudes,” and “media literacy” demonstrate a high level of language proficiency.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay showcases a variety of complex sentence structures used accurately. There is a good mix of simple, compound, and complex sentences, with no noticeable errors.
Critical Thinking: The essay goes beyond simple arguments, offering a balanced view and proposing a nuanced solution that combines regulation and education.
Sample Essay 2 (Band 6-7)
Nowadays, many people believe that advertisements aimed at children should not be allowed. While I partially agree with this idea, I think a complete ban might not be the best solution.
There are several reasons why some people want to ban ads for kids. Firstly, children are easily influenced by what they see on TV or the internet. They often don’t understand that advertisements are trying to sell them things, and they may pressure their parents to buy products they don’t really need. This can cause problems in families, especially if parents can’t afford these items. Secondly, many ads promote unhealthy foods like sugary snacks and fast food, which can contribute to childhood obesity and other health issues.
However, banning all advertisements for children might have some negative consequences. Ads can sometimes provide useful information about new products that could benefit children, such as educational toys or healthy food options. Also, learning to understand and analyze advertisements can be an important skill for children as they grow up in a world full of media.
Instead of a complete ban, I think it would be better to have stricter rules for advertisers. For example, there could be limits on the types of products that can be advertised to children, especially for unhealthy foods. Why fast food advertising should be restricted is an important topic to consider in this context. Ads should also be required to be honest and not use tricks to manipulate children.
At the same time, parents and schools should teach children how to understand advertisements and make smart choices about what they see and want to buy. This way, children can learn important skills while still being protected from harmful marketing practices.
In conclusion, while I agree that there are problems with advertising to children, I believe that a combination of better regulations and education would be more effective than a total ban. This approach can help protect children while also preparing them for the real world.
(Word count: 331)
Teaching children media literacy skills
Essay Analysis (Band 6-7)
This essay demonstrates good writing skills but lacks some of the sophistication of the higher band score essay. Here’s an analysis of why it would likely receive a Band 6-7 score:
Task Achievement: The essay addresses the main parts of the task and presents a clear position. However, the ideas could be more fully developed and supported with specific examples.
Coherence and Cohesion: The essay has a clear structure with introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Ideas are generally well-organized, but there could be more use of cohesive devices to link ideas within and between paragraphs.
Lexical Resource: The vocabulary used is generally appropriate and accurate. There is some attempt at using less common vocabulary (e.g., “manipulate”), but the range is more limited compared to the Band 8-9 essay.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures with generally good control. There are no major grammatical errors, but the range of structures is not as wide as in the higher band score essay.
Critical Thinking: The essay presents a balanced view of the issue and offers a reasonable solution. However, the arguments could be more deeply explored and supported with specific examples or evidence.
Key Vocabulary to Remember
- Contentious (adjective) – /kənˈtenʃəs/ – causing or likely to cause disagreement
- Susceptibility (noun) – /səˌseptəˈbɪləti/ – the state of being likely to be influenced or harmed by a particular thing
- Materialistic (adjective) – /məˌtɪriəˈlɪstɪk/ – excessively concerned with material possessions
- Nuanced (adjective) – /ˈnuˌɑnst/ – characterized by subtle shades of meaning or expression
- Media literacy (noun phrase) – /ˈmiːdiə ˈlɪtərəsi/ – the ability to identify different types of media and understand the messages they’re sending
- Blanket prohibition (noun phrase) – /ˈblæŋkɪt ˌprəʊɪˈbɪʃən/ – a complete ban on something, covering all cases
- Manipulative (adjective) – /məˈnɪpjələtɪv/ – seeking to control or influence others in a clever or unscrupulous way
- Age-appropriate (adjective) – /eɪdʒ əˈprəʊpriət/ – suitable for a particular age or age group
Conclusion
The topic of restricting advertising to children is likely to remain relevant in future IELTS Writing Task 2 exams. To prepare effectively, practice writing essays on related themes such as:
- The impact of social media advertising on young people
- Regulating online content for children
- The role of schools in teaching media literacy
- Balancing children’s rights with consumer protection
Remember to analyze the question carefully, plan your essay structure, and use a range of vocabulary and grammatical structures appropriate to your target band score. Practice writing your own essays and share them in the comments section below for feedback and discussion with other learners.