People’s Shopping Habits Depend More On The Age Group That They Belong to Then Other Factors – IELTS Writing Task 2

People’s shopping habits depend more on the age group that they belong to than other factors. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Outline

Essay Type

Opinion Essay (Agree/Disagree)

Introduction

Sentences 1, 2 & 3: Introduce the topic.

Sentence 4 – I disagree with the notion of the essay.

Body Paragraphs

Paragraph 1- Effect of financial capability and needs on shopping pattern

Paragraph 2 – Advertisement and gender also play an important role in shopping habits.

Conclusion

Sum up and state the final opinion.

Sample Essay

In the current times, shopping has more functions than it used to have earlier. Though its main motive is to buy essential goods for your living, many people shop to reduce stress, as a hobby or as a status symbol. So, the stimulus behind shopping may depend on many factors like socio-economic status, age, gender, need and advertisements. In spite of age being one of the determinants, I disagree with the fact that it is more important than the other factors.

The most important factor that influences a person to go shopping is the needs or wants of the individual or people related to him/her. For example, everyone goes to the mall to buy basic necessities like food, clothes, health supplies and others. Irrespective of the age being 16 or 60, the person will have to go to the shop or buy it online. They will shop less if they have less mouth to feed and shop more if the number of dependents is more. Secondly, a person cannot purchase anything unless he/she has the monetary means to do so. This means that if one has more money, one will spend equally on luxury items and fundamental needs. On the other hand, a person with less financial stability will focus more on vital merchandise.

Advertisements are the third important factor that appeals to our senses more than our actual needs, and we are compelled to buy the thing/s. On television or social media, the advertisements make us feel that we need their product, and as we go to the shop, the convincing power of the shopkeeper makes us shop more. Finally, it can be said that a girl or woman shops more than a man. Although it is more of a social conception than a scientific fact, it is widely accepted by both genders that one buys more than the other.

However, age may affect the shopping pattern of a person to a certain extent. For example, the things that a 15-year old girl/boy buys are different from a 35-year old woman/man or a 55-year old woman/man. These differences may vary because, in most cases, people continue to buy the same things to maintain the standard and comfort the product provides. Similarly, the number of goods bought may change as age increases, but it mostly depends on the needs of the person.

In conclusion, it can be stated that classifying the buyers according to their shopping habits is an effective method. But, I would reinforce the fact that even if age determines a certain aspect of shopping, it does not affect or can compete with other factors like money, demand, gender and advertisements.

Vocabulary

• Stimulus

Meaning: something that causes growth, activity, or reaction
Eg: Her mother’s health was an important stimulus for her to quit the job.

• Determinant

Meaning: something that controls or affects what happens in a particular situation
Eg: Do you know the determinants of the Broggs kidnapping case?

• Monetary

Meaning: relating to money or in the form of money
Eg: Nowadays people do anything for monetary gain.

• Luxury

Meaning: the pleasure and comfort you get from expensive and beautiful things
Eg: As he is used to luxury, he had difficulties living in such poor conditions.

• Vital

Meaning: necessary for the success or continued existence of something; extremely important
Eg: The nurse checked the patient’s vital signs before calling the doctor.

• Merchandise

Meaning: goods that are bought and sold
Eg: Different kinds of merchandise were loaded on “The Beauty”.

• Appeals

Meaning: to be pleasing or attractive to someone
Eg: “Travelling and adventure appeal to lonely souls like me”, claimed the writer.

• Compelled

Meaning: forced or driven to a particular course of action, often by an irresistible internal urge
Eg: Were you compelled to undertake such actions?

• Gender(s)

Meaning: the state of being male or female in relation to the social and cultural roles that are considered appropriate for men and women
Eg: There is a gender bias in every society.

• Reinforce

Meaning: to make something stronger, usually by adding more material or another piece
Eg: The soldiers will reinforce the wall and the ammunition stock before the great war begins.