Some believe that people will purchase a product based on their needs, and advertising is not needed. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Same questionCompare 4 different answers (Band 5.5–8)

Sample Response

1

Some believe that people will purchase a product based on their needs, and advertising is not needed. I largely disagree, because people might purchase certain products **when they need them**, but without **advertising**, consumers face difficulty accessing comprehensive informationit is hard for people to get more information about **products** and **make better purchasing decisions**.

2

It is normal **for people to purchase products based on their needs**. For example, if people are going to cook, but they find **that they do not have a suitable pot**, this will remind them that they need to buy a new **one** for cooking. In this situation, ads are not needed. But this is only part of the picture. **In many instancesMost of the time**, people are not able to **realise that they may need something new**. For instance, if people have never heard of a **robotic vacuum cleaner**, it is hard for them to acquire such an appliancebuy one, because **such a product is not a basic necessity**. However, with the help of advertising, people have the opportunity to **learn about and purchase such products**, which **can save them time and effort**.

3

However, advertising is **useful only when the information it provides is truthful and reliable**. Nowadays, we can see different kinds of ads. Unfortunately, there are many **misleading advertisements**, which **provide false information about products**. For example, advertisers might say that consumers can use their products for up to a decadeuse their products for about 10 years, **while in reality, the products may last for only two years because of defects in qualityquality problems**. NeverthelessAll in all, the **drawbacks of advertising are less significant than its benefits**. With advertising, people have the opportunity to **learn about a wider range of products**, which can expand consumers' awarenessbroaden people's horizons and **help them find products that better meet their needs**.

4

In conclusion, I largely disagree with the view that advertising is not needed. **Advertising can provide people with new information, which can not only increase their awareness of available optionsbroaden their horizons but also help them make better purchasing decisions and improve their lives. However, advertisements should first be truthful and reliable.**

Overall assessment

Why this response received Band 7.0

The essay effectively presents a clear position and supports it with logical arguments and relevant everyday examples. Its main limitation is a slightly tangential body paragraph regarding truthful advertising that shifts focus away from whether ads are necessary. To improve, ensure every body paragraph directly reinforces the primary prompt stance without introducing secondary conditional issues.

Band score breakdown

IELTS Writing Criteria Scores

TR

Task Response

7.0
Scoring rule

You present a clear position throughout the response and support your main points with well-developed examples.

Next step

Ensure every body paragraph directly addresses the core prompt question rather than secondary issues like advertising truthfulness.

CC

Coherence and Cohesion

7.0
Scoring rule

The response is logically organized with clear paragraphing and a smooth, coherent flow of ideas.

Next step

Vary your transition signals to move beyond basic linking words like however and for example.

LR

Lexical Resource

7.0
Scoring rule

You use a good range of topic-appropriate vocabulary with accurate spelling and appropriate phrasing.

Next step

Incorporate more sophisticated collocations and precise terminology to express complex ideas more effectively.

GRA

Grammatical Range and Accuracy

7.0
Scoring rule

Your sentence structures show good variety and maintain a high level of grammatical accuracy throughout.

Next step

Experiment with more advanced grammatical forms, such as inverted structures or complex conditional clauses, while preserving precision.

Put the feedback to work

Write this task while it is fresh

Try the same task now. It helps you remember the feedback and write better next time.

IELTS Writing Task 2

Some believe that people will purchase a product based on their needs, and advertising is not needed. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Your response

Words0
40:00

Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.