This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of globalization from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Essay: Globalization

Globalization is positive for economies but its negative sides should not be ignored.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Many feel that the positives of globalization justify ignoring the downsides. In my opinion, modest benefits should not overshadow legitimate threats.

The most commonly cited advantages of globalization are economic. The argument here is that by allowing companies to operate across national borders, this is a boon to both consumers and national economies. For example, in the last several decades, many Asian countries such as Vietnam and China have allowed for foreign investment, thereby stimulating their economic growth. Individuals can enjoy a variety of products from around the world and the companies themselves contribute in the form of taxes and employment opportunities. However, many would caution that multinational companies are exploitive and have driven local businesses to bankruptcy. The overall impact for the average person is therefore uncertain.

Globalization also creates apparent cultural advantages. Individuals from all around the world can experience the latest Hollywood movies and listen to their favorite artists on applications like Spotify. This undoubtedly influences and encourages other entertainers to work hard and produce quality content. Nonetheless, it can foster a harmful homogeneity. The film industry is a prime example of this. The standard American structure for films and television shows is now copied globally and funded by powerful entertainment studios such as Netflix. These companies are almost exclusively interested in specific genres, most commonly crime and action. Over time, entertainment may become less unique and no longer showcase true diversity.

In conclusion, the cultural and economic advantages of globalization have concomitant tradeoffs. It is therefore important for each nation to carefully manage and balance their relationship to global society.

Analysis

1. Many feel that the positives of globalization justify ignoring the downsides. 2. In my opinion, modest benefits should not overshadow legitimate threats.

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

1. The most commonly cited advantages of globalization are economic. 2. The argument here is that by allowing companies to operate across national borders, this is a boon to both consumers and national economies. 3. For example, in the last several decades, many Asian countries such as Vietnam and China have allowed for foreign investment, thereby stimulating their economic growth. 4. Individuals can enjoy a variety of products from around the world and the companies themselves contribute in the form of taxes and employment opportunities. 5. However, many would caution that multinational companies are exploitive and have driven local businesses to bankruptcy. 6. The overall impact for the average person is therefore uncertain.

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.
Switch to talk about the disadvantages.
Develop that side too.

1. Globalization also creates apparent cultural advantages. 2. Individuals from all around the world can experience the latest Hollywood movies and listen to their favorite artists on applications like Spotify. 3. This undoubtedly influences and encourages other entertainers to work hard and produce quality content. 4. Nonetheless, it can foster a harmful homogeneity. 5. The film industry is a prime example of this. 6. The standard American structure for films and television shows is now copied globally and funded by powerful entertainment studios such as Netflix. 7. These companies are almost exclusively interested in specific genres, most commonly crime and action. 8. Over time, entertainment may become less unique and no longer showcase true diversity.

Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
Explain your new main idea.
Include specific details and examples.
Continue developing it…
as fully as possible!
Be sure to develop the other side fully.
Including specific examples.
As well as the furthest possible result.

1. In conclusion, the cultural and economic advantages of globalization have concomitant tradeoffs. 2. It is therefore important for each nation to carefully manage and balance their relationship to global society.

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.

Many feel that the positives of globalization justify ignoring the downsides. In my opinion, modest benefits should not overshadow legitimate threats.

The most commonly cited advantages of globalization are economic. The argument here is that by allowing companies to operate across national borders, this is a boon to both consumers and national economies. For example, in the last several decades, many Asian countries such as Vietnam and China have allowed for foreign investment, thereby stimulating their economic growth. Individuals can enjoy a variety of products from around the world and the companies themselves contribute in the form of taxes and employment opportunities. However, many would caution that multinational companies are exploitive and have driven local businesses to bankruptcy. The overall impact for the average person is therefore uncertain.

Globalization also creates apparent cultural advantages. Individuals from all around the world can experience the latest Hollywood movies and listen to their favorite artists on applications like Spotify. This undoubtedly influences and encourages other entertainers to work hard and produce quality content. Nonetheless, it can foster a harmful homogeneity. The film industry is a prime example of this. The standard American structure for films and television shows is now copied globally and funded by powerful entertainment studios such as Netflix. These companies are almost exclusively interested in specific genres, most commonly crime and action. Over time, entertainment may become less unique and no longer showcase true diversity.

In conclusion, the cultural and economic advantages of globalization have concomitant tradeoffs. It is therefore important for each nation to carefully manage and balance their relationship to global society.

Answers

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

positives benefits

globalization the world being the same

justify give good reason for

ignoring not paying attention to

downsides negatives

modest benefits small advantages

overshadow stronger than

legitimate threats real risks

most commonly cited advantages drawbacks talked about the most

economic related to the economy

argument debate

allowing companies permitting corporations

operate across national borders work in various countries

boon benefit

consumers customers

national economies money earned in a country

in the last several decades last 20-30 years

Asian from Asia

allowed permitted

foreign investment money from other countries

stimulating making grow

economic growth countries making more money, higher GDP

variety different kinds of

products things that are sold

contribute add ot

in the form of as/made up of

taxes money paid to the government

employment opportunities job chances

exploitive take advantage of

driven local businesses made small businesses

bankruptcy out of business

overall impact whole effect

average person normal citizen

uncertain not clear

apparent cultural advantages seeming benefits for art

all around the world globally

experience watching/viewing

latest Hollywood movies new films at the cinema

listen hear

artists people who make music, films

Spotify application for streaming music

undoubtedly influences definitely affects

encourages motivates

produce quality content make good stuff

nonetheless regardless

foster engender

harmful homogeneity everything the same in a bad way

prime example good instance

standard all the same

structure way it is put together

copied duplicated

funded by given money by

studios companies that make movies

Netflix streaming website

exclusively interested only care about

specific genres individual types of movies

commonly normally

over time for a long time

unique singular

showcase true diversity show off real difference

concomitant tradeoffs resulting drawbacks

carefully manage diligently take care of

balance keep equal

relationship interaction

global society the whole world

Pronunciation

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

ˈpɒzətɪvz
ˌgləʊb(ə)laɪˈzeɪʃ(ə)n
ˈʤʌstɪfaɪ
ɪgˈnɔːrɪŋ
ˈdaʊnˌsaɪdz
ˈmɒdɪst ˈbɛnɪfɪts
ˌəʊvəˈʃædəʊ
lɪˈʤɪtɪmɪt θrɛts
məʊst ˈkɒmənli ˈsaɪtɪd ədˈvɑːntɪʤɪz
ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk
ˈɑːgjʊmənt
əˈlaʊɪŋ ˈkʌmpəniz
ˈɒpəreɪt əˈkrɒs ˈnæʃənl ˈbɔːdəz
buːn
kənˈsjuːməz
ˈnæʃənl i(ː)ˈkɒnəmiz
ɪn ðə lɑːst ˈsɛvrəl ˈdɛkeɪdz
ˈeɪʃ(ə)n
əˈlaʊd
ˈfɒrɪn ɪnˈvɛstmənt
ˈstɪmjʊleɪtɪŋ
ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk grəʊθ
vəˈraɪəti
ˈprɒdʌkts
kənˈtrɪbju(ː)t
ɪn ðə fɔːm ɒv
ˈtæksɪz
ɪmˈplɔɪmənt ˌɒpəˈtjuːnɪtiz
ˈɛksplɔɪtɪv
ˈdrɪvn ˈləʊkəl ˈbɪznɪsɪz
ˈbæŋkrəptsi
ˈəʊvərɔːl ˈɪmpækt
ˈævərɪʤ ˈpɜːsn
ʌnˈsɜːtn
əˈpærənt ˈkʌlʧərəl ədˈvɑːntɪʤɪz
ɔːl əˈraʊnd ðə wɜːld
ɪksˈpɪərɪəns
ˈleɪtɪst ˈhɒlɪwʊd ˈmuːviz
ˈlɪsn
ˈɑːtɪsts
spɒtifaɪ
ʌnˈdaʊtɪdli ˈɪnflʊənsɪz
ɪnˈkʌrɪʤɪz
ˈprɒdjuːs ˈkwɒlɪti ˈkɒntɛnt
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs
ˈfɒstə
ˈhɑːmfʊl ˌhɒməʊʤɛˈniːɪti
praɪm ɪgˈzɑːmpl
ˈstændəd
ˈstrʌkʧə
ˈkɒpid
ˈfʌndɪd baɪ
ˈstjuːdɪəʊz
nɛtflɪks
ɪksˈkluːsɪvli ˈɪntrɪstɪd
spɪˈsɪfɪk ˈ(d)ʒɑːŋrəz
ˈkɒmənli
ˈəʊvə taɪm
juːˈniːk
ˈʃəʊkeɪs truː daɪˈvɜːsɪti
kənˈkɒmɪtənt treɪd ɒfs
ˈkeəfli ˈmænɪʤ
ˈbæləns
rɪˈleɪʃənʃɪp
ˈgləʊbəl səˈsaɪəti

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:

Many feel that the p____________s of g_________________n j__________y i__________g the d_____________s. In my opinion, m______________s should not o_______________________________________s.

The m___________________________s of globalization are e____________c. The a___________t here is that by a_______________________s to o_____________________________s, this is a b_______n to both c____________s and n______________________s. For example, i________________________s, many A______n countries such as Vietnam and China have a__________d for f______________________t, thereby s_______________g their e_________________h. Individuals can enjoy a v_________y of p_________s from around the world and the companies themselves c___________e i_______________f t____s and e____________________________s. However, many would caution that multinational companies are e_______________e and have d_________________________________s to b______________y. The o_______________t for the a________________n is therefore u__________n.

Globalization also creates a_______________________________s. Individuals from a_________________________d can e______________e the l________________________s and l_______n to their favorite a_________s on applications like S__________y. This u____________________s and e______________s other entertainers to work hard and p_______________________t. N_____________s, it can f_________r a h_______________________y. The film industry is a p________________e of this. The s___________d American s___________e for films and television shows is now c_______d globally and f___________y powerful entertainment s________s such as N_________x. These companies are almost e______________________d in s_________________s, most c___________y crime and action. O___________e, entertainment may become less u________e and no longer s____________________________y.

In conclusion, the cultural and economic advantages of globalization have c_________________________s. It is therefore important for each nation to c____________________e and b_____________e their r_______________p to g___________________y.

Listening Practice

Learn more about this topic by watching videos from The New York Times YouTube channel below and practice with these activities:

Reading Practice

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

Examining the impacts of Globalization: A Case study of Afghanistan

Speaking Practice

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

International Events/Parties

What sort of international events does your country host?
Do you think these types of events divide people?
Why are these events celebrated?
What activities are common for these celebrations?
Are there many events that are celebrated across national borders?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related IELTS essay topic below:

The growth of multinational companies and the resulting rise of globalization creates positive effects for all.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

IELTS Essay: Multinational Companies