Shopping is The Favorite Pastime For Most of the Young People – IELTS Writing Task 2

Shopping is the favorite pastime for most young people. Why do you think that? Do you think they should be encouraged to do some other useful activities?

Outline

Essay Type

Direct Question essay

Introduction

Sentences 1 & 2: Introduction of the topic.

Sentences 3 & 4: Reason and Solution for the stated problem.

Body Paragraph 

Paragraph 1: A higher degree of purchasing power means that people spend more time shopping.

Paragraph 2: Activities that would encourage young people to do something fruitful.

Conclusion

Summarize the thoughts and express the final opinion.

Sample Essay

Apparently, when people have a little extra money, they like to shop when they have spare time. As a result, it has become the most popular way to spend free time among the majority of the youth. In my opinion, it should not be a frequent occurrence, and perhaps meaningful pursuits should motivate these individuals. I will cover both aspects in the following essay.

A higher degree of purchasing power means that people spend more time shopping. The job market now offers more opportunities for employment than it did in the past, and most of them offer good salaries. It has led to people having more disposable income, and they are spending it on shopping. As people are more exposed to social media and new age advertising, they are more inclined to go shopping whenever they have the time. Social websites and search engines track people’s online behaviour and display targeted advertising to them. Therefore, even those who don’t need things end up purchasing them due to the lure of instant gratification.

Taking part in different outdoor sports, exercising, socializing, getting involved with charity works, and participating in other activities can be ways for youth to spend their leisure time more productively. It will result in a more physically and mentally fit and healthier generation, one without diseases. Furthermore, there is so much potential in young people. They can read to expand their minds and knowledge, which will enhance their abilities. So, instead of unnecessary shopping, they will be making the world a better place and optimizing their careers by participating in various important activities.

Although young people are indeed becoming more interested in frequent shopping, they need to be taught to spend their free time responsibly on activities that could benefit their health and happiness.

Vocabulary

• Spare

Meaning: not used for work
Eg: You must have a spare tire with you in the car.

• Pursuits

Meaning: the action of trying to achieve or get something
Eg: She travelled the world in pursuit of her dreams.

• Disposable income

Meaning: income remaining after deduction of taxes and charges, available to be spent or saved as one wishes.
Eg: Some consumers spend a part of their disposable income on vacations and trips, which helps the travel industry.

• Inclined

Meaning: wanting to behave in a particular way
Eg: The world is inclining towards organic food.

• Search engines

Meaning: a software program that helps people find the information they are looking for online using keywords or phrases
Eg: Google is one of the well-known search engines.

• Lure

Meaning: to persuade or trick somebody to do something, usually by offering them something nice.
Eg: An attractive window display can help to lure shoppers into the store.

• Gratification

Meaning: satisfaction gained from the fulfillment of a desire.
Eg: Due to immense gratification, he fell into the trap.

• Socializing

Meaning: the act of meeting for social purposes
Eg: Jennifer likes to socialize, while her sister hates it.

• Leisure

Meaning: the time when you do not have to work; free time
Eg: We must use our leisure time to do something productive.

•  Optimizing

Meaning: make the best or most effective use of
Eg: We are optimizing our time in order to succeed.

More Writing Task 2 Essay Topics

• Planting Trees is Very Important for The Environment
• More and More Students are Choosing to Study at Colleges and Universities
• Many Employees May Work at Home With the Modern Technology
• Globalization has Both Advantages and Disadvantages
• Air Traffic is Increasingly Leading to More Noise