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The IELTS Writing Task 2 evaluates students’ ability to think critically and present well-structured arguments. Among the many debated topics, one prominent and widely discussed issue is whether advertising primarily aims to boost sales of products that people do not truly need. In this write-up, we will provide three sample responses to the question for IELTS writing task 2 ‘Some people say that the main aim of advertising is to improve the sales of products that people do not really need. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?‘, along with a lexical analysis and meanings of difficult words to help students enhance their understanding.
Some People Say that the Main Aim of Advertising is to Improve the Sales of Products that People Do Not Really Need. To What Extent Do You Agree or Disagree With this Statement?: Sample Structure and Essays
Here are the samples for structure and essays for the IELTS Writing Task 2 topic: ‘Some people say that the main aim of advertising is to improve the sales of products that people do not really need. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?‘ This section also includes lexical resources and word meanings related to each sample.
Sample Structure 1
| Introduction: Introduce the topic and provide a clear opinion. Point 1 (In Favour): Advertising manipulates consumer behavior. Point 2 (In Favour): It promotes unnecessary spending and creates artificial demand for luxury items. Counterargument (Against): Advertising also provides useful information. Conclusion: Restate the opinion. |
Sample Essay 1
Advertising has become an important part of modern consumer culture. While some argue that it plays an essential role in informing customers, I, however believe that its primary goal is to encourage people to buy things they do not really need.
Firstly, advertising is designed to manipulate consumer behaviour. Companies use persuasive techniques, including emotional appeal and celebrity endorsements, to create a false sense of necessity. For example, many beauty brands convince people that they need expensive skincare products to maintain youthful skin, even though simpler alternatives exist.
Secondly, advertisements encourage impulsive and unnecessary spending by using flashy promotions, discounts, and limited-time offers to lure consumers into buying products they may not need. Online shopping platforms use targeted ads to influence purchasing decisions, often leading people to purchase trendy gadgets on impulse. Moreover, advertising fosters artificial demand, particularly for luxury products. Brands like Apple, Rolex, and Gucci craft sophisticated marketing campaigns that associate their products with success and social status rather than practicality. As a result, many consumers prioritize spending on expensive status symbols over essential items, contributing to a culture of materialism and excessive consumption.
Furthermore, some argue that advertising has a positive aspect, as it informs consumers about new products and services that may improve their lives. For instance, advertisements for health insurance, educational courses, or home appliances provide valuable insights and help people make informed decisions.
In conclusion, while advertising can sometimes be useful, its primary function is to drive sales by making people believe they need products they do not. As a result, it plays a major role in encouraging overconsumption and materialistic values in society. Consumers must be aware of these tactics and make conscious purchasing choices.
Lexical Resources
| Word | Synonyms | Antonyms |
| Consumer culture | Buying habits, materialism | Minimalism, frugality |
| Manipulate | Influence, exploit | Guide, assist |
| Persuasive | Convincing, compelling | Unconvincing, ineffective |
| Endorsement | Approval, sponsorship | Disapproval, rejection |
| Impulsive spending | Reckless buying, unplanned shopping | Planned expenditure, budgeting |
| Artificial demand | Fabricated need, created necessity | Genuine demand, real necessity |
| Luxury goods | High-end products, premium items | Basic necessities, essentials |
| Social status | Prestige, reputation | Insignificance, anonymity |
| Targeted advertising | Personalized marketing, customized ads | Generic marketing, broad advertising |
| Status symbol | Prestige item, elite product | Basic need, ordinary item |
Word Meanings
| Words | Meanings |
| Consumer culture | A society driven by the consumption of goods and services. |
| Manipulate | To skillfully control or influence someone, often unfairly. |
| Persuasive | Capable of convincing people to believe or do something. |
| Endorsement | Public approval, especially by a celebrity. |
| Impulsive spending | Buying things without thinking or planning. |
| Artificial demand | A need created by marketing rather than actual necessity. |
| Luxury goods | Expensive items that are not essential but are desired for status. |
| Social status | A person’s standing or prestige in society. |
| Targeted advertising | Ads designed for a specific audience based on interests or behavior. |
| Status symbol | An object that represents wealth or prestige. |
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Sample Structure 2
| Introduction: State the argument and opinion. Point 1 (In Favour): Advertisements create psychological pressure. Point 2 (In Favour): Advertisments make people buy upgraded versions unnecessarily. Fast fashion and consumer waste are results of advertising. Counterargument (Against): Advertising promotes competition and innovation. Conclusion: Summarise the viewpoint. |
Sample Essay 2
Introduction
Advertising plays a crucial role in modern consumer culture, shaping buying habits and influencing choices. While some argue that it provides valuable information about products and services, I firmly believe that its primary goal is to persuade people to buy things they do not need. Advertisements create psychological pressure, promote unnecessary upgrades, and fuel excessive consumption.
Point 1 (In Favour): Advertisements Create Psychological Pressure
Advertisements often manipulate emotions, making people feel insecure without a particular product. Beauty and fitness brands, for example, suggest that individuals must use expensive skincare or diet plans to look attractive and fit. Similarly, tech companies imply that owning the latest gadgets reflects success. This psychological pressure leads to irrational spending and dissatisfaction with what one already owns.
Point 2 (In Favour): Advertisements Promote Unnecessary Upgrades and Consumer Waste
Advertising tricks consumers into believing they need constant upgrades, particularly in the technology and fashion industries. Smartphone companies release slightly modified versions of their products each year, convincing users that their current devices are outdated. Fast fashion brands do the same by promoting ever-changing trends, making people discard perfectly wearable clothes. This endless cycle of consumption results in waste and environmental harm.
Counterargument (Against): Advertising Promotes Competition and Innovation
Despite its drawbacks, advertising does contribute to market competition and innovation. It encourages businesses to improve their products and offer better services to attract customers. Additionally, small businesses rely on advertising to reach their audience and grow in a competitive market. Without advertising, many innovative solutions might remain unnoticed.
Conclusion
While advertising can support business growth and competition, its primary function remains persuading consumers to spend unnecessarily. By creating psychological pressure, fueling excessive upgrades, and promoting materialism, advertising often does more harm than good, leading to unnecessary financial strain and environmental damage.
Lexical Resources
| Words | Synonyms | Antonyms |
| Psychological pressure | Emotional burden, mental stress | Mental ease, relaxation |
| Irrational spending | Unnecessary expenditure, careless shopping | Logical spending, smart purchasing |
| Emotional tactic | Psychological strategy, manipulative technique | Honest approach, straightforwardness |
| Consumer habits | Buying patterns, purchasing behavior | Frugality, cautious spending |
| Impulse buying | Spontaneous shopping, reckless spending | Thoughtful shopping, planned buying |
| Unnecessary upgrades | Useless updates, pointless improvements | Essential upgrades, valuable updates |
| Fast fashion | Trendy clothing, disposable fashion | Sustainable fashion, ethical clothing |
| Materialism | Consumerism, greed | Minimalism, simplicity |
| Exaggerated claims | Overstatements, misleading promises | Accurate statements, honest claims |
| Misleading advertising | Deceptive marketing, false promotion | Truthful advertising, ethical promotion |
Word Meaning
| Words | Meanings |
| Psychological pressure | Mental stress that influences decision-making. |
| Irrational spending | Purchasing things without logical reasoning. |
| Emotional tactic | A strategy that appeals to emotions to influence behavior. |
| Consumer habits | The ways in which people buy and use products. |
| Impulse buying | Purchasing something on a whim without planning. |
| Unnecessary upgrades | Buying newer versions of products that do not add much value. |
| Fast fashion | The rapid production and consumption of trendy, low-quality clothing. |
| Materialism | The belief that owning things leads to happiness. |
| Exaggerated claims | Overstating product benefits to attract buyers. |
| Misleading advertising | Marketing that provides false or deceptive information. |
Sample Structure 3
| Introduction: Introduce the argument and personal opinion. Point 1 (In Favor): Advertising promotes materialistic lifestyles. Point 2 (In Favor): It influences children and young adults. Misleading advertisements deceive customers. Counterargument (Against): Advertising helps raise awareness about useful products. Conclusion: Restate the opinion. |
Sample Essay 3
Introduction
Advertising has a huge influence on the way people think and shop. While some argue that it helps people make informed choices, I believe its main purpose is to push people into buying things they don’t really need. It promotes materialism, influences young minds, and often misleads consumers.
Advertising Promotes Materialistic Lifestyles
Many ads make it seem like happiness comes from owning expensive things. Whether it’s luxury cars, branded clothes, or the latest gadgets, advertisements create the idea that success is measured by what you own. This makes people constantly chase new things instead of being satisfied with what they have.
Advertising Influences Children and Misleads Consumers
Kids and young adults are heavily influenced by advertising. Ads for junk food, toys, and video games make children want things they don’t actually need, putting pressure on parents to buy them. On top of that, some advertisements are misleading. Many skincare brands promise instant results, and weight-loss products claim to work like magic. In reality, these products rarely live up to their claims, leading people to waste money and feel disappointed.
Advertising Can Be Useful
To be fair, not all advertising is bad. It can help spread awareness about important products and services, like healthcare, education, or job opportunities. Without advertising, people might miss out on useful information that could benefit them.
Conclusion
Overall, advertising does more harm than good. It encourages unnecessary spending, promotes unrealistic lifestyles, and misleads people into buying things they don’t need. While some ads are helpful, most exist just to make people spend more, often without real benefit.
Lexical Resources
| Words | Synonyms | Antonyms |
| Materialism | Consumerism, luxury obsession | Contentment, simplicity |
| Dissatisfaction | Unhappiness, frustration | Satisfaction, fulfillment |
| Luxury goods | High-end items, elite products | Basic necessities, budget items |
| Young audience | Teenagers, youth consumers | Mature audience, adults |
| Exaggerated claims | False promises, unrealistic statements | Honest claims, genuine statements |
| Consumer deception | False advertising, misleading promotion | Truthful marketing, transparency |
| Social influence | Peer pressure, societal impact | Individual choice, independence |
| Disposable income | Extra money, surplus funds | Limited budget, financial struggle |
| Advertising appeal | Marketing strategy, promotional tactic | Unappealing ads, ineffective marketing |
| Misleading tactics | Deceptive strategies, unfair methods | Ethical advertising, honest approaches |
Word Meanings
| Words | Meanings |
| Materialism | A tendency to value possessions over personal well-being. |
| Dissatisfaction | A feeling of being unhappy or unsatisfied. |
| Luxury goods | High-priced products that are not essential. |
| Young audience | A target market consisting of teenagers and young adults. |
| Exaggerated claims | Overstated product descriptions to attract buyers. |
FAQs
Ans. Yes, advertising strongly influences what people buy. It creates brand awareness, shapes preference of the consumer, and persuades people through emotions, discounts, and endorsements of celebrities. Further, advertising also makes the users purchase the products they may not need.
Ans. Advertisements can be beneficial as well as misleading. They inform the consumers about the products and deals, but also create artificial needs, influence people to buy unnecessary products through persuasive and marketing tactics.
Ans. Some people believe that advertising mainly aims to boost sales of unnecessary products. It manipulates consumer psychology, making items seem essential, even when they aren’t, by associating them with happiness, success, or social status.
Ans. The five main aims of advertising are as follows:
a.Informing helps in introducing products to consumers,
b. Persuading, convincing people to buy,
c. Reminding keeping brands in consumers’ minds
d. Differentiating highlights unique features
e. Building assists in creating loyalty, trust and repeat customers.
Ans. Yes, advertisements help in boosting sales. They attract attention, create demand, and influence purchasing decisions. Brands use emotional appeal, discounts, and endorsements to encourage more people to buy their products.
Successfully preparing for the IELTS Writing Section, requires consistent practice, a clear strategy, and the right resources. By linking your responses between IELTS Writing Part 1 and IELTS Writing Task 2 , you can showcase your ability to elaborate on topics and provide insightful answers.
However, the process can be challenging, and that’s where our IELTS expert trainers come in. They can guide you through the intricacies of essay writing, helping you structure your responses effectively, improve your grammar, and develop a strong argument.
Consider taking an IELTS Mock Test to evaluate your progress or join our offline or online IELTS classes at Leverage Edu. Enhance your skills, boost your confidence, and ensure you are fully prepared for your IELTS Writing Topics and one step closer to achieving your study abroad aspirations.
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