IELTS General Training Writing Task 2 Topic:
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Buying fashionable clothes is wasteful because people don’t need new clothes all the time. Clothing should be bought and used more wisely.
Do you agree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
PLAN YOUR ANSWER
Exercise:
Band 8.0 Sample Answer:
I agree that the fashion industry is wasteful. Every season, the major fashion houses generate popular styles and colours, and people buy clothes in order to look and feel up to date. Every time we watch TV shows from the past we can tell how old they are because of the clothes. Most people have too many clothes in their wardrobes, not because they need or wear all of them but often because they are clothes that are no longer fashionable and so are no longer worn. This is wasteful especially if those clothes are not given away or recycled.
Of course there are classic styles which are more durable – denim jeans, for example, are worn by all ages in all countries and still seem to feel fashionable. Certain shoe styles, sweaters and coats are also timeless. Young people, however, are often searching for their sense of self and like to experiment with dress, or with new looks. They are vulnerable to exploitation by fashion and it is to these people that the industry directs much of its marketing.
Fashion wear is also elitist, in the sense that only wealthy people can afford top quality designer clothes. Classic styles, on the other hand, are often cheaper and more available to people. There is a risk of standardisation with only limited choice and a email range of styles, but individuals can be creative with accessories like scarves rather than buying expensive, ephemera! items of clothing.
Usually when you ask people about their favourite clothes, they mention not their most fashionable item bat those that are the most comfortable, or those item that have become almost part of them. It would thus be much better to use scarce natural resources like cotton or wool to produce more durable classic clothing styles which are long lasting and enable people to economise.
(308 words)
Notes
• The writer expresses the main opinion in the very first topic sentence. This is direct and creates a strong beginning.
• The essay uses a wide range of vocabulary of an advanced nature (eg elitist, ephemeral, standardisation, durable, vulnerable). This makes the essay seem more mature.
• The essay expresses its viewpoint strongly but lacks careful organisation of ideas, so paragraph structure (eg topic sentences) is not well crafted.
• A valid essay can be written disagreeing with the topic statement but should Still focus on the issue of wastefulness.