This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of advertising to children from the real exam.
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IELTS Essay: Advertising to Children
In some countries, there has been an increase in the number of advertisements which try to persuade children to buy snacks, toys, and other goods. Parents often claim that these ads are unfair.
Discuss both views and give your opinion.
Some are of the opinion that it is unethical to advertise to children. In my opinion, although at certain ages these advertisements should be permitted, in general children are too vulnerable a segment of the population.
Those who argue in favor of advertising to children point out it is not necessarily unfair. There are situations when even these proponents would concede advertising is exploitive, such as when there are commercials for cereals with high sugar content during cartoon shows. However, this is only a single instance. Many children, especially as they get older, are capable of thinking rationally, controlling their need for instant gratification, and would therefore like to be informed about new products they are interested in. If a child who is 10 years old sees an advertisement for a water park or sporting event, they might convince their parents to enjoy a fun, outdoors activity.
Nonetheless, most children are negatively impacted by advertisements as they lack self-control. Adults are more capable of inhibiting their desires while children are not experienced enough and their cognitive development does not allow for higher-order reasoning. For instance, if a young child sees an advertisement for alcohol or a violent videogame, there is a strong likelihood they will want to try it. Even if they do not actually get an opportunity to use an age-inappropriate product, the appeal of these products has already been deeply implanted. Recent research supports the contention that habits and impressions formed in early childhood are harder to leave behind later in life.
In conclusion, despite the feasibility of certain advertisements for older children, most marketing directed at impressionable children should be banned. This will be a difficult process to manage but many countries have undertaken it already.
Analysis
1. Some are of the opinion that it is unethical to advertise to children. 2. In my opinion, although at certain ages these advertisements should be permitted, in general children are too vulnerable a segment of the population.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Those who argue in favor of advertising to children point out it is not necessarily unfair. 2. There are situations when even these proponents would concede advertising is exploitive, such as when there are commercials for cereals with high sugar content during cartoon shows. 3. However, this is only a single instance. 4. Many children, especially as they get older, are capable of thinking rationally, controlling their need for instant gratification, and would therefore like to be informed about new products they are interested in. 5. If a child who is 10 years old sees an advertisement for a water park or sporting event, they might convince their parents to enjoy a fun, outdoors activity.
- Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
- Explain your main idea.
- Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
- Keep developing it fully.
- Finish development.
1. Nonetheless, most children are negatively impacted by advertisements as they lack self-control. 2. Adults are more capable of inhibiting their desires while children are not experienced enough and their cognitive development does not allow for higher-order reasoning. 3. For instance, if a young child sees an advertisement for alcohol or a violent videogame, there is a strong likelihood they will want to try it. 4. Even if they do not actually get an opportunity to use an age-inappropriate product, the appeal of these products has already been deeply implanted. 5. Recent research supports the contention that habits and impressions formed in early childhood are harder to leave behind later in life.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
- Develop the example fully.
1. In conclusion, despite the feasibility of certain advertisements for older children, most marketing directed at impressionable children should be banned. 2. This will be a difficult process to manage but many countries have undertaken it already.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
Some are of the opinion that it is unethical to advertise to children. In my opinion, although at certain ages these advertisements should be permitted, in general children are too vulnerable a segment of the population.
Those who argue in favor of advertising to children point out it is not necessarily unfair. There are situations when even these proponents would concede advertising is exploitive, such as when there are commercials for cereals with high sugar content during cartoon shows. However, this is only a single instance. Many children, especially as they get older, are capable of thinking rationally, controlling their need for instant gratification, and would therefore like to be informed about new products they are interested in. If a child who is 10 years old sees an advertisement for a water park or sporting event, they might convince their parents to enjoy a fun, outdoors activity.
Nonetheless, most children are negatively impacted by advertisements as they lack self-control. Adults are more capable of inhibiting their desires while children are not experienced enough and their cognitive development does not allow for higher-order reasoning. For instance, if a young child sees an advertisement for alcohol or a violent videogame, there is a strong likelihood they will want to try it. Even if they do not actually get an opportunity to use an age-inappropriate product, the appeal of these products has already been deeply implanted. Recent research supports the contention that habits and impressions formed in early childhood are harder to leave behind later in life.
In conclusion, despite the feasibility of certain advertisements for older children, most marketing directed at impressionable children should be banned. This will be a difficult process to manage but many countries have undertaken it already.
Answers
some are of the opinion that certain people think
unethical not moral, immoral
certain ages particular times in life
permitted allowed
in general overall
vulnerable susceptible
segment part
those who argue in favor of people who support
point out argue
not necessarily unfair don’t have to be unethical
situations contexts
proponents those in favor of
concede admit
exploitive take advantage of
commercials ads on TV
cereals breakfast food
high sugar content too sweet
cartoon shows animated TV programming
single instance one example
especially in particular
capable are able to
rationally reasonably
controlling in charge of
instant gratification just wanting pleasure right away
therefore thus
informed know about
interested in care about
water park place to go on slides and other water rides
sporting event matches, games
convince persuade
outdoors outside
nonetheless still
negatively impacted badly hurt
lack self-control can’t control their own desires, impulses
capable able to
inhibiting controlling
desires what you want to do
not experienced enough too immature
cognitive development how the brain develops
allow for higher-order reasoning can think critically
strong likelihood good chance of
opportunity chance
age-inappropriate not suitable for that age
appeal desire
deeply implanted becomes a part of you
recent research supports the contention new studies also say that
habits actions you do over a long time
impressions formed in early childhood things you remember from when you are young
leave behind later in life forget about as you get older
despite regardless of
feasibility how possible it is
marketing directed at impressionable ads taking advantage of vulnerable
banned not permitted
difficult process to manage hard to actually implement
undertaken done by
Pronunciation
sʌm ɑːr ɒv ði əˈpɪnjən ðæt
ˌʌnˈɛθɪkəl
ˈsɜːtn ˈeɪʤɪz
pəˈmɪtɪd
ɪn ˈʤɛnərəl
ˈvʌlnərəbl
ˈsɛgmənt
ðəʊz huː ˈɑːgjuː ɪn ˈfeɪvər ɒv
pɔɪnt aʊt
nɒt ˈnɛsɪsərɪli ʌnˈfeə
ˌsɪtjʊˈeɪʃənz
prəˈpəʊnənts
kənˈsiːd
ˈɛksplɔɪtɪv
kəˈmɜːʃəlz
ˈsɪərɪəlz
haɪ ˈʃʊgə ˈkɒntɛnt
kɑːˈtuːn ʃəʊz
ˈsɪŋgl ˈɪnstəns
ɪsˈpɛʃəli
ˈkeɪpəbl
ˈræʃnəli
kənˈtrəʊlɪŋ
ˈɪnstənt ˌgrætɪfɪˈkeɪʃən
ˈðeəfɔː
ɪnˈfɔːmd
ˈɪntrɪstɪd ɪn
ˈwɔːtə pɑːk
ˈspɔːtɪŋ ɪˈvɛnt
kənˈvɪns
ˌaʊtˈdɔːz
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs
ˈnɛgətɪvli ɪmˈpæktɪd
læk sɛlf-kənˈtrəʊl
ˈkeɪpəbl
ɪnˈhɪbɪtɪŋ
dɪˈzaɪəz
nɒt ɪksˈpɪərɪənst ɪˈnʌf
ˈkɒgnɪtɪv dɪˈvɛləpmənt
əˈlaʊ fɔː ˈhaɪər-ˈɔːdə ˈriːznɪŋ
strɒŋ ˈlaɪklɪhʊd
ˌɒpəˈtjuːnɪti
eɪʤ-ˌɪnəˈprəʊprɪɪt
əˈpiːl
ˈdiːpli ɪmˈplɑːntɪd
ˈriːsnt rɪˈsɜːʧ səˈpɔːts ðə kənˈtɛnʃən
ˈhæbɪts
ɪmˈprɛʃənz fɔːmd ɪn ˈɜːli ˈʧaɪldhʊd
liːv bɪˈhaɪnd ˈleɪtər ɪn laɪf
dɪsˈpaɪt
ˌfiːzəˈbɪlɪti
ˈmɑːkɪtɪŋ dɪˈrɛktɪd æt ɪmˈprɛʃnəbl
bænd
ˈdɪfɪkəlt ˈprəʊsɛs tuː ˈmænɪʤ
ˌʌndəˈteɪkən
Vocabulary Practice
S______________________________t it is u_________l to advertise to children. In my opinion, although at c_____________s these advertisements should be p_____________d, i________l children are too v___________e a s________t of the population.
T________________________________f advertising to children p______________t it is n________________________r. There are s____________s when even these p____________s would c__________e advertising is e___________e, such as when there are c_______________s for c_________s with h_________________________t during c_____________s. However, this is only a s___________________e. Many children, e________y as they get older, are c__________e of thinking r_______________y, c___________g their need for i__________________n, and would t____________e like to be i______________d about new products they are i_______________n. If a child who is 10 years old sees an advertisement for a w______________k or s_____________t, they might c_______e their parents to enjoy a fun, o________s activity.
N_____________s, most children are n__________________d by advertisements as they l______________l. Adults are more c__________e of i_________g their d_______s while children are n______________________h and their c_______________________t does not a____________________________g. For instance, if a young child sees an advertisement for alcohol or a violent videogame, there is a s__________________d they will want to try it. Even if they do not actually get an o_____________y to use an a_____________________e product, the a________l of these products has already been d________________d. R____________________________________n that h______s and i__________________________________d are harder to l______________________________________e.
In conclusion, d_______e the f_____________y of certain advertisements for older children, most m____________________________________e children should be b________d. This will be a d________________________________e but many countries have u___________n it already.
Listening Practice
Reading Practice
Speaking Practice
Advertising
- What kind of ads are common in your country?
- Do you think companies should be allowed to advertise to children?
- Are there laws regulating ads where you live?
- What makes a good advertisement?
- Will ads still be useful and common in the future?
Writing Practice
Some people think that there should be a complete ban on all forms of advertising.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Come on, this type of writing and irrelevant example, why? You call it a sample writing; however, it’s a piece of crap.
Sorry you feel that way Gaurav but please be respectful!