Model Answer - IELTS (Task 2)

In the past, shopping was a routine domestic task. Many people nowadays regard it as a hobby.
To what extent do you think this is a positive trend?

As the standard of living in many countries was not as high as it is today and most citizens were not wealthy, many households carried out shopping for the sole purpose of purchasing weekly necessities. Shopping trolleys and baskets were smaller and usually it was the woman’s task to go to the grocery store and stock up on what the family required.

Today this has all changed with advertising, marketing, mass production and the rise in popularity of consumerism. Shopping has become a favourite pastime for many consumers. Shoppers not only crowd into covered shopping centres and malls to buy products but combine this activity with other options like drinking coffee, watching movies etc. For this reason it is seen as a good way to spend your day.

This may regarded as a positive trend by shopaholics who enjoy spending their free time purchasing products, window shoppers, people who enjoy keeping up with the latest trends, shoppers who like walking around shopping districts as a form of exercise and of course manufacturers who stock shops with products. If shopping has come to be a hobby then this means that people also enjoy a higher standard of living.

Others however may view this shift in shopping habits negatively as they believe that it leads to unnecessary waste, social pressure to keep up with trends or that free time could be used more creatively.

To conclude, current shopping offers more choice and is more enjoyable than routinely buying necessities. It is a matter of personal preference how a person choses to spend their free time and shopping is one of the many options available.

Question taken from Cambridge IELTS Trainer p.90

Model Answer - IELTS (Task 2)

In many parts of the word there is continuous coverage of sport on television. Some people believe this discourages the young from taking part in any sport themselves.
Discuss this view and give your opinion.

In recent years sports programmes have become extremely popular. As there are local, national and international sporting events on a daily basis e.g. baseball games, the Olympic Games, FIFA World Cup etc. the media is present at these events and ready to transmit the highlights to the world. In addition to regular media coverage there are sports channels that show sports around the clock.

Perhaps because sport programmes are heavily advertised, readily available and a form of entertainment, young people find it more attractive to watch sport than take part in it. In fact, many young people enjoy going to crowded stadiums to watch live events as well as to sports bars and cafes to view sports on the big screen. This time could be better spent actually being a participant rather than a spectator in a sport as a person benefits physically in the long run from exercising.

I do not however believe there is a direct relationship between watching and participating in sports. There are many young athletes who can be seen training hard and taking sports seriously as well as others who take this up as a hobby. This does not mean that they don’t also like watching programmes on television.

It is of course a good idea for young people to exercise their body and gain confidence from all the positive qualities sports have to offer. Perhaps seeing others on TV will actually motivate them to try a new sport or learn a new technique they might apply to their game.

Question taken from Cambridge IELTS trainer p.48