IELTS Writing Task 2: Advertising (Band 9 Sample Answer)

People disagree about how powerful advertising really is. Some argue that it is remarkably effective at persuading us to spend, while others believe it has become so ubiquitous that we simply ignore it. In my view, both observations contain truth, but advertising continues to shape our choices even when we think it does not.

1. The case that advertising still works

Those who credit advertising with great power point to the vast sums companies invest in it. No business would spend billions on campaigns unless they generated sales, and the success of memorable slogans and brand mascots shows how deeply marketing can lodge in our memories. Much of this influence is subtle: advertising shapes which brands feel familiar and trustworthy, so that at the moment of purchase we reach for a product we have seen a hundred times without ever consciously deciding to.

2. The case that we tune it out

On the other hand, there is real force in the opposing view. We are now bombarded with so many messages — on screens, billboards and social media — that most of them wash over us unnoticed. Many people actively avoid advertising by paying for ad-free subscriptions or installing ad blockers, and a banner that nobody looks at clearly persuades nobody. In this sense, the sheer saturation of modern life has blunted the impact of any single advertisement.

In conclusion, while it is fair to say that we consciously ignore most of the advertising around us, I believe it still works on us indirectly, quietly building the brand preferences that guide our spending. Advertising has not lost its power; it has simply learned to persuade us without our noticing.