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

Art is a really common topic on IELTS and could come up on the listening, reading, writing, or speaking parts.

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IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: Film as Art (Real Past IELTS Exam/Test)

Many people believe that film is a less important art than other forms such as literature and painting.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Real Past IELTS Exam/Test

Film is often looked down on as a less important art form in comparison with more elevated mediums like painting and literature. In my opinion, though the blatant commercialisation of film often undermines its claim to be art at all, it is a clearly more important art form for the 21st century.

Those who would minimise the importance of film, can point out its primary purpose is to make money. This has become increasingly true in the last several decades as studios have assumed greater power. It used to be common for auteurs like Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, and Robert Altman to make modestly budgeted films that earned decent returns. The advent of blockbuster films generally and superhero movies in particular makes it much harder for studios catering to their shareholders to justify anything other than tentpole franchises. The artistic merits of these big movies tend to be low as they are often made by committee and strive only for escapism and fan service.

However, film has clearly overtaken other forms of art in the popular imagination. Hundreds of years ago, composers, playwrights, novelists, and painters were held in higher esteem and their works were the centre of popular culture. Music and film have now displaced them. Someone who would have become a great writer in the 19th century, would now opt to make films as they can reach the greatest number of people and the medium is newer and more open to possibility. A good example of this would be a young filmmaker like P.T. Anderson who creates thoughtful, explorative works that also have a degree of mass appeal.

In conclusion, film as an art form is ascendant today. It is, however, still important for audiences to tune in to a wide breadth of genres in order to encourage the film industry to remain vibrant and innovative.

Analysis

1. Film is often looked down on as a less important art form in comparison with more elevated mediums like painting and literature. 2. In my opinion, though the blatant commercialisation of film often undermines its claim to be art at all, it is a clearly more important art form for the 21st century.

  1. Paraphrase the overall topic for the whole essay.
  2. Write your opinion – choose one side!

1. Those who would minimise the importance of film, can point out its primary purpose is to make money. 2. This has become increasingly true in the last several decades as studios have assumed greater power. 3. It used to be common for auteurs like Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, and Robert Altman to make modestly budgeted films that earned decent returns. 4. The advent of blockbuster films generally and superhero movies in particular makes it much harder for studios catering to their shareholders to justify anything other than tentpole franchises. 5. The artistic merits of these big movies tend to be low as they are often made by committee and strive only for escapism and fan service.

  1. Write a topic sentence with a main idea at the end of the sentence.
  2. Begin developing or explaining your main idea.
  3. Use specific examples – real filmmakers or films.
  4. Develop your example – don’t run away from it.
  5. Conclude the paragraph with the results or draw conclusions.

1. However, film has clearly overtaken other forms of art in the popular imagination. 2. Hundreds of years ago, composers, playwrights, novelists, and painters were held in higher esteem and their works were the centre of popular culture. 3. Music and film have now displaced them. 4. Someone who would have become a great writer in the 19th century, would now opt to make films as they can reach the greatest number of people and the medium is newer and more open to possibility. 5. A good example of this would be a young filmmaker like P.T. Anderson who creates thoughtful, explorative works that also have a degree of mass appeal.

  1. Another topic sentence with a main idea for the other side.
  2. Explain or give background for your main idea.
  3. Vary long and short sentences.
  4. Here I use a hypothetical example.
  5. And I conclude the paragraph with a real example.

1. In conclusion, film as an art form is ascendant today. 2. It is, however, still important for audiences to tune in to a wide breadth of genres in order to encourage the film industry to remain vibrant and innovative.

  1. Repeat your opinion.
  2. Add in a final thought/extra detail.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean?

Film is often looked down on as a less important art form in comparison with more elevated mediums like painting and literature. In my opinion, though the blatant commercialisation of film often undermines its claim to be art at all, it is a clearly more important art form for the 21st century.

Those who would minimise the importance of film, can point out its primary purpose is to make money. This has become increasingly true in the last several decades as studios have assumed greater power. It used to be common for auteurs like Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, and Robert Altman to make modestly budgeted films that earned decent returns. The advent of blockbuster films generally and superhero movies in particular makes it much harder for studios catering to their shareholders to justify anything other than tentpole franchises. The artistic merits of these big movies tend to be low as they are often made by committee and strive only for escapism and fan service.

However, film has clearly overtaken other forms of art in the popular imagination. Hundreds of years ago, composers, playwrights, novelists, and painters were held in higher esteem and their works were the centre of popular culture. Music and film have now displaced them. Someone who would have become a great writer in the 19th century, would now opt to make films as they can reach the greatest number of people and the medium is newer and more open to possibility. A good example of this would be a young filmmaker like P.T. Anderson who creates thoughtful, explorative works that also have a degree of mass appeal.

In conclusion, film as an art form is ascendant today. It is, however, still important for audiences to tune in to a wide breadth of genres in order to encourage the film industry to remain vibrant and innovative.

Answers

looked down on deride

in comparison with compared to / in contrast with

elevated mediums more well-regarded forms

blatant commercialisation obviously just for money

undermines hurts

claim contention

art form kind of art

minimise make lesser

point out argue

primary purpose main reason

increasingly true more and more the case

assumed greater power become more powerful

auteurs skilled professionals

modestly budgeted films movies made for little money

earned decent returns made enough money

advent of blockbuster films generally beginning of big movies overall

in particular specifically

catering aimed at

shareholders investors in a company

justify give a reason for

tentpole franchises big-name movies

artistic merits not simply for money

tends to be low not usually high

made by committee many people’s voices

strive try

escapism pure entertainment

fan service just looking to appease fans

overtaken overcome by

popular imagination what captivates most people

composers people who write classical music

playwrights writers of plays

novelists writers of novels/books

held in higher esteem held in high regard

centre of popular culture culturally relevant

displaced taken over by

opt choose

medium form

open to possibility lots can happen

thoughtful carefully considere

explorative works experimental films

a degree of mass appeal some popularity

ascendant in power

tune in watch

wide breadth of genres lots of types of movies

remain vibrant still be alive

innovative pushing the envelope

Pronunciation

lʊkt daʊn ɒn 
ɪn kəmˈpærɪsn wɪð 
ˈɛlɪveɪtɪd ˈmiːdiəmz 
ˈbleɪtənt kəˌmɜːʃəlaɪˈzeɪʃ(ə)n 
ˌʌndəˈmaɪnz 
kleɪm 
ɑːt fɔːm 
ˈmɪnɪmaɪz 
pɔɪnt aʊt 
ˈpraɪməri ˈpɜːpəs 
ɪnˈkriːsɪŋli truː 
əˈsjuːmd ˈgreɪtə ˈpaʊə
ɒd ˈæmətə(ː)z
ˈmɒdɪstli ˈbʌʤɪtɪd fɪlmz 
ɜːnd ˈdiːsnt rɪˈtɜːnz
ˈædvənt ɒv ˈblɒkˌbʌstə fɪlmz ˈʤɛnərəli 
ɪn pəˈtɪkjʊlə 
ˈkeɪtərɪŋ 
ˈʃeəˌhəʊldəz 
ˈʤʌstɪfaɪ 
tɛnt pəʊl ˈfrænʧaɪzɪz
ɑːˈtɪstɪk ˈmɛrɪts 
tɛndz tuː biː ləʊ 
meɪd baɪ kəˈmɪti 
straɪv 
ɪsˈkeɪpɪzm 
fæn ˈsɜːvɪs
ˌəʊvəˈteɪkən 
ˈpɒpjʊlər ɪˌmæʤɪˈneɪʃən
kəmˈpəʊzəz
ˈpleɪraɪts
ˈnɒvəlɪsts
hɛld ɪn ˈhaɪər ɪsˈtiːm 
ˈsɛntər ɒv ˈpɒpjʊlə ˈkʌlʧə
dɪsˈpleɪst 
ɒpt 
ˈmiːdiəm 
ˈəʊpən tuː ˌpɒsəˈbɪlɪti
θɔːtfʊl
ɛksˈplɔːrətɪv wɜːks 
ə dɪˈgriː ɒv mæs əˈpiːl
əˈsɛndənt 
tjuːn ɪn 
waɪd brɛdθ ɒv ˈ(d)ʒɑːŋrəz 
rɪˈmeɪn ˈvaɪbrənt 
ɪnˈnɒvətɪv

Listen and repeat:

Vocabulary Practice

Remember and fill in the blanks:

Film is often l__________________n as a less important art form i_____________________h more e____________________s like painting and literature. In my opinion, though the b_______________________n of film often u____________________s its c_______m to be art at all, it is a clearly more important a_____________m for the 21st century.

Those who would m_______________e the importance of film, can p__________t its p____________________e is to make money. This has become i________________e in the last several decades as studios have a______________________r. It used to be common for a_________s like Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, and Robert Altman to make m___________________________s that e________________________s. The a_____________________________________y and superhero movies i__________________r makes it much harder for studios c_____________g to their s____________________s to j___________y anything other than t_____________________s. The a__________________s of these big movies t_______________________w as they are often m_______________________e and s________e only for e_____________m and f_______________e.

However, film has clearly o___________n other forms of art in the p____________________n. Hundreds of years ago, c__________________s, p______________s, n______________s, and painters were h______________________m and their works were the c_______________________e. Music and film have now d____________d them. Someone who would have become a great writer in the 19th century, would now o____t to make films as they can reach the greatest number of people and the m__________m is newer and more o_______________________y. A good example of this would be a young filmmaker like P.T. Anderson who creates t__________________l, e________________________s that also have a_________________________l.

In conclusion, film as an art form is a______________t today. It is, however, still important for audiences to t__________n to a w_______________________s in order to encourage the film industry to r__________________t and i_______________e.

Listen and check:

Listening Practice

Learn more about P.T. Anderson here:

Reading Practice

Read more about film on The Atlantic here:

https://www.theatlantic.com/category/film/

Speaking Practice

Answer the questions from the real IELTS speaking exam below:

Film/Movie Star

  1. Who is your favourite film star?
  2. Would you like to be a film star?
  3. Have you ever met a film star in person?
  4. Are film stars popular in your country?

Writing Practice

Write about a similar art topic below and then check with my sample answer:

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

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