IELTS Essay Topics with sample answer.
IELTS Essay # 1195 - Shopping malls are great places to spend leisure time
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IELTS Writing Task 2/ IELTS Essay:
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
For many, shopping malls are great places to spend their leisure time and meet others. People, however, in the past mostly visited shopping malls when necessary.
To what extent do you think this is a negative trend?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Model Essay 1: [It is a positive trend]
Gone are the days when shopping malls were purely for selling different merchandise, and people went there for buying and selling products. However, with the advent of modern shopping complexes, the trend has shifted, and many people spend their free time in shopping malls for various reasons. It has several positive impacts despite a few negative outcomes - I believe. This essay argues how this trend has enhanced people's shopping experience and enabled people to socialise.
To begin with the negative aspects of spending leisure time in a shopping complex - it makes people lethargic and forces them to avoid outdoor activities. For instance, people who meet others in a park, swimming pool or playground get involved in group activities which is a good way of doing different physical exercises. On the contrary, when people meet friends in a shopping mall, they either eat fast food or watch a movie - both of which lack physical movements. On top of that, those people usually avoid outdoor activities as they prefer air-conditioned indoors more.
However, modern shopping malls have enhanced our shopping experience to a great extent. All the goods are available under a single roof, and they have a cosy environment and superior security. We can buy whatever we need at a completive price, eat our favourite dishes, try exotic menus, watch movies, play games, and even hit the gym located in such shopping complexes. Not to mention, meeting friends and relatives would be quite a cumbersome process had there been no modern shopping malls. Thus this trend is enormously beneficial to all of us.
Moreover, most modern cities, especially those in populous countries, hardly have parks, swimming complexes, or playgrounds. This is why people can meet others at a shopping complex, and it helps them remain social rather than spending too much time online. For instance, whenever a few of my friends from university plan for a get-together, a nice shopping complex in our city comes to our mind because it makes the gathering and experience enjoyable.
To conclude, the old notion of a shopping centre - just for buying and selling products - is no longer applicable in modern days since our expectations, lifestyles, and the availability of outdoor amenities have changed a great deal. So, spending free time or meeting others in a shopping mall should be treated as a welcoming trend due to its usefulness.
Essay Sample 2: [It is a negative development]
The establishment of modern shopping plazas in every nook and corner of the country, especially in cities, has inspired many to enjoy their spare time with friends and family, do some shopping, enjoy movies, and have meals together. Shopping for basic needs is an old trend, but it is changing rapidly and shopping malls, these days, are primarily recreational places for many. I believe this trend has an adverse effect on the young generation and frequent shoppers.
Modern shopping centres play a quintessential part by offering various products under a single roof ranging from the smallest to largest and the latest equipment and gadgets, costumes, ornaments, all types of fruits, vegetables, beauty products, kitchen appliances and so on. Besides, these shopping complexes have movie theatres, coffee shops, kid's corners and food courts to attract more people to spend their free time. However, people, who frequently go there, knowingly or unknowingly are becoming shopaholics, consuming junk foods and spending unproductive time. This has a detrimental effect on people, particularly on young minds. They often skip their classes to meet friends at a shopping mall, have aerated drinks, eat junk foods and avoid participating in different outdoor sports.
Furthermore, people's urge to purchase things they do not need creates a monetary asymmetry and put them in debt. When parents should take their children to a park or to a museum, they are actually taking them to a shopping mall and feeding them fast food. This will invite a disaster in terms of our future generation's health and education.
To conclude, I believe that killing a great deal of time in shopping centres will become a stagnated issue in the future. I strongly feel that shopping malls should be used as a place for purchasing essential commodities rather than a place for leisure activities.
[Written by - Sita]
Essay Topic:
For many, shopping malls are great places to spend their leisure time and meet others. People, however, in the past mostly visited shopping malls when necessary.
To what extent do you think this is a negative trend?
Sample Answer 3: [It is a negative trend]
Shopping malls, these days, are considered major recreational spots by many while most people used to visit them for necessity in the past. This new trend has many negative impacts on people and society as a whole. This essay will argue why it is completely unnecessary for people to spend their free time in the marketplace and how this is a negative trend.
To begin with, modern shopping complexes offer many amenities and shoppers tend to enjoy roaming around different markets both for purchasing what they like and socialising. For instance, many pupils prefer to meet up in a shopping mall, watch a movie and later have snacks in the food court. They say this reduces the stress of the exams and makes them relaxed. Besides, with the decline of open places and parks, many families gather at large shopping malls to enjoy their holidays. However, this is a negative trend and has health hazards.
As a consequence, the young generation tends to forget the beauty of nature and the stress relief provided by the outdoor world. This, in fact, drains out the energy of the youth and makes them lethargic. For example, a walk in a park or a day on a beach refreshes the soul more evidently than a day in a mall. Besides, due to the excessive affection towards shopping, many people become shopaholics and get into debt.
To conclude, citizens should not spend their free time in shopping malls as there are better alternatives. It is hoped that people will go to a shopping mall to do essential shopping but spend their free time outdoors to enjoy the beauty of nature and take part in open-air activities.
[Written by Kanika]
Model Answer 4: [It is a positive trend]
In contemporary society, many individuals consider shopping complexes as ideal venues for recreation and socialising. Whereas in the past, people typically visited such establishments only for necessary purchases, their use, nowadays, is more diverse. I contend that despite some negative consequences, it is mostly a positive trend.
To commence with, this change in consumer behaviour towards commercial establishments has numerous positive implications. Foremost among these is the fact that such venues provide ample opportunities for social interaction and relaxation. People can browse the shops, engage in leisure activities, and bond over shared interests, thereby promoting a sense of community and social cohesion. In these malls, people have the opportunity to interact and connect with others who share similar interests. In addition, the presence of numerous amenities, such as food courts, cinemas, and gaming centres, further enhances the appeal of these establishments as recreational hubs.
Moreover, the rise of shopping malls as leisure destinations has also boosted the economy. With an influx of visitors, retailers have greater scope for profit and expansion, leading to the creation of more jobs and economic opportunities. An example of this can be seen in the case of the Mall of America in Minnesota, USA. The mall attracts over 40 million visitors annually, contributing significantly to the local economy. Additionally, these commercial complexes can serve as catalysts for urban development, encouraging the growth of surrounding neighbourhoods and contributing to the overall development of the local community.
So in conclusion, it can be concluded that the trend of shopping malls becoming prominent recreational hubs is a positive one. With its social, economic, and developmental benefits, it can be argued that such establishments have become integral components of contemporary urban landscapes.
Model Answer 5: [It is a negative trend]
In recent times, shopping centres have become popular leisure spots for people. While in the past, people mostly visited shopping complexes for necessary purchases, today, they are a preferred destination for socialising and leisure activities. However, I believe that this trend has more negative consequences than positive ones.
Firstly, spending free time at shopping malls can have negative effects on personal finances. Even though people can buy necessary items while also enjoying their time with friends or family in such a place, they may indulge in impulse buying and overspend on items they do not need. This can lead to financial instability and even debt. Furthermore, many modern supermarkets offer a wide variety of leisure activities such as cinemas, arcades, and restaurants. These activities can be expensive, and people may end up spending more than they can afford.
Secondly, the trend of visiting shopping malls for leisure has negative effects on social interactions. While such places can be great for meeting new people, the interactions tend to be superficial and fleeting. People are often more focused on their leisure activities and shopping rather than meaningful social interactions. In contrast, activities such as participating in community events, attending clubs, and volunteering can provide more opportunities for meaningful social interactions.
Lastly, the trend of spending free time in such markets deters people from going out and taking part in outdoor sports and activities., This, in turn, deteriorates their overall health condition and increases obesity.
In conclusion, while shopping malls may be convenient places to spend leisure time and meet others, it is overall a negative trend. Due to this habit, our personal finances can be negatively affected, meaningful social interactions can be limited, and our health condition can be negatively impacted. It is important for individuals to prioritise activities that promote personal and societal well-being over spending time in modern shopping malls.
The main reason why I believe shopping plazas are not the right place to hang out with family and friends is that it is a wastage of money and time. There is a difference between "want" and "need". In the past, people used to visit shopping malls to fulfil their basic necessities such as buying groceries or clothing items. The action was purely need-based. In contrast to this, today’s visitors’ purpose of visiting a shopping mall is typically "want"-based. Young adults visit shopping malls to take selfies, create TikTok videos, go on a blind date or maybe have a quick meet with friends. These kinds of malls are equipped with junk food points and unnecessary expensive brands. For instance, due to peer pressure, young adults or adults often purchase items that are not necessary to them. Hence, spending time in retail plazas is not a good idea for the perfect weekend plan.
Another reason why I support the notion that shopping centres are not the place to spend free time is due to the fact that it leads to creating a negative societal impact. These types of malls are constructed considering all kinds of visitors. Thus, we can see a disturbing picture of a family where the father is busy on the phone while having coffee at a café, the mother is enjoying shopping and the children are busy in the game zone. It has created an unseen gap between the bonds of today’s modern family.
In conclusion, I completely agree with this fact that shopping malls should not be considered as a place for spending free time because it is a wastage of money and time as well as it could disturb interpersonal relations and family life. It seems that people should prefer to visit public open places to meet others and spend leisure time.
To what extent do you think this is a negative trend?
Sample Answer:
Many people, these days, consider shopping malls and shopping plazas as excellent places for relaxing and social gathering. However, in the past, people used to go to shopping centres when they absolutely needed to purchase something. To a certain extent, I would agree that a shopping complex is good for leisure activities, but the trend brings more negatives consequences to our society without any doubt.
It is a fact that people are spending more time in shopping malls nowadays compared to the past as those places provide many entertainment and culinary experiences. Many marketplaces offer one-stop shopping and entertainment experiences as they provide supermarkets, eateries, entertainment zones, fitness centres, and cinemas under a single roof. People go to those places not for shopping anymore, but they socialize, exercise and dine in. It is opposite to what people did in the past and considered advantageous by many.
But, hanging out in supermarkets without real needs has more negative consequences. Firstly, the trend has made people more consumptive than ever. With various discounts that are being offered, lots of people are consuming things that they do not really need. Secondly, as shopping malls provide comfortable indoor facilities such as air conditioner, escalators and so on, people prefer to spend more time indoors rather than outdoors. Moreover, these shopping malls, often rig our money without us noticing as we hardly compare price. As we start spending more on purchasing unnecessary items, we would soon find us in financial trouble.
In conclusion, the purpose of visiting shopping centres has indeed changed nowadays than at any time in the past. I personally believe that the trend has more negative effects on people's lives as they become more consumptive, do less outdoor activities and live beyond their means.
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