This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of copying from the real IELTS general training exam.
Please consider supporting me on Patreon.com/howtodoielts to receive my full, exclusive IELTS Ebooks – you can even sign up for private live lessons with me!
Dave
IELTS Essay: Copying
The tendency of human beings to copy one another is shown in the popularity of areas such as fashion and consumer goods.
To what extent do you agree?
Some have suggested that the popularity of specific consumer trends evidences a natural human inclination to copy one another. In my opinion, this is largely true though there are other potential practical explanations.
Those who oppose this belief argue that imitation is rooted in reason. There are legitimate practical justifications to follow others. If a product such as a new smartphone is popular, then that is evidence it is a quality item. In this way, people are copying on a rational basis, not out of an inborn human desire. Moreover, popular items are likely cheaper and more widely available. A trendy pair of jeans made by Levy’s, for instance, is produced in the millions and stocked in department stores around the world. Individuals will encounter these jeans frequently and their purchase is simply a matter of convenience.
However, I believe that copying others satisfies a deeper human drive to feel part of a larger group. The natural tendency of humans to congregate also compels them to adopt similar customs and habits. Imitation shows that there is commonality and eases the fear of otherness. For example, Apple has built their brand based on the power of an inclusive community of like-minded users. By joining such an ecosystem, people are no longer isolated and feel part of a larger whole that elevates their individual self-esteem and protects them from other groups. Humans do not now face significant physical threats from nature but the desire to copy one another in order to join a modern-day tribe persists in contemporary consumer culture.
In conclusion, the popularity of similar consumer items illustrates an underlying need in humans to imitate one another in order to feel safe and accepted. This is not necessarily a negative insight though it should be managed carefully by individuals.
Analysis
1. Some have suggested that the popularity of specific consumer trends evidences a natural human inclination to copy one another. 2. In my opinion, this is largely true though there are other potential practical explanations.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Those who oppose this belief argue that imitation is rooted in reason. 2. There are legitimate practical justifications to follow others. 3. If a product such as a new smartphone is popular, then that is evidence it is a quality item. 4. In this way, people are copying on a rational basis, not out of an inborn human desire. 5. Moreover, popular items are likely cheaper and more widely available. 6. A trendy pair of jeans made by Levy’s, for instance, is produced in the millions and stocked in department stores around the world. 7. Individuals will encounter these jeans frequently and their purchase is simply a matter of convenience.
- 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.
- Add more deatil.
- Make sure you use really specific examples.
- Finish the paragraph strong.
1. However, I believe that copying others satisfies a deeper human drive to feel part of a larger group. 2. The natural tendency of humans to congregate also compels them to adopt similar customs and habits. 3. Imitation shows that there is commonality and eases the fear of otherness. 4. For example, Apple has built their brand based on the power of an inclusive community of like-minded users. 5. By joining such an ecosystem, people are no longer isolated and feel part of a larger whole that elevates their individual self-esteem and protects them from other groups. 6. Humans do not now face significant physical threats from nature but the desire to copy one another in order to join a modern-day tribe persists in contemporary consumer culture.
- 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.
- Make sure this paragraph is stronger.
1. In conclusion, the popularity of similar consumer items illustrates an underlying need in humans to imitate one another in order to feel safe and accepted. 2. This is not necessarily a negative insight though it should be managed carefully by individuals.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- 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.
Some have suggested that the popularity of specific consumer trends evidences a natural human inclination to copy one another. In my opinion, this is largely true though there are other potential practical explanations.
Those who oppose this belief argue that imitation is rooted in reason. There are legitimate practical justifications to follow others. If a product such as a new smartphone is popular, then that is evidence it is a quality item. In this way, people are copying on a rational basis, not out of an inborn human desire. Moreover, popular items are likely cheaper and more widely available. A trendy pair of jeans made by Levy’s, for instance, is produced in the millions and stocked in department stores around the world. Individuals will encounter these jeans frequently and their purchase is simply a matter of convenience.
However, I believe that copying others satisfies a deeper human drive to feel part of a larger group. The natural tendency of humans to congregate also compels them to adopt similar customs and habits. Imitation shows that there is commonality and eases the fear of otherness. For example, Apple has built their brand based on the power of an inclusive community of like-minded users. By joining such an ecosystem, people are no longer isolated and feel part of a larger whole that elevates their individual self-esteem and protects them from other groups. Humans do not now face significant physical threats from nature but the desire to copy one another in order to join a modern-day tribe persists in contemporary consumer culture.
In conclusion, the popularity of similar consumer items illustrates an underlying need in humans to imitate one another in order to feel safe and accepted. This is not necessarily a negative insight though it should be managed carefully by individuals.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
suggested give the opinion that
popularity ubiquity
specific consumer trends buying habits
evidences shows
natural human inclination normal desire, human nature
copy one another imitate each other
largely true mostly the case
potential practical explanations possible simple reasons
oppose work against
argue point out
imitation copying
rooted based in
legitimate practical justifications actual reasons related to convenience
smartphone mobile phone
quality item good product
in this way therefore
rational basis reasonable foundation
inborn human desire normal human inclination
cheaper not expensive
widely available common
trendy popular
Levy’s a jeans maker
produced made
stocked put on the shelves
department stores big stores for selling things
encounter come in contact with
frequently often
a matter of convenience easier to do it
satisfies completes
deeper human drive natural instinct
part of a larger group joining a bunch of people
natural tendency normal inclination
congregate group together
compels forces
adopt similar customs act the same way
habits ways of behaving
commonality things in common
eases makes easier
fear worry
otherness people being different
built their brand created their business
based on with the foundation of
inclusive accepting
like-minded users people who think the same way
joining becoming part of
ecosystem environment
no longer isolated not on its own
part of a larger whole in a group
elevates raises up
individual self-esteem
protects keeps safe
significant physical threats real risks of being hurt
modern-day tribe persists contemporary grouping stays the same
contemporary consumer culture modern shopping habits
underlying need basic desire
negative insight bad circumstance
managed carefully watch cautiously
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
səˈʤɛstɪd
ˌpɒpjʊˈlærɪti
spɪˈsɪfɪk kənˈsjuːmə trɛndz
ˈɛvɪdənsɪz
ˈnæʧrəl ˈhjuːmən ˌɪnklɪˈneɪʃən
ˈkɒpi wʌn əˈnʌðə
ˈlɑːʤli truː
pəʊˈtɛnʃəl ˈpræktɪkəl ˌɛkspləˈneɪʃənz
əˈpəʊz
ˈɑːgjuː
ˌɪmɪˈteɪʃən
ˈruːtɪd
lɪˈʤɪtɪmɪt ˈpræktɪkəl ˌʤʌstɪfɪˈkeɪʃənz
ˈsmɑːtfəʊn
ˈkwɒlɪti ˈaɪtəm
ɪn ðɪs weɪ
ˈræʃənl ˈbeɪsɪs
ˌɪnˈbɔːn ˈhjuːmən dɪˈzaɪə
ˈʧiːpə
ˈwaɪdli əˈveɪləbl.
ˈtrɛndi
ˈlɛviz
prəˈdjuːst
stɒkt
dɪˈpɑːtmənt stɔːz
ɪnˈkaʊntə
ˈfriːkwəntli
ə ˈmætər ɒv kənˈviːniəns
ˈsætɪsfaɪz
ˈdiːpə ˈhjuːmən draɪv
pɑːt ɒv ə ˈlɑːʤə gruːp
ˈnæʧrəl ˈtɛndənsi
ˈkɒŋgrɪgeɪt
kəmˈpɛlz
əˈdɒpt ˈsɪmɪlə ˈkʌstəmz
ˈhæbɪts
ˈkɒmənˈælɪti
ˈiːzɪz
fɪə
ˈʌðənəs
bɪlt ðeə brænd
beɪst ɒn
ɪnˈkluːsɪv
ˈlaɪkˈmaɪndɪd ˈjuːzəz
ˈʤɔɪnɪŋ
ˈiːkəʊˌsɪstəm
nəʊ ˈlɒŋgər ˈaɪsəleɪtɪd
pɑːt ɒv ə ˈlɑːʤə həʊl
ˈɛlɪveɪts
ˌɪndɪˈvɪdjʊəl sɛlf-ɪsˈtiːm
prəˈtɛkts
sɪgˈnɪfɪkənt ˈfɪzɪkəl θrɛts
ˈmɒdən-deɪ traɪb pəˈsɪsts
kənˈtɛmpərəri kənˈsjuːmə ˈkʌlʧə
ˌʌndəˈlaɪɪŋ niːd
ˈnɛgətɪv ˈɪnsaɪt
ˈmænɪʤd ˈkeəfli
Vocabulary Practice
Some have s____________d that the p___________y of s_________________________s e_____________s a n____________________________n to c________________________r. In my opinion, this is l________________e though there are other p__________________________________s.
Those who o____________e this belief a_______e that i______________n is r__________d in reason. There are l_____________________________s to follow others. If a product such as a new s___________e is popular, then that is evidence it is a q_____________m. I_______________y, people are copying on a r___________________s, not out of an i_______________________e. Moreover, popular items are likely c___________r and more w_________________e. A t_______y pair of jeans made by L______s, for instance, is p__________d in the millions and s_____________d in d________________________s around the world. Individuals will e____________________r these jeans f___________________y and their purchase is simply a______________________________e.
However, I believe that copying others s____________s a d__________________________e to feel p________________________p. The n_____________________y of humans to c_______________e also c_________s them to a____________________s and h________s. Imitation shows that there is c_________________y and e______s the f_____r of o_____________s. For example, Apple has b_______________________d b__________n the power of an i________e community of l_____________________s. By j__________g such an e_____________m, people are n_____________________d and feel p__________________e that e______________s their i______________________m and p_____________s them from other groups. Humans do not now face s__________________________s from nature but the desire to copy one another in order to join a m______________________e p___________s in c___________________________e.
In conclusion, the popularity of similar consumer items illustrates an u_________________________d in humans to imitate one another in order to feel safe and accepted. This is not necessarily a n__________________t though it should be m______________________y by individuals.
Listening Practice
Reading Practice
https://www.theatlantic.com/daily-dish/archive/2009/12/on-human-cloning/193009/
Speaking Practice
Society
Do people in your country often copy each other?
Is copying an important part of society?
How has technology changed society?
Will society continue to change in future? And if so, in what ways?
Do you feel people in your country are in touch with more traditional social customs?
Writing Practice
The number of people who are interested in and wearing fashionable clothes is increasing.
Is this a positive or negative development?
There is a statement that the popular consumption may be due to the behavior that people want to be the same as others. In my opinion, I agree with this idea because people learn about commodities by recommandations from surrounding and most people are normal, just like others.
People may buy a product if their friends find out that the product is conspicuous. When people need to buy some items, they may ask their friends for advice first. For example, after Apple proposed the iPhone, people found out that this phone is really nice and presents a great user experience. Therefore, the more people who try the iPhone, the more positive evaluations are produced, which leads to a better sales achievement for the iPhone. The result is that the iPhone became the most popular phone in the world. This may be due to its great user experience and all people want to use it.
Actually, most people in society are normal people, so they may look like others. We have to admit that only a small proportion of people are geniuses in the world. Most kids may go to a normal school, and most adults work in a normal position for a normal company. Hence, they may look like one of the majority. In most internet companies, shirts with grids are popular among programmers. We may see many kinds of grid-printed shirts in the programmers’ office, because they find that grid shirts are suitable for many situations.
In sum, copying others may be due not only to the fact that popular products always mean high quality, but also that most people are just as normal as others. In addition, such a tendency encourages businesses to improve the quality of their products for a good evaluation.
Good work, Gakki!
Nice structure and length – some words are a bit off like ‘conspicuous’ we wouldn’t use in that context. Also: evaluations, surrounding.
Don’t over-use ‘normal’ either!
Hello sir, in the last sentence of 2nd body paragraph, ‘Humans do not now significant physical threats from nature’ please explain this sentence. Is it correct?
Missing a word – fixed now – thanks!
ok. Fine.
Hello sir, in the last sentence of 2nd body paragraph, ‘Humans do not now significant physical threats from nature’ please explain this sentence. Is it correct?
Oh thanks for pointing that out – left out a word: ‘face’!
Cool. Thanx
It is popular among the individuals to take ideas of dressing and consumer stocks from one another. I completely agree with the tendency of looking similar to others. I will explain my reasons in this essay.
First of all, most of the people are buying their clothes from shops, which are readily available for everyone. In many parts of the world, this shops load with absolutely the same models such as dresses, T-shirts, as well as shoes. Good examples are ZARA, Bershka, as well as H&M. This is made the situation worse, because these stores are supported by large advertising campaigns, which are aimed at young people. For example, this season the tendency is combination of white T-shirt and black jeans, because this almost every second girls I sow yesterday was dressed like this.
Secondly, the celebrities influence the choice of the customers. Many of the human beings are aimed to copy the look of the famous people. In addition, the fashion influencers are posting their daily outfit, as well as the specific place they bought the clothes. For instance, my friend Joanna is frequently looking for ideas from the Instagram profile on her favorite influencer.
In conclusion, I totally agree that people are aimed to look like the others. A good example is their similar look, as well as the same brand choice and the tendency they are following.
Nice work, Katerina.
You need longer paragraphs though. The example also shouldn’t be at the very end – put it in your main paragraphs.