Plan this opinion essay about media 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:
Print magazines and newspapers will disappear in the next twenty years because of online media.
To what extent 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 predict that printed magazines and newspapers will vanish within two decades as the internet takes over. I partly agree that print will decline, but I do not think it will disappear completely in that time.
There is strong evidence for the pessimistic view. Online media is faster, as stories appear within minutes, and most of it is free. Printing and distribution, by contrast, are expensive, which is why many local newspapers have closed or reduced the number of editions in recent years. Younger readers, who have grown up with smartphones, now read the news on their screens and rarely buy a paper. As their numbers grow and advertising money continues to move online, it is reasonable to expect print circulation to fall further.
Nevertheless, several factors suggest that print will survive. Many people simply enjoy the feel of paper and the experience of turning pages, and they find reading from a screen tiring. This is especially true of older readers, who still make up a large part of the market and are less comfortable with technology. Print also has value for advertisers, since a full-page advertisement in a glossy magazine can create a stronger impression than a small banner online. Some publications have responded by becoming premium products; high-quality magazines about design, travel or photography, for example, have kept loyal readers because their paper and layout cannot be reproduced on a phone.
In my view, print will become smaller and more specialised rather than extinct. Daily newspapers are likely to be hit hardest, while niche magazines and books will continue.
In conclusion, online media will certainly reduce the role of printed publications over the next twenty years, but a complete disappearance is unlikely.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| circulation | number of copies sold |
| go out of business | close down |
| digital age | era of computers and the internet |
| printed edition | version on paper |
| readership | number of readers |
| niche market | small specialised group of buyers |
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