This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of celebrities’ private lives from the real IELTS general training exam.

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IELTS Essay: Celebrities’ Private Lives

Some people feel that the private lives of celebrities should not be openly shared by the media.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Certain concerned parties today contend that celebrities’ private lives should not be publicized on social media. In my opinion, the general citizenry has the right to be aware of the lives of various public figures.

Some hold the opinion that each individual has an unalienable and basic right to privacy. If one’s idols are not engaging in illegal activity, there is no clear justification to publicize their personal lives to the public other than as a form of entertainment or gossip. For instance, if a celebrity begins a new relationship, it is common for the paparazzi to photograph them in public and report private details online. This is an invasion of privacy and may harm their relationship even though the celebrities have done nothing wrong. The only injury in these cases is to the mental health of those being reported on in public forums with little cause.

On the one hand, celebrities have a social responsibility to set a good example for the general public. Modern media consumers, especially younger people, these days spend more time online than ever before, and therefore are increasingly vulnerable to extreme views and the easy of adoption of thoughtless political stances and bad habits. For that reason, celebrities should regulate their personal behavior, including staying away from drug abuse, not espousing dangerous viewpoints, and focusing on socially beneficial actions. Social media can in this way serve as a “watchdog” for celebrities by reporting negative press, which will deter public figures from misbehaving. 

In conclusion, I think celebrities should allow citizens to learn about their personal lives though social media, since fame is a privilege and they have a responsibility towards society at large. Citizens should only respect their privacy when it is a personal matter with little public relevance.

Analysis

1. Certain concerned parties today contend that celebrities’ private lives should not be publicized on social media. 2. In my opinion, the general citizenry has the right to be aware of the lives of various public figures.

1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
2. Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.

1. Some hold the opinion that each individual has an unalienable and basic right to privacy. 2. If one’s idols are not engaging in illegal activity, there is no clear justification to publicize their personal lives to the public other than as a form of entertainment or gossip. 3. For instance, if a celebrity begins a new relationship, it is common for the paparazzi to photograph them in public and report private details online. 4. This is an invasion of privacy and may harm their relationship even though the celebrities have done nothing wrong. 5. The only injury in these cases is to the mental health of those being reported on in public forums with little cause.

1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
2. Explain your main idea.
3. Develop it with specific or hypothetical examples.
4. Keep developing it fully.
5. Finish the paragraph strong.

1. On the one hand, celebrities have a social responsibility to set a good example for the general public. 2. Modern media consumers, especially younger people, these days spend more time online than ever before, and therefore are increasingly vulnerable to extreme views and the easy of adoption of thoughtless political stances and bad habits. 3. For that reason, celebrities should regulate their personal behavior, including staying away from drug abuse, not espousing dangerous viewpoints, and focusing on socially beneficial actions. 4. Social media can in this way serve as a “watchdog” for celebrities by reporting negative press, which will deter public figures from misbehaving. 

1. Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
2. Explain your new main idea.
3. Include specific details and examples.
4. Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.

1. In conclusion, I think celebrities should allow citizens to learn about their personal lives though social media, since fame is a privilege and they have a responsibility towards society at large. 2. Citizens should only respect their privacy when it is a personal matter with little public relevance.

1. Summarise your main ideas.
2. Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.

Certain concerned parties today contend that celebrities’ private lives should not be publicized on social media. In my opinion, the general citizenry has the right to be aware of the lives of various public figures.

Some hold the opinion that each individual has an unalienable and basic right to privacy. If one’s idols are not engaging in illegal activity, there is no clear justification to publicize their personal lives to the public other than as a form of entertainment or gossip. For instance, if a celebrity begins a new relationship, it is common for the paparazzi to photograph them in public and report private details online. This is an invasion of privacy and may harm their relationship even though the celebrities have done nothing wrong. The only injury in these cases is to the mental health of those being reported on in public forums with little cause.

On the one hand, celebrities have a social responsibility to set a good example for the general public. Modern media consumers, especially younger people, these days spend more time online than ever before, and therefore are increasingly vulnerable to extreme views and the easy of adoption of thoughtless political stances and bad habits. For that reason, celebrities should regulate their personal behavior, including staying away from drug abuse, not espousing dangerous viewpoints, and focusing on socially beneficial actions. Social media can in this way serve as a “watchdog” for celebrities by reporting negative press, which will deter public figures from misbehaving. 

In conclusion, I think celebrities should allow citizens to learn about their personal lives though social media, since fame is a privilege and they have a responsibility towards society at large.  Citizens should only respect their privacy when it is a personal matter with little public relevance.

Answers

For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:

Certain concerned parties today contend that some people now argue

private lives personal life

publicized on social media posted online

general citizenry people, society

right to be aware of basic ability to know about

public figures famous people

hold the opinion argue that

unalienable can’t be taken away

basic right to privacy fundamental privilege to not be in the public

engaging in illegal activity committing crimes

no clear justification no real reason for it

publicize make public

public other than as a form of known to all besides as a way to

gossip rumors

it is common for it happens a lot that

paparazzi people who photograph celebrities

in public in the world, not private

report private details online publish about personal life on the internet

invasion of privacy abuse of privacy rights

harm hurt

injury in these cases harm in these situations

mental health how you feel

reported on in public forums with little cause put online for no good reason

social responsibility duty to society

set a good example for the general public be role models

Modern media consumers people online today

increasingly vulnerable weaker and weaker

extreme views controversial opinions

easy of adoption of thoughtless political stances take on bad opinions quickly

bad habits bad behaviors

regulate their personal behavior control their actions

staying away from drug abuse not doing drugs

not espousing dangerous viewpoints not saying crazy things

focusing on socially beneficial actions working for the public good

in this way serve as therefore are

watchdog groups that watch society

reporting negative press publishing bad stories

deter public figures from misbehaving scare them from acting badly

allow citizens permit people

fame well-known

privilege right

have a responsibility towards society at large accountable for the good of all

respect their privacy care about their privacy rights

personal matter with little public relevance no public reason to consider it important

Pronunciation

Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:

ˈsɜːtᵊn kənˈsɜːnd ˈpɑːtiz təˈdeɪ kənˈtɛnd ðæt 
ˈpraɪvət lɪvz 
ˈpʌblɪsaɪzd ɒn ˈsəʊʃᵊl ˈmiːdiə 
ˈʤɛnᵊrᵊl ˈsɪtɪznri 
raɪt tuː biː əˈweər ɒv 
ˈpʌblɪk ˈfɪɡəz 
həʊld ði əˈpɪnjən 
ˌʌnˈeɪliənəbᵊl 
ˈbeɪsɪk raɪt tuː ˈprɪvəsi 
ɪnˈɡeɪʤɪŋ ɪn ɪˈliːɡᵊl ækˈtɪvəti 
nəʊ klɪə ˌʤʌstɪfɪˈkeɪʃᵊn 
ˈpʌblɪsaɪz 
ˈpʌblɪk ˈʌðə ðæn æz ə fɔːm ɒv 
ˈɡɒsɪp 
ɪt ɪz ˈkɒmən fɔː 
ˌpæpᵊˈrætsi 
ɪn ˈpʌblɪk 
rɪˈpɔːt ˈpraɪvət ˈdiːteɪlz ˈɒnˌlaɪn 
ɪnˈveɪʒᵊn ɒv ˈprɪvəsi 
hɑːm 
ˈɪnʤᵊri ɪn ðiːz ˈkeɪsɪz 
ˈmɛntᵊl hɛlθ 
rɪˈpɔːtɪd ɒn ɪn ˈpʌblɪk ˈfɔːrəmz wɪð ˈlɪtᵊl kɔːz 
ˈsəʊʃᵊl rɪˌspɒnsɪˈbɪləti 
sɛt ə ɡʊd ɪɡˈzɑːmpᵊl fɔː ðə ˈʤɛnᵊrᵊl ˈpʌblɪk 
ˈmɒdᵊn ˈmiːdiə kənˈsjuːməz 
ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli ˈvʌlnᵊrəbᵊl 
ɪkˈstriːm vjuːz 
ˈiːzi ɒv əˈdɒpʃᵊn ɒv ˈθɔːtləs pəˈlɪtɪkᵊl ˈstɑːnsɪz 
bæd ˈhæbɪts 
ˈrɛɡjəleɪt ðeə ˈpɜːsᵊnᵊl bɪˈheɪvjə 
ˈsteɪɪŋ əˈweɪ frɒm drʌɡ əˈbjuːs 
nɒt ɪsˈpaʊzɪŋ ˈdeɪnʤᵊrəs ˈvjuːpɔɪnts 
ˈfəʊkəsɪŋ ɒn ˈsəʊʃᵊli ˌbɛnɪˈfɪʃᵊl ˈækʃᵊnz 
ɪn ðɪs weɪ sɜːv æz 
ˈwɒʧdɒɡ 
rɪˈpɔːtɪŋ ˈnɛɡətɪv prɛs 
dɪˈtɜː ˈpʌblɪk ˈfɪɡəz frɒm ˌmɪsbɪˈheɪvɪŋ 
əˈlaʊ ˈsɪtɪzᵊnz 
feɪm 
ˈprɪvɪlɪʤ 
hæv ə rɪˌspɒnsɪˈbɪləti təˈwɔːdz səˈsaɪəti æt lɑːʤ 
rɪˈspɛkt ðeə ˈprɪvəsi 
ˈpɜːsᵊnᵊl ˈmætə wɪð ˈlɪtᵊl ˈpʌblɪk ˈrɛləvᵊns 

Vocabulary Practice

I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:

C______________________________________________________t celebrities’ p_________s should not be p__________________________________________a. In my opinion, the g____________________y has the r__________________f the lives of various p________________s.

Some h____________n that each individual has an u___________e and b________________________y. If one’s idols are not e_________________________y, there is n_________________________n to p__________e their personal lives to the p____________________________________f entertainment or g________p. For instance, if a celebrity begins a new relationship, i___________________r the p___________i to photograph them i________c and r__________________________e. This is an i_____________________y and may h___m their relationship even though the celebrities have done nothing wrong. The only i_____________________s is to the m_________________h of those being r____________________________________________e.

On the one hand, celebrities have a s_______________________y to s_______________________________________c. M_____________________s, especially younger people, these days spend more time online than ever before, and therefore are i___________________________e to e____________s and the e_________________________________________s and b____________s. For that reason, celebrities should r___________________________________r, including s__________________________________________e, n_________________________________s, and f____________________________________s. Social media can i____________________s a “w__________g” for celebrities by r_____________________s, which will d____________________________________g. 

In conclusion, I think celebrities should a_____________s to learn about their personal lives though social media, since f___e is a p______e and they h__________________________________________________________e.  Citizens should only r________________________y when it is a p__________________________________________e.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztal4457dZU&pp=ygUQY2VsZWJyaXR5IGdvc3NpcA%3D%3D

Reading Practice

Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:

https://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/

Speaking Practice

Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Celebrities

1. Do you know any celebrities?
2. Which celebrity do you know the most about?
3. Are there are any celebrities you would like to meet?
4. Who is the most famous person in your country?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topics below:

Film stars and celebrities often share their views on public matters that have little to do with their profession.

Is this a positive or negative development?

IELTS Essay: Celebrity Views