This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer from the general training test about the topic of leisure time.

It’s a very common topic and you can read the exact structure that you should use on IELTS below as well as do some some practice yourself.

Enjoy!

-Dave

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IELTS Writing Task 2 General Training Sample Answer: Malls and Leisure Time

Shopping is now one of the most popular forms of leisure activities in many countries for young adults.

Why is this?

Do you think this is a positive or a negative development?

Shopping has become more common as a result of the introduction of large shopping malls. I strongly believe this has brought considerable economic benefits to society at large.

Since the advent of the mall, companies have relentlessly sought new ways to attract consumers, resulting in today’s megamalls. In the past, shoppers would make dedicated trips to specific stores for products. In the 1980s in the United States, the novel combination of shopping plazas and department stores with entertainment venues like state-of-the-art cinemas and appetizing foods courts made them the centre of social activity for a generation. It is therefore no wonder that youths and adults alike the world over opt to spend their time and money shopping at malls that cater to all their needs.

While some might argue that shopping is largely a waste of time, I feel that its economic advantages outweigh other concerns. Masses of wealthy middle-class consumers contribute greatly to economic prosperity and that brings various benefits to all socioeconomic classes. A counter-point illustrating this would be in Japan in the last two decades where a long recession has decimated the middle-class, leading to decreased shopping, closures of malls and a stagnant economy. The government has desperately lowered interest rates in order to stimulate the type of spending that malls encourage. Malls, as one crucial part of a consumer society, serve to encourage spending and national prosperity.

In conclusion, an increasing number of people frequent malls for their convenience and this boosts the economy. If governments were to invest more money in tax cuts this would further encourage spending at malls and help developing nations and developed ones whose growth has plateaued.

Analysis

1. Shopping has become more common as a result of the introduction of large shopping malls. 2. I strongly believe this has brought considerable economic benefits to society at large.

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

1. Since the advent of the mall, companies have relentlessly sought new ways to attract consumers, resulting in today’s megamalls. 2. In the past, shoppers would make dedicated trips to specific stores for products. 3. In the 1980s in the United States, the novel combination of shopping plazas and department stores with entertainment venues like state-of-the-art cinemas and appetizing foods courts made them the centre of social activity for a generation. 4. It is therefore no wonder that youths and adults alike the world over opt to spend their time and money shopping at malls that cater to all their needs.

1. Write a clear topic sentence answering the first question with your opinion at the end.
2. Explaing your main idea.
3. Start a specific example and develop it fully.
4. State the results of your example.

1. While some might argue that shopping is largely a waste of time, I feel that its economic advantages outweigh other concerns. 2. Masses of wealthy middle-class consumers contribute greatly to economic prosperity and that brings various benefits to all socioeconomic classes. 3. A counter-point illustrating this would be in Japan in the last two decades where a long recession has decimated the middle-class, leading to decreased shopping, closures of malls and a stagnant economy. 4. The government has desperately lowered interest rates in order to stimulate the type of spending that malls encourage. 5. Malls, as one crucial part of a consumer society, serve to encourage spending and national prosperity.

1. Write another topic sentence with a new main idea.
2. Explaing your main idea.
3. Give an example or counter-example.
4. Develop the example.
5. State the final results.

1. In conclusion, an increasing number of people frequent malls for their convenience and this boosts the economy. 2. If governments were to invest more money in tax cuts this would further encourage spending at malls and help developing nations and developed ones whose growth has plateaued.

1. Repeat and summarise your main ideas.
2. Add a final thought/detail. Read about conclusions here.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean?

Shopping has become more common as a result of the introduction of large shopping malls. I strongly believe this has brought considerable economic benefits to society at large.

Since the advent of the mall, companies have relentlessly sought new ways to attract consumers, resulting in today’s megamalls. In the past, shoppers would make dedicated trips to specific stores for products. In the 1980s in the United States, the novel combination of shopping plazas and department stores with entertainment venues like state-of-the-art cinemas and appetizing foods courts made them the centre of social activity for a generation. It is therefore no wonder that youths and adults alike the world over opt to spend their time and money shopping at malls that cater to all their needs.

While some might argue that shopping is largely a waste of time, I feel that its economic advantages outweigh other concerns. Masses of wealthy middle-class consumers contribute greatly to economic prosperity and that brings various benefits to all socioeconomic classes. A counter-point illustrating this would be in Japan in the last two decades where a long recession has decimated the middle-class, leading to decreased shopping, closures of malls and a stagnant economy. The government has desperately lowered interest rates in order to stimulate the type of spending that malls encourage. Malls, as one crucial part of a consumer society, serve to encourage spending and national prosperity.

In conclusion, an increasing number of people frequent malls for their convenience and this boosts the economy. If governments were to invest more money in tax cuts this would further encourage spending at malls and help developing nations and developed ones whose growth has plateaued.

Answers

as a result the outcome is

introduction of since they started

considerable economic benefits good for the economy

society at large all of society, all citizens

advent beginning of

relentlessly sought looking hard for

attract consumers bring in shoppers

resulting in the result/effect is

megamalls really big malls/shopping centres

make dedicated trips going there just for

novel combination new mix

plazas publick places

department stores malls

entertainment venues cinemas, arcades, etc.

state-of-the-art cinemas new movie theatres

appetizing foods courts enticing restaurants in a mall

centre of social activity social hub

for a generation for all people born around the same time

no wonder little surprise

alike the same

the world over everywhere in the world

cater to all their needs can do whatever they want there

largely a waste of time mostly not a good use of time

economic advantages outweigh other concerns benefits to the economy more important than

masses large groups of people

wealthy middle-class consumers people with some money, not too rich or poor

economic prosperity good for the economy

socioeconomic classes rich and poor people

a counter-point illustrating this would be in an example of the opposite case is

long recession lengthy economic downturn

decimated hurt a lot

closures of malls malls closing down

stagnant economy economy not growing

desperately lowered interest rates hurriedly cut the rate for borrowing money

stimulate encourage

crucial part key element

consumer society people shopping

encourage spending stimulate buying

national prosperity a country making money, doing well

frequent go to a lot (verb)

boosts increases

tax cuts reducing the money you have to pay in taxes

growth has plateaued stable, not increasing or decreasing

Pronunciation

æz ə rɪˈzʌlt 
ˌɪntrəˈdʌkʃən ɒv 
kənˈsɪdərəbl ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ˈbɛnɪfɪts 
səˈsaɪəti æt lɑːʤ
ˈædvənt 
rɪˈlɛntlɪsli sɔːt 
əˈtrækt kənˈsjuːməz
rɪˈzʌltɪŋ ɪn 
ˈmɛgə mɔːlz
meɪk ˈdɛdɪkeɪtɪd trɪps 
ˈnɒvəl ˌkɒmbɪˈneɪʃən 
ˈplɑːzəz 
dɪˈpɑːtmənt stɔːz 
ˌɛntəˈteɪnmənt ˈvɛnjuːz 
steɪt-ɒv-ði-ɑːt ˈsɪnəməz 
ˈæpɪtaɪzɪŋ fuːdz kɔːts 
ˈsɛntər ɒv ˈsəʊʃəl ækˈtɪvɪti 
fɔːr ə ˌʤɛnəˈreɪʃən
nəʊ ˈwʌndə 
əˈlaɪk 
ðə wɜːld ˈəʊvə 
ˈkeɪtə tuː ɔːl ðeə niːdz
ˈlɑːʤli ə weɪst ɒv taɪm
ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ədˈvɑːntɪʤɪz aʊtˈweɪ ˈʌðə kənˈsɜːnz
ˈmæsɪz 
ˈwɛlθi ˈmɪdl-klɑːs kənˈsjuːməz 
ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk prɒsˈpɛrɪti 
ˌsəʊsɪəʊˌɛkəˈnɒmɪk ˈklɑːsɪz
ə ˈkaʊntə-pɔɪnt ˈɪləstreɪtɪŋ ðɪs wʊd biː ɪn 
lɒŋ rɪˈsɛʃən 
ˈdɛsɪmeɪtɪd 
ˈkləʊʒəz ɒv mɔːlz 
ˈstægnənt i(ː)ˈkɒnəmi
ˈdɛspərɪtli ˈləʊəd ˈɪntrɪst reɪts 
ˈstɪmjʊleɪt 
ˈkruːʃəl pɑːt 
kənˈsjuːmə səˈsaɪəti
ɪnˈkʌrɪʤ ˈspɛndɪŋ 
ˈnæʃənl prɒsˈpɛrɪti
ˈfriːkwənt 
buːsts 
tæks kʌts 
grəʊθ hæz ˈplætəʊd

Vocabulary Practice

Remember and fill in the blanks:

Shopping has become more common a___________t of the i________________f large shopping malls. I strongly believe this has brought c______________________________s to s_________________e.

Since the a__________t of the mall, companies have r_______________________t new ways to a________________________s, r_____________n today’s m_______________s. In the past, shoppers would m______________________s to specific stores for products. In the 1980s in the United States, the n________________________n of shopping p_________s and d____________________s with e________________________s like s__________________________s and a___________________________s made them the c_________________________y f_____________________n. It is therefore n________________r that youths and adults a______e t__________________r opt to spend their time and money shopping at malls that c______________________s.

While some might argue that shopping is l_____________________e, I feel that its e______________________________________s. M_________s of w________________________________s contribute greatly to e__________________________y and that brings various benefits to all s_____________________________s. A__________________________________________n Japan in the last two decades where a l____________________n has d____________d the middle-class, leading to decreased shopping, c________________________s and a s__________________y. The government has d_____________________________s in order to s______________e the type of spending that malls encourage. Malls, as one c_______________t of a c______________________y, serve to e________________________g and n__________________________y.

In conclusion, an increasing number of people f______________t malls for their convenience and this b__________s the economy. If governments were to invest more money in t___________s this would further encourage spending at malls and help developing nations and developed ones whose g______________________d.

Listening Practice

Listen about this topic below with an example from The Philippines:

Reading Practice

Learn more about this from Psychology Today as well:

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/articles/199501/the-call-the-mall

Speaking Practice

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

Shopping

1. Do people in your country shop at malls or street markets?
2. Is online shopping common?
3. Is it better to shop alone or with friends?
4. Why is online shopping becoming more popular?
5. Is shopping a waste of time?

Writing Practice

Write about the following topic then check with my sample answer:

Some people think that it is better to build more public parks and sports facilities in new towns rather than shopping malls.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer General Training: Shopping Malls (Real IELTS Test)