Sample Answer, C1 English Level, Advanced, Band Score 6.5-7.5

Outline:

• 1. Introduction:
     • Paraphrase: The topic explores the impact of advertising on consumer behavior, specifically in regard to encouraging the purchase of inessential products.
     • Main opinion: The essay somewhat agrees that advertising can indeed influence consumers to buy inessential products, but emphasizes the importance of responsible consumer decision-making.
  2. Body (Detail 1):
     • Personal experience: The test taker’s personal experience illustrates how advertising can captivate attention and create a desire for inessential products.
     • Supporting sentence: Well-crafted advertisements often portray these products as essential for a fulfilling lifestyle, leading to impulsive buying behavior.
  3. Body (Detail 2):
     • Consumer responsibility: Consumers hold the power to make informed choices and resist the allure of unnecessary purchases influenced by advertising.
     • Supporting sentence: By exercising critical thinking and considering the genuine value a product brings to their lives, consumers can make responsible decisions and avoid buying inessential items solely based on advertising messages.
  4. Conclusion:
     • Summary: Advertising does have the power to encourage consumers to buy inessential products, but the final decision lies with the consumers themselves.
     • Restate main opinion: Responsible consumer decision-making is essential in balancing the influence of advertising and ensuring that purchases align with genuine needs and aspirations. By being discerning consumers, we can navigate the world of advertising with mindfulness and make choices that enhance our lives, avoiding unnecessary consumption and promoting a more fulfilling consumer experience.

Essay:

In today’s consumer-driven world, advertising plays a significant role in influencing our purchasing decisions. Some argue that advertising encourages consumers to buy inessential products, while others may hold a different view. In this essay, I will explore both perspectives and present my opinion on this matter.

From my experience and knowledge, I somewhat agree that advertising can indeed lead consumers to buy inessential products. Advertising has a powerful way of captivating our attention and creating a desire for products we may not have considered otherwise. I have observed how well-crafted advertisements often present these products as essential for a fulfilling lifestyle, leading to impulsive buying behavior.

However, I also believe that consumers have a responsibility to exercise critical thinking and make informed choices. While advertising can be persuasive, the final decision to purchase lies with the consumers themselves. By being mindful of our genuine needs and considering the value that a product brings to our lives, we can resist the temptation to buy inessential items solely based on advertising messages.

Moreover, not all advertising promotes inessential products. Many advertisements provide valuable information about products that genuinely enhance our lives. Informative advertising can help consumers make well-informed choices, especially when it comes to products that align with our actual needs and preferences.

In conclusion, advertising does have the power to encourage consumers to buy inessential products to some extent. However, responsible consumer decision-making is equally important. By being discerning consumers and considering the true value that a product adds to our lives, we can strike a balance between the influence of advertising and our genuine needs. As consumers, we have the ability to make conscious choices that align with our aspirations and contribute to a more fulfilling consumption experience.