IELTS: IELTS WRITING TASK TWO: ESSAY

Write about the following topic.

The media pay too much attention to the lives and relationships of celebrities such as actors, singers
or footballers. They should spend more time reporting the lives of ordinary people instead.

To what do you agree or disagree?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.

SAMPLE ANSWER

Famous people such as footballers and actors are often on the television and in newspapers.
Ordinary people, on the other hand, are rarely in the news. I believe that this is a good thing and
something that the public prefer.

People enjoy getting news about celebrities because their lives are exciting. When they read about
their homes or see the clothes they wear, many people want to own similar things. So it makes them
feel good to dream about the possibilities. Similarly, when people read about the achievements of
celebrities, it gives them a desire to do well in life too.

Some people say that ordinary people can also have interesting lives. They may suggest, for
example, that a fireman who rescues many people from burning building or a manager whose
business has profited should be in the news as much as a footballer or singer. After all, many
celebrities don’t actually do very much and some of them are only famous because they are married
to other famous people.

However, I don’t think the general public wants to read about ordinary workers very often. They
may enjoy one particular but there is nothing to encourage them to read more. If a newspaper did
decided to write a story about someone unknown, readers might feel that their own lives are just as
newsworthy and wonder why the story has been told.

It is certainly true that the public are always hungry for gossip and excitement. In the end, the media
have to make money by attracting readers and viewers. For this, they need sensational stories and
attractive pictures, and only celebrities can provide these.

Word: 275 words

Band: 6,5 - 7