This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of shops from the real IELTS general training exam.
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Dave
IELTS Essay: Shops
There is little difference in the shops now operating in various nations. Some people think this is positive development,while other believe it is negative.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Many people believe that increasing ubiquity in terms of the selection of products in shops is a positive trend. In my opinion, this is a advantageous for convenience, however its wider implications make it a negative overall.
On the positive side, this development guarantees a consistent customer experience. An individual who is traveling abroad, for example, can go into most major convenience stores and find the same basic necessities they would expect in their home country. The products themselves are also more consistent. Since they are manufactured and distributed globally, food products have the same safety standards and tastes and household items are similarly likely to be safe and effective. In contrast, a shop with completely different products, many of which may have been produced locally, complicates the decision-making process for shoppers.
Nonetheless, there is also the risk that corporations will become powerful monopolies. The first implication of this would be that many local shops are likely to go out of business. The local owners of such shops will then be forced to find less desirable work. Replicated globally, this means that profits that were previously directed towards millions of local shop owners are now being funneled to a select number of companies and their shareholders. As these companies become larger and more powerful, it is easier for them to enter new markets, lower prices to dominate the competition, and then establish an unhealthy monopoly.
In conclusion, despite the wide range of consistent options available for consumers, the rise of corporate power is damaging generally. It is therefore important for individual nations to curb this trend when possible.
Analysis
1. Many people believe that increasing ubiquity in terms of the selection of products in shops is a positive trend. 2. In my opinion, this is a advantageous for convenience, however its wider implications make it a negative overall.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. On the positive side, this development guarantees a consistent customer experience. 2. An individual who is traveling abroad, for example, can go into most major convenience stores and find the same basic necessities they would expect in their home country. 3. The products themselves are also more consistent. 4. Since they are manufactured and distributed globally, food products have the same safety standards and tastes and household items are similarly likely to be safe and effective. 5. In contrast, a shop with completely different products, many of which may have been produced locally, complicates the decision-making process for shoppers.
- 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.
- State the results of your ideas.
1. Nonetheless, there is also the risk that corporations will become powerful monopolies. 2. The first implication of this would be that many local shops are likely to go out of business. 3. The local owners of such shops will then be forced to find less desirable work. 4. Replicated globally, this means that profits that were previously directed towards millions of local shop owners are now being funneled to a select number of companies and their shareholders. 5. As these companies become larger and more powerful, it is easier for them to enter new markets, lower prices to dominate the competition, and then establish an unhealthy monopoly.
- 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!
1. In conclusion, despite the wide range of consistent options available for consumers, the rise of corporate power is damaging generally. 2. It is therefore important for individual nations to curb this trend when possible.
- 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 people believe that increasing ubiquity in terms of the selection of products in shops is a positive trend. In my opinion, this is a advantageous for convenience, however its wider implications make it a negative overall.
On the positive side, this development guarantees a consistent customer experience. An individual who is traveling abroad, for example, can go into most major convenience stores and find the same basic necessities they would expect in their home country. The products themselves are also more consistent. Since they are manufactured and distributed globally, food products have the same safety standards and tastes and household items are similarly likely to be safe and effective. In contrast, a shop with completely different products, many of which may have been produced locally, complicates the decision-making process for shoppers.
Nonetheless, there is also the risk that corporations will become powerful monopolies. The first implication of this would be that many local shops are likely to go out of business. The local owners of such shops will then be forced to find less desirable work. Replicated globally, this means that profits that were previously directed towards millions of local shop owners are now being funneled to a select number of companies and their shareholders. As these companies become larger and more powerful, it is easier for them to enter new markets, lower prices to dominate the competition, and then establish an unhealthy monopoly.
In conclusion, despite the wide range of consistent options available for consumers, the rise of corporate power is damaging generally. It is therefore important for individual nations to curb this trend when possible.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
increasing ubiquity more and more common
in terms of when it comes to
selection choice
products items in a shop
trend pattern
advantageous good
convenience easy
wider implications bigger results
negative overall bad in general
on the positive side the good part is that
development guarantees change makes sure that
consistent customer experience the same products, services available all the time
traveling abroad going to other countries
most major convenience stores 7-Eleven, Circle K, etc.
basic necessities normal items like toilet paper, toothpaste, etc.
expect can predict
home country where you are from
consistent the same all the time
manufactured made
distributed globally sent around the world
safety standards how dangerous they are
tastes how a food product is
household items products you can use at home
similarly likely also probably
effective works well
in contrast however
completely totally
produced locally made in your country
complicates harder to decide
decision-making process thinking about what to buy
shoppers customers
nonetheless regardless
risk threat
powerful monopolies companies that control all of an industry
implication result
local shops shops in your country
go out of business can’t stay open
local owners small businesses
forced have to
less desirable work jobs that are not as good
replicated globallyreproduced around the world
profits money earned
previously directed towards in the past sent to
funneled directed toward
select number some people
shareholders people who own companies
enter new markets get into new countries
dominate take over
competition fighting between companies
establish build
unhealthy monopoly complete control
wide range lots of different types
consistent options available the same products on sale
rise increase
corporate power companies with sway
damaging generally hurts overall
individual nations countries
curb limit
when possible if they can
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
ɪnˈkriːsɪŋ ju(ː)ˈbɪkwɪti
ɪn tɜːmz ɒv
sɪˈlɛkʃən
ˈprɒdʌkts
trɛnd
ˌædvənˈteɪʤəs
kənˈviːniəns
ˈwaɪdər ˌɪmplɪˈkeɪʃənz
ˈnɛgətɪv ˈəʊvərɔːl
ɒn ðə ˈpɒzətɪv saɪd
dɪˈvɛləpmənt ˌgærənˈtiːz
kənˈsɪstənt ˈkʌstəmər ɪksˈpɪərɪəns
ˈtrævlɪŋ əˈbrɔːd
məʊst ˈmeɪʤə kənˈviːniəns stɔːz
ˈbeɪsɪk nɪˈsɛsɪtiz
ɪksˈpɛkt
həʊm ˈkʌntri
kənˈsɪstənt
ˌmænjʊˈfækʧəd
dɪsˈtrɪbju(ː)tɪd ˈgləʊbəli
ˈseɪfti ˈstændədz
teɪsts
ˈhaʊshəʊld ˈaɪtəmz
ˈsɪmɪləli ˈlaɪkli
ɪˈfɛktɪv
ɪn ˈkɒntrɑːst
kəmˈpliːtli
prəˈdjuːst ˈləʊkəli
ˈkɒmplɪkeɪts
dɪˈsɪʒən-ˈmeɪkɪŋ ˈprəʊsɛs
ˈʃɒpəz
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs
rɪsk
ˈpaʊəfʊl məˈnɒpəliz
ˌɪmplɪˈkeɪʃən
ˈləʊkəl ʃɒps
gəʊ aʊt ɒv ˈbɪznɪs
ˈləʊkəl ˈəʊnəz
fɔːst
lɛs dɪˈzaɪərəbl wɜːk
ˈrɛplɪkeɪtɪd ˈgləʊbəli
ˈprɒfɪts
ˈpriːviəsli dɪˈrɛktɪd təˈwɔːdz
ˈfʌnld
sɪˈlɛkt ˈnʌmbə
ˈʃeəˌhəʊldəz
ˈɛntə njuː ˈmɑːkɪts
ˈdɒmɪneɪt
ˌkɒmpɪˈtɪʃən
ɪsˈtæblɪʃ
ʌnˈhɛlθi məˈnɒpəli
waɪd reɪnʤ
kənˈsɪstənt ˈɒpʃənz əˈveɪləbl
raɪz
ˈkɔːpərɪt ˈpaʊə
ˈdæmɪʤɪŋ ˈʤɛnərəli
ˌɪndɪˈvɪdjʊəl ˈneɪʃənz
kɜːb
wɛn ˈpɒsəbl
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 people believe that i_______________________y i_______________f the s___________n of p____________s in shops is a positive t_______d. In my opinion, this is a a_______________s for c________________e, however its w____________________s make it a n_________________l.
O_______________________e, this d__________________________s a c_________________________________e. An individual who is t____________________d, for example, can go into m______________________________s and find the same b________________s they would e________t in their h______________y. The products themselves are also more c_____________t. Since they are m_______________d and d______________________y, food products have the same s___________________s and t_________s and h____________________s are s___________________y to be safe and e___________e. I_____________t, a shop with c_____________y different products, many of which may have been p___________________y, c_________________s the d_________________________s for s__________s.
N______________s, there is also the r____k that corporations will become p_______________________s. The first i_____________n of this would be that many l____________s are likely to g___________________s. The l_____________s of such shops will then be f________d to find l______________________k. R________________________y, this means that p_________s that were p____________________________s millions of local shop owners are now being f_____________d to a s_______________r of companies and their s______________s. As these companies become larger and more powerful, it is easier for them to e___________________s, lower prices to d___________e the c_______________n, and then e______________h an u____________________y.
In conclusion, despite the w____________e of c________________________e for consumers, the r____e of c__________________r is d____________________y. It is therefore important for i_____________________s to c____b this trend w________________e.
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:
https://fooddigital.com/top-10/top-ten-convenience-stores-around-world
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following speaking questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Buying
- Which item do you buy the most?
- Do you care about the price when buying an item?
- What was the last thing you bought?
- Are good products always expensive?
Writing Practice
Practice with the related IELTS essay topic below:
Many large supermarkets are being built today while the number of small shops is decreasing.
Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
Your essay is great.
But I understood the question as operating in terms of their management and policies. So I wrote the following essay. Can you please check and revert if my answer is appropriate.
It is irrefutable that many shops all over the world have similar ways of operating. Although some people think that this transition has upsides, others assert that there are many downsides. This essay shall discuss both the aforementioned perspectives. I, however, side with the latter view.
On the one hand, when shops have little to no difference in their operating styles, it is advantageous for people. Retail giants, such as Walmart and Amazon, have standard norms for operations all over the world. They are able to control their supply and logistical costs and, as a result, they can reach an optimal level of customer satisfaction by offering goods at affordable and discounted prices.
Furthermore, the trend of opening marts 24 hours, such as Family Marts and 7-11, is important to many people who are working multiple shifts. Because of this, they can easily buy products even late at night and do not have to worry about store closing time. Additionally, when shops are open 24 hours, it means that they generate various employment opportunities, especially for students, and many can take up part-time or full-time jobs to meet their financial needs.
On the other hand, many people (including myself) feel that this is a negative development due to economic concerns. Small shops are likely to go out of business as they cannot compete with big companies who offer a variety of products at cheaper prices. There are, therefore, many cases where private shops have closed down since they ran out of business. For instance, when McDonald’s was first introduced in India, many family-owned restaurants appeared to have shut-down because it had become a craze among people to eat fast food during that time. Moreover, this change has gained its influence from western culture. People fear that if shops change their principles, then nations will not only lose their diverse culture, but also turn the whole world into a monoculture.
In conclusion, despite the fact that businesses in many countries are trying to adopt a single operating system, in my opinion, this is not a positive development for the health of small scale businesses.
Nice job, Samira!
Love your examples especially – really specific and detailed – students can learn a lot from your writing too!
Thank you so much
Owing to the globalization, it is commonly seen that now there is no much difference in the shops running in different countries. The vies of the people are not same in this regard as some taking it in the positive note whereas others are having the view that it is not good for the development. As per my opinion, it is a positive sign leading to overall progress.
People terming it as a positive growth emphasise their view points with the technological development that has taken place in the recent decade. Now, a customer all over the world is treated as one entity who is aware of variety of product availability. He is not the one, who is confined to the things that are available within his limits, whereas he is having access to the markets of the whole world. Due to huge rise in the online shopping sites, it has also become necessary for the sellers to provide same quality and price to its local customers if they want to survive in this cut throat competitive world resulting in the overall development which is beneficial for both the sellers and the customers.
Other group of people term it in a negative sense having opinion that it will affect the local sellers or the local art. As every seller is now aiming to provide variety of products to its customers resulting into decline in the preservation of local art. Due to much commercialisation, the coming generation will not be able to local heritage of the region.
In the nutshell, it can be said that having similar norms of shopping but localisation will have more benefits for the overall growth of economies of the nations. But in spite of this, local public and government should also make efforts to save and develop the old age heritage or the art of the area. Having a unique experience of shopping in different nations is a new phenomenon of this century which have a fruitful result leading to overall progress or the growth of the countries.