Sample response & feedback

Negative Impact of Advertising on People's Lives

Question

Write about the following topic Today, people are surrounded by advertising. This affects what people think is important and has a negative impact on people's lives. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Annotated response

10 correction notes

Showing 10 correction notes.

It is true that advertisements are now an integral part of our daily environment. While I acknowledge that advertising can influence and sometimes mislead, I believe its impact is not entirely negative and depends on .

On one hand, advertisements people’s priorities. They often portray certain lifestyles or products as symbols of success, causing individuals to place undue importance on material possessions. For example, social media ads promote luxury travel and high-end products, which may lead some to feel inadequate or overly focused on wealth and appearance.

On the other hand, advertising also plays a practical role in modern life. It helps people make informed choices by introducing new products, innovations, and services. Educational campaigns, such as those promoting public health or environmental awareness, are also forms of advertising that have a positive social impact.

Moreover, many consumers today are becoming more media-savvy. With access to information and reviews, people are less likely to be blindly influenced and more likely to make thoughtful decisions. The growing popularity of ethical brands and minimalist lifestyles suggests a shift away from mindless consumerism.

In conclusion, although advertising can negatively shape perceptions and priorities, it is not inherently harmful. Its impact depends on content, context, and the critical awareness of the audience.

Overall assessment

Why this response received Band 7.0

The response presents a clear, balanced position with logically developed arguments and well-chosen supporting examples, showing strong control of academic style. Its main limitation is insufficient length, leaving some ideas underdeveloped, alongside occasional minor language imprecision that does not obstruct meaning.

IELTS criteria

How each score was decided

TR Task Response

7.0

The essay addresses the question directly with a clear qualified position, well-developed main ideas, and relevant examples, but falls 35 words short of the minimum length, leaving some points lightly developed.

CC Coherence and Cohesion

7.0

Ideas progress logically through clearly organised paragraphs with appropriate cohesive devices, and the argument follows a coherent structure with an effective conclusion.

LR Lexical Resource

7.0

Vocabulary is flexible and precise, with natural academic collocations such as 'undue importance' and 'media-savvy', though occasional phrases show slight generality rather than precision.

GRA Grammatical Range and Accuracy

7.0

A range of sentence structures is used accurately, including concessive clauses, relative clauses and participial constructions. Grammatical control is strong and meaning remains clear throughout the response.