Simon’s ielts writing task 2

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Compiled by Diyorbek Hayitmurodov ielts-simon.com Page 88 
Wednesday, January 29, 2014 
IELTS Writing Task 2: consumer society 
A few days ago, I looked at the question in 
this lesson
with my students here in Manchester. The 
phrase 'consumer society' is a negative one because it suggests that our lives revolve around money 
and possessions. 
Here's part of an essay that my students helped me to write:
It is true that many people criticize modern society because it seems to be too materialistic. I agree 
with this to some extent, but I do not think it is the case that everyone is a victim of consumer culture. 
On the one hand, many people do seem to focus too much on money and possessions. Wherever we 
go, we are bombarded with advertising to sell us products and services, many of which we do not 
need. For example, people may be persuaded to purchase the latest model of iPhone, when their old 
phone is still perfectly functional. This could be seen as a demonstration that we are obsessive 
consumers; we buy things based on fashion and branding, and shopping has become a hobby or 
even an addiction. 
Task:
Which phrases in the paragraphs would you highlight as 'band 7-9 vocabulary'? 
FROM SIMON:
Here are the words and phrases that I think the examiner would be impressed by: 
- people criticize modern society 
- materialistic 
- I do not think it is the case that 
- a victim of consumer culture 
- we are bombarded with advertising to sell us products and services 
- many of which we do not need 
- people may be persuaded to purchase the latest model 
- still perfectly functional 
- This could be seen as a demonstration that
- obsessive consumers 
- based on fashion and branding 
- shopping has become a hobby or even an addiction