Plan this advantages and disadvantages essay about technology 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:
Online shopping is replacing traditional shops in many towns and cities.
Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
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.
Online shopping is replacing traditional shops in many towns and cities. In my opinion, the disadvantages of this trend are slightly greater than the advantages, although the convenience for customers is undeniable.
For buyers, the benefits are clear. Online stores are open at any hour, offer a far wider range of products than a physical shop can stock and make it easy to compare prices and read reviews. Goods are delivered to the door, which is especially useful for elderly or disabled people, parents of young children and residents of remote areas. Prices are frequently lower because online sellers have fewer expenses such as rent. A person living in a small village can now buy products that were once available only in big cities.
On the other hand, the consequences for towns can be serious. As customers move online, high street shops close, leaving empty premises that make town centres look neglected and reduce footfall for the remaining businesses. Retail workers lose their jobs, and some of the replacement jobs in warehouses and delivery are lower paid and less secure. Communities also lose meeting places, and customers cannot try on clothes or see quality before they buy, leading to many returns. The environmental impact is mixed too: delivery vans add to congestion and emissions, and packaging creates a lot of waste.
To limit the damage, local councils can support independent shops through lower business rates and convert empty units into housing, workspaces or community venues, while retailers can combine online and in-store services.
In conclusion, online shopping offers convenience and choice, but the decline of local shops, jobs and community life means that the drawbacks are slightly more significant.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| e-commerce | buying and selling online |
| high street | main shopping street |
| brick-and-mortar store | physical shop |
| home delivery | items brought to your door |
| impulse buying | unplanned purchase |
| consumer choice | range of options for buyers |
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