IELTS Essay: Young People and Shopping Malls
Today, many young people spend too much of their free time at shopping malls. This can be considered negative for young people and society generally.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
In certain countries, it has becoming increasingly common for young people to spend their free time at malls and this is often viewed as a negative. In my opinion, though there are more productive activities, it should be considered a positive overall given the most likely alternatives.
Proponents of this statement point out that malls are typically not a productive use of one’s time. A person who goes to a mall is likely shopping, watching a movie, hanging out idly with friends, eating from a fast food establishment, or engaging in another similarly passive activity. A better use of time could involve playing sports, reading a book, creating art, or working. The rise of malls globally beginning in the 1980s signaled a period when younger individuals strayed from healthy activities and took part in more socially and personally subversive pastimes.
However, the fears detailed above are overblown compared to other free time activities. These days, most young people who are free spend an outsized proportion of their time doing truly unhealthy, passive activities. These largely center around technology and include wasting time on social media, taking pictures, playing online games, chatting online, streaming movies and videos, and using the internet. The mall is now actually a better use of one’s time since it likely will involve in-person socializing, precisely the domain that is most at risk for younger generations and society today.
In conclusion, though time spent at malls is not the ideal activity for a younger person, it is preferable to a more passive lifestyle and should therefore not be condemned. It is likely, however, that malls will continue to decline in popularity in the future so this concern will become less relevant.
Analysis
1. In certain countries, it has becoming increasingly common for young people to spend their free time at malls and this is often viewed as a negative. 2. In my opinion, though there are more productive activities, it should be considered a positive overall given the most likely alternatives.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.
1. Proponents of this statement point out that malls are typically not a productive use of one’s time. 2. A person who goes to a mall is likely shopping, watching a movie, hanging out idly with friends, eating from a fast food establishment, or engaging in another similarly passive activity. 3. A better use of time could involve playing sports, reading a book, creating art, or working. 4. The rise of malls globally beginning in the 1980s signaled a period when younger individuals strayed from healthy activities and took part in more socially and personally subversive pastimes.
- 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.
1. However, the fears detailed above are overblown compared to other free time activities. 2. These days, most young people who are free spend an outsized proportion of their time doing truly unhealthy, passive activities. 3. These largely center around technology and include wasting time on social media, taking pictures, playing online games, chatting online, streaming movies and videos, and using the internet. 4. The mall is now actually a better use of one’s time since it likely will involve in-person socializing, precisely the domain that is most at risk for younger generations and society today.
- 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.
1. In conclusion, though time spent at malls is not the ideal activity for a younger person, it is preferable to a more passive lifestyle and should therefore not be condemned. 2. It is likely, however, that malls will continue to decline in popularity in the future so this concern will become less relevant.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
In certain countries, it has becoming increasingly common for young people to spend their free time at malls and this is often viewed as a negative. In my opinion, though there are more productive activities, it should be considered a positive overall given the most likely alternatives.
Proponents of this statement point out that malls are typically not a productive use of one’s time. A person who goes to a mall is likely shopping, watching a movie, hanging out idly with friends, eating from a fast food establishment, or engaging in another similarly passive activity. A better use of time could involve playing sports, reading a book, creating art, or working. The rise of malls globally beginning in the 1980s signaled a period when younger individuals strayed from healthy activities and took part in more socially and personally subversive pastimes.
However, the fears detailed above are overblown compared to other free time activities. These days, most young people who are free spend an outsized proportion of their time doing truly unhealthy, passive activities. These largely center around technology and include wasting time on social media, taking pictures, playing online games, chatting online, streaming movies and videos, and using the internet. The mall is now actually a better use of one’s time since it likely will involve in-person socializing, precisely the domain that is most at risk for younger generations and society today.
In conclusion, though time spent at malls is not the ideal activity for a younger person, it is preferable to a more passive lifestyle and should therefore not be condemned. It is likely, however, that malls will continue to decline in popularity in the future so this concern will become less relevant.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
certain countries some nations
increasingly common happens more and more
malls shopping centers
often viewed as a negative usually considered bad
productive activities useful uses of your time
considered thought of
positive overall good in general
given the most likely alternatives considering what will probably happen instead
proponents supporters
statement point out statement argue
typically usually
productive use good use
shopping buying things
hanging out idly with friends just spending time with friends
fast food establishment fast food restaurants
engaging in doing
similarly passive activity not very active pastime
involve have to do with
rise increase
globally all over the world
signaled was a mark of
period time
strayed gone off the path to
took part in participated in
socially with others
personally relating to individuals
subversive pastimes undermining uses of time
fears detailed above threats explained before
overblown compared to emphasized too much relative to
outsized proportion too much emphasis
truly really
passive not active
largely center around mostly has to do with
wasting time not good use of free time
social media Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc.
streaming movies watching shows online, Netflix
actually in fact
likely probably
involve in-person socializing will be hanging around with friends
precisely exactly
domain area
most at risk concerning area
younger generations not old people, youths
ideal perfect
preferable better
lifestyle how people live
condemned criticized
decline decrease
popularity how common it is
concern worry
less relevant not an issue any more
Pronunciation
ˈsɜːtn ˈkʌntriz
ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli ˈkɒmən
mɔːlz
ˈɒf(ə)n vjuːd æz ə ˈnɛgətɪv
prəˈdʌktɪv ækˈtɪvɪtiz
kənˈsɪdəd
ˈpɒzətɪv ˈəʊvərɔːl
ˈgɪvn ðə məʊst ˈlaɪkli ɔːlˈtɜːnətɪvz
prəˈpəʊnənts
ˈsteɪtmənt pɔɪnt aʊt
ˈtɪpɪk(ə)li
prəˈdʌktɪv juːz
ˈʃɒpɪŋ
ˈhæŋɪŋ aʊt ˈaɪdli wɪð frɛndz
fɑːst fuːd ɪsˈtæblɪʃmənt
ɪnˈgeɪʤɪŋ ɪn
ˈsɪmɪləli ˈpæsɪv ækˈtɪvɪti
ɪnˈvɒlv
raɪz
ˈgləʊbəli
ˈsɪgnld
ˈpɪərɪəd
streɪd
tʊk pɑːt ɪn
ˈsəʊʃəli
ˈpɜːsnəli
səbˈvɜːsɪv ˈpɑːstaɪmz
fɪəz ˈdiːteɪld əˈbʌv
ˌəʊvəˈbləʊn kəmˈpeəd tuː
ˈaʊtsaɪzd prəˈpɔːʃən
ˈtruːli
ˈpæsɪv
ˈlɑːʤli ˈsɛntər əˈraʊnd
ˈweɪstɪŋ taɪm
ˈsəʊʃəl ˈmiːdiə
ˈstriːmɪŋ ˈmuːviz
ˈækʧʊəli
ˈlaɪkli
ɪnˈvɒlv ɪn-ˈpɜːsn ˈsəʊʃəlaɪzɪŋ
prɪˈsaɪsli
dəʊˈmeɪn
məʊst æt rɪsk
ˈjʌŋə ˌʤɛnəˈreɪʃənz
aɪˈdɪəl
ˈprɛfərəbl
ˈlaɪfˌstaɪl
kənˈdɛmd
dɪˈklaɪn
ˌpɒpjʊˈlærɪti
kənˈsɜːn
lɛs ˈrɛlɪvənt
Vocabulary Practice
In c__________________s, it has becoming i___________________n for young people to spend their free time at m____s and this is o________________________e. In my opinion, though there are more p______________________s, it should be c_____________d a p_________________l g_____________________________s.
P___________-s of this s____________t p___________t that malls are t__________y not a p_____________e of one’s time. A person who goes to a mall is likely s___________g, watching a movie, h___________________________s, eating from a f____________________________t, or e____________n another s___________________________y. A better use of time could i_________e playing sports, reading a book, creating art, or working. The r____e of malls g_______y beginning in the 1980s s__________d a p________d when younger individuals s___________d from healthy activities and t_______________n more s_________y and p______________________________s.
However, the f_________________e are o______________n c________d to other free time activities. These days, most young people who are free spend an o__________________n of their time doing t_____y unhealthy, p____e activities. These l________________________d technology and include w____________e on s__________a, taking pictures, playing online games, chatting online, s_______________s and videos, and using the internet. The mall is now a___________y a better use of one’s time since it l_______y will i_________e i____________________g, p___________y the d_________n that is m____________k for y___________________s and society today.
In conclusion, though time spent at malls is not the i_______l activity for a younger person, it is p_________e to a more passive l________e and should therefore not be c__________d. It is likely, however, that malls will continue to d_______e in p____________y in the future so this c_______n will become l_______________t.
Listening Practice
Reading Practice
Speaking Practice
Shopping
- What do you usually shop for?
- Do you often go to malls?
- Do you shop online a lot?
- How common are shopping centers in your country?
Writing Practice
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?
The third paragraph is repetitive and contradictory. No reference to impact on society. Read my essays on my website ….
Thanks for your feedback Rajneesh!
YOUR WEBSITE
Today, many young people spend too much of their free time at shopping malls. This can BE considered negative for young people and society generally.
Thanks Hojat – updated it!
My pleasure.
In paragraph 1: Is “It has becoming” grammaly correct? If correct, what’s the difference between “It has become” & “It has becoming” ? Is “becoming” used to express that the trend are continuing ?