Plan this opinion essay about government 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:
Governments should ban advertisements for unhealthy food and drinks aimed at children.
Do you agree or disagree?
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.
Some people argue that governments should ban advertisements for unhealthy food and drinks aimed at children. I agree with this proposal, because children are especially vulnerable to advertising and the consequences for their health are serious.
Children are not able to judge advertising critically. Young children often cannot distinguish between a programme and a commercial, and they accept the attractive images, cartoon characters and slogans as true. Food companies know this and use toys, bright colours and popular characters to make sugary cereals and fast food appear exciting. As a result, children ask their parents to buy these products, and parents who are tired or busy find it hard to refuse. Over time, this shapes eating habits that may last for life. The consequences are significant: childhood obesity has risen in many countries, bringing a higher risk of diabetes, heart disease and low self-esteem, and this places a heavy burden on healthcare systems. The United Kingdom has restricted the advertising of food high in fat, salt and sugar on television before nine in the evening, showing that governments can act.
Opponents argue that a ban restricts freedom of speech and harms businesses, and that parents, not the state, should decide what children eat. Parents do bear primary responsibility, but they cannot control every message that children see on television, online and in public places. Companies can still sell and advertise products to adults, and they can promote healthier options to children instead.
In conclusion, because children are easily influenced and the health effects of poor diet are so serious, I believe governments are right to ban advertising of unhealthy food and drinks aimed at them.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| impressionable audience | people easily influenced |
| childhood obesity | serious overweight in children |
| junk food | unhealthy snack food |
| regulation | official rules |
| target audience | group a message is meant for |
| marketing campaign | planned effort to promote a product |
Answer random Part 1, 2 and 3 questions on an exam timer.
Average your four skill bands, rounded the way IELTS rounds them.
Compare an IELTS band with TOEFL, Duolingo and PTE scores and CEFR levels.
Look up the IELTS score a university asks for, with the source.