Plan this positive or negative essay about globalisation with the ideas and outline below, write it on a 40-minute timer, then compare it with a band-8 model answer.
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Large international companies now sponsor sports events, athletes and teams all over the world.
Is this a positive or negative development?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
GoPrep wrote this practice question in the style of the exam. It is not an official IELTS question.
Pick two or three points from one or both columns. You do not need all of them, and your own examples score better than memorised ones.
Spend the first few minutes planning, then write.
0 words of 250 minimum
Your answer stays on this page only. Copy it before you leave.
Write your own answer first, then compare: how it answers the exact question, what each paragraph does, and which phrases you could borrow.
Large multinational companies now sponsor tournaments, teams and individual athletes around the world. I believe this is a mainly positive development, as long as sponsorship is regulated.
The strongest argument in its favour is funding. Sports events are expensive to stage, and many clubs and athletes could not survive without sponsors. Money from companies pays for stadiums, coaching and equipment, and it allows talented young people from poor families to train full time instead of working. The visibility sponsors provide also raises the profile of less popular sports, such as athletics or rowing, which attract public attention and television coverage mainly during major competitions. Finally, the commercial side of sport employs thousands of people, from event managers to security staff and sports scientists.
However, there are legitimate concerns. When sponsors contribute large sums, they can gain influence over decisions, such as the timing of matches or the format of competitions, so that the interests of profit come before those of players and spectators. Brand messages are also seen by children, who watch matches in shirts bearing company logos and may be encouraged to buy certain products. This is a particular problem when the sponsors sell unhealthy goods such as sugary drinks, fast food or alcohol, because they link these to fit and admired athletes.
These risks do not mean that sponsorship should be abandoned. Governments and sports bodies can limit advertising of harmful products, ban sponsorship deals that influence results and ensure that a fair share of income is invested in grassroots sport.
In conclusion, corporate sponsorship provides essential funding and exposure, and its drawbacks can be limited through sensible rules, so I regard it as more positive than negative.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| sponsor | pay to support an event for publicity |
| brand | name and image of a product |
| commercial interests | desire to make money |
| funding stream | source of money |
| television rights | permission to broadcast |
| endorsement | public approval of a product |
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