Plan this opinion essay about society 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:
People spend too much money on gifts for birthdays and festivals, and this tradition should be reduced.
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.
People often spend large sums on gifts for birthdays and festivals, and some believe this tradition should be reduced. I agree with this view, because excessive gift-giving has financial, social and environmental drawbacks.
The first problem is financial pressure. Many families feel obliged to buy expensive presents to show affection or to match what others give, and the result can be debt, especially around major holidays. A parent on a modest income may borrow money so that a child is not disappointed, which creates stress that outweighs any pleasure from the gift. Secondly, the tradition has become commercial. Advertising encourages people to link love with spending, so the meaning of the occasion is replaced by competition over who gives the most impressive item. Children may learn to value possessions rather than relationships. Thirdly, there is environmental waste. Unwanted presents are often thrown away or left unused, and packaging and production add to landfill and carbon emissions.
Reducing the tradition does not mean abandoning it. Thoughtful, inexpensive gifts, such as a handwritten letter, a homemade meal or a day out together, can be more memorable than costly goods. Families could agree on spending limits, draw names so that each person buys just one present, or give donations to charity instead. Spending time together, which is what most people actually want from festivals, costs very little.
Some people may argue that gifts support businesses and give joy. This is true to a point, but moderate giving would still serve these purposes.
In conclusion, scaling back extravagant gift-giving would ease financial pressure, restore the true meaning of celebrations and benefit the environment. I therefore agree that the tradition should be reduced.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| gift-giving | the act of giving presents |
| consumerism | the idea that buying goods is very important |
| financial pressure | stress caused by lack of money |
| token gesture | small act showing care |
| exchange presents | give and receive gifts |
| wasteful spending | using money without good reason |
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