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This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay from the general training exam on the topic of fashion.
It was a little bit tricky to think of main ideas for each paragraph – read below to see what I did with it!
Also be sure to check out my online courses and corrections and exclusive Patreon essays!
Dave
Before reading the sample answer, listen to the audio below to practice your listening skills:
IELTS Writing Task 2 General Training Sample Answer Essay: Fashion (Real Past IELTS Exam/Test)
The number of people who are interested in and wearing fashionable clothes is increasing.
Is this a positive or negative development?
Real Past IELTS Exam/Test
More and more people today are interested in and have the disposable income to take greater care with their fashion choices. In my opinion, though many fashion companies exploit their workers, this is a positive development overall.
Those who criticise the fashion industry often point out its treatment of workers. The most famous fashion brands like Louis Vuitton and Chanel (as well as footwear makers such as Nike and Adidas) outsource their labour at reduced costs to East Asia. Workers in their factories make subsistence wages and are notoriously mistreated, while the countries in question often have lax child labour laws as well. Exploitive fashion companies then massively inflate prices for their products. Their actions cannot be controlled directly by consumers but nonetheless undermine every innocent transaction at a shopping mall.
Regardless, fashion is an important aesthetic choice for ordinary people. The exploitation of workers ought to be regulated by governments and corporations, not consumers. Those who buy fashionable clothes are trying to express themselves through their attire and the end result of a more fashion-conscious public is greater beauty for onlookers. No one would question the importance of beautiful buildings and public works of art but fashion is arguably more noticeable. Fashion gives not only individuals but also towns, cities, and nations a distinctive flair, without which the world would be blander and less beautiful.
In conclusion, the beauty fashion engenders outweighs any ethical considerations. Governments ought to properly regulate labour so that their citizens can shop and flaunt with a clear conscience.
Analysis
1. More and more people today are interested in and have the disposable income to take greater care with their fashion choices. 2. In my opinion, though many fashion companies exploit their workers, this is a positive development overall.
- Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
- Clearly state your opinion.
1. Those who criticise the fashion industry often point out its treatment of workers. 2. The most famous fashion brands like Louis Vuitton and Chanel (as well as footwear makers such as Nike and Adidas) outsource their labour at reduced costs to East Asia. 3. Workers in their factories make subsistence wages and are notoriously mistreated, while the countries in question often have lax child labour laws as well. 4. Exploitive fashion companies then massively inflate prices for their products. 5. Their actions cannot be controlled directly by consumers but nonetheless undermine every innocent transaction at a shopping mall.
- Write a topic sentence with your main idea at the end.
- Begin to support your main idea with examples.
- Continue to develop the same examples.
- State the end result or draw conclusions from your examples.
- Conclude the paragraph.
1. Regardless, fashion is an important aesthetic choice for ordinary people. 2. The exploitation of workers ought to be regulated by governments and corporations, not consumers. 3. Those who buy fashionable clothes are trying to express themselves through their attire and the end result of a more fashion-conscious public is greater beauty for onlookers. 4. No one would question the importance of beautiful buildings and public works of art but fashion is arguably more noticeable. 5. Fashion gives not only individuals but also towns, cities, and nations a distinctive flair, without which the world would be blander and less beautiful.
- Write another topic sentence with your main idea at the end.
- Here I start developing it by referring back to the argument from the last paragraph – this is good for cohesion/coherence.
- Instead of an example, I use a logical argument.
- Then I argue with an analogy.
- Finally, I conclude the paragraph by summarising my argument.
1. In conclusion, the beauty fashion engenders outweighs any ethical considerations. 2. Governments ought to properly regulate labour so that their citizens can shop and flaunt with a clear conscience.
- Repeat your opinion.
- Include a final detail/thought.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean?
More and more people today are interested in and have the disposable income to take greater care with their fashion choices. In my opinion, though many fashion companies exploit their workers, this is a positive development overall.
Those who criticise the fashion industry often point out its treatment of workers. The most famous fashion brands like Louis Vuitton and Chanel (as well as footwear makers such as Nike and Adidas) outsource their labour at reduced costs to East Asia. Workers in their factories make subsistence wages and are notoriously mistreated, while the countries in question often have lax child labour laws as well. Exploitive fashion companies then massively inflate prices for their products. Their actions cannot be controlled directly by consumers but nonetheless undermine every innocent transaction at a shopping mall.
Regardless, fashion is an important aesthetic choice for ordinary people. The exploitation of workers ought to be regulated by governments and corporations, not consumers. Those who buy fashionable clothes are trying to express themselves through their attire and the end result of a more fashion-conscious public is greater beauty for onlookers. No one would question the importance of beautiful buildings and public works of art but fashion is arguably more noticeable. Fashion gives not only individuals but also towns, cities, and nations a distinctive flair, without which the world would be blander and less beautiful.
In conclusion, the beauty fashion engenders outweighs any ethical considerations. Governments ought to properly regulate labour so that their citizens can shop and flaunt with a clear conscience.
Answers
more and more increasingly
disposable income money to spend
take greater care with pay more attention to
exploit take advantage of
positive development overall good
criticise think badly of
point out argue
treatment of workers employment conditions
brands companies
footwear shoes
outsource send to other countries
labour workers
reduced costs money saved
subsistence wages just enough to live on
notoriously mistreated badly expoloited
in question relevant here
lax child labour laws allow kids to work
massively inflate prices increase the cost a lot
controlled directly have power over
undermine is part of
innocent transaction guiltless purchase
regardless nonetheless
aesthetic choice artistic decision
ordinary people normal citizens
regulated controlled
express themselves show off
attire clothes
end result final impact
fashion-conscious public people who care about their clothes
onlookers those who see it
arguably debatedly
noticeable can be seen
distinctive flair showy
without which lacking
blander boring
engenders creates
ethical considerations moral concerns
properly correctly
flaunt show off
clear conscience without guilt
Pronunciation
mɔːr ænd mɔː
dɪsˈpəʊzəbl ˈɪnkʌm
teɪk ˈgreɪtə keə wɪð
ˈɛksplɔɪt
ˈpɒzətɪv dɪˈvɛləpmənt ˈəʊvərɔːl
ˈkrɪtɪsaɪz
pɔɪnt aʊt
ˈtriːtmənt ɒv ˈwɜːkəz
brændz
ˈfʊtweə
ˌaʊtˈsɔːs
ˈleɪbə
rɪˈdjuːst kɒsts
səbˈsɪstəns ˈweɪʤɪz
nəʊˈtɔːrɪəsli mɪsˈtriːtɪd
ɪn ˈkwɛsʧən
læks ʧaɪld ˈleɪbə lɔːz
ˈmæsɪvli ɪnˈfleɪt ˈpraɪsɪz
kənˈtrəʊld dɪˈrɛktli
ˌʌndəˈmaɪn
ˈɪnəsənt trænˈzækʃən
rɪˈgɑːdlɪs
iːsˈθɛtɪk ʧɔɪs
ˈɔːdnri ˈpiːpl
ˈrɛgjʊleɪtɪd
ɪksˈprɛs ðəmˈsɛlvz
əˈtaɪə
ɛnd rɪˈzʌlt
ˈfæʃən-ˈkɒnʃəs ˈpʌblɪk
ˈɒnˌlʊkəz
ˈɑːgjʊəbli
ˈnəʊtɪsəbl
dɪsˈtɪŋktɪv fleə
wɪˈðaʊt wɪʧ
ˈblændə
ɪnˈʤɛndəz
ˈɛθɪkəl kənˌsɪdəˈreɪʃənz
ˈprɒpəli
flɔːnt
klɪə ˈkɒnʃəns
Listen and repeat:
Vocabulary Practice
M_____________________e people today are interested in and have the d___________________e to t_________________________h their fashion choices. In my opinion, though many fashion companies e________t their workers, this is a p________________________________l.
Those who c_________e the fashion industry often p_____________t its t__________________________s. The most famous fashion b________s like Louis Vuitton and Chanel (as well as f_________________r makers such as Nike and Adidas) o____________e their l____________r at r______________s to East Asia. Workers in their factories make s__________________s and are n____________________d, while the countries i____________________n often have l______________________s as well. Exploitive fashion companies then m___________________________s for their products. Their actions cannot be c___________________y by consumers but nonetheless u_______________e every i__________________n at a shopping mall.
R________________s, fashion is an important a___________________e for o_______________e. The exploitation of workers ought to be r____________d by governments and corporations, not consumers. Those who buy fashionable clothes are trying to e__________________s through their a________e and the e_______________t of a more f______________________________c is greater beauty for o__________s. No one would question the importance of beautiful buildings and public works of art but fashion is a______________y more n_____________e. Fashion gives not only individuals but also towns, cities, and nations a d________________________r, w_______________h the world would be b__________r and less beautiful.
In conclusion, the beauty fashion e_____________s outweighs any e____________________s. Governments ought to p____________y regulate labour so that their citizens can shop and f_________t with a c____________________e.
Listen and check:
Listening Practice
TWatch a bit below about the history of fashion:
Reading Practice
Read more about the importance of fashion below:
https://artsandculture.google.com/theme/why-fashion-matters/_QKS0J-OeT7HIA?hl=en
Speaking Practice
Answer the following questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Fashion
- Why are designer bran clothes popular?
- Why are these brands so expensive?
- How has fashion changed in your country?
- Is it important for designers to stay up to date with the latest fashions?
- Is fashion more important than adapting your clothes to the weather?
Writing Practice
Write about the following related topic and then read my sample answer:
Many people believe that music is just a form of entertainment, whilst others believe that music has a much larger impact on society today.
Discuss both views and give your own opinion.
Real Past IELTS Exam/Test
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Hello Dave!
Is it ok to use 2nd person in a sentence as I did in this essay a couple of times?
Brand awareness has brought a lot many people to by and wear clothes that are fashionable and trendy. In my opinion, although, this awareness has put the existence of traditional clothes at stake, overall this is a positive development as it helps to generate employment opportunities which ultimately benefits the economy.
Those who argue against the ubiquity of fashionable clothes clearly point out the anonymity of traditional or local clothes which are peculiar to every individual culture around the globe. Traditional clothes attach a cultural identity to the personality and keep you surfaced with your roots. The best example of this traditional attire is found in the Asian culture where local dresses are observed and followed rigorously not only on occasions but also in daily life. Sarree is a dress, unique to the female inhabitants in Bangladesh and this uniqueness makes the Bangoli females stand out differently. Also, Bangladesh is known for making and distributing unique traditional sarrees representing their culture worldwide.
However, traditional costumes have their own importance, fashionable and modern clothes helps to build confidence in a person living in a culture different from his own. Wearing trendy dresses aids in making you feel a part of that society. For example, a student from Pakistan who went to the United Kingdom for higher studies is amiably presumed to follow the dress code acceptable and appreciable there. Furthermore, increasing trend of adorning oneself with trendy clothes creates a demand upsurge which has a tricking down effect in the development of new businesses and the creation of employment opportunities adding up to the total GDP of the country’s economy.
In conclusion, fashionable clothes give a boom to the apparel industry besides being a source of sheer confidence but one ought to take care of its fashion-choice which should not be in any way detrimental to the traditional clothes and the cultural identity attached to it.
Sorry for the late reply but I’ve been busy!
Using second person is a little strange for academic writing. I think in your essay it won’t have much an impact on your score as the development of you main ideas is really strong.
But I would still recommend changing it to ‘one’ ‘one’s’ such as: Traditional clothes complement personality and keep one connected with one’s roots.
Thanks a lot!
Dave!
Would you please answer my question?
Hi Dave,
Why did you use “more and more” in this essay? As can be seen in many documents, this phrase is common in speaking and should not be used in writing essay.
Hi Nam, more and more is in the middle ground between formal and informal and absolutely fine in writing.
Which documents do you mean?
Could you please have a look on my answer for this question
Recently, many people, especially teenagers, have become more interested in fashions which are typically changing everyday. In my opinion, I think this trend has profound negative effects on both environment and individuals.
To begin with, the fact that fashion in clothing is constantly changing can negatively affect people. This is because they spend excessive money while blindly following fashion trends. For example, when fashion bloggers on Instagram upload photos wearing a new style, many of their followers tend to go and buy this style, even if they do not really need more clothes at the moment. Consequently, they may fall into financial troubles and struggle to secure other basic necessities. Additionally, while the vogue is changing every day, individuals who can not cope with it may suffer from psychological disorders, such as depression.
Regarding its effects on the environment, one of the most serious impacts of this changing fashion is that it might indirectly contribute to environmental pollution.In other words, since the production rate of clothes has increased dramatically with the constant change in fashion, waste products from textile factories are on the rise as well. Thus, it has been proven that these waste products often cause many environmental issues, such as water pollution and air pollution, which in turn have disastrous consequences on all human beings.
In conclusion, although some people might argue that we are blessed to have different fashion styles everyday, I personally believe that constantly changing fashions have negative impacts on not only individuals’ financial and psychological status, but also on our environment. 258