IELTS Speaking Part 2 and 3 : Advertisement

IELTS Speaking Part 2 and 3 : Advertisement

IELTS Speaking Part 2 – Advertisement

Describe an advertisement you have seen but you did not like
You should say:

• Where and when you saw it
• What the advertisement was for
• What you could see in the advertisement
• And explain why you did not like the advertisement

Version 1

Recently, a new burger place opened in my town. I noticed it on a billboard, and there were also local ads on my Facebook. Additionally, the ads tend to appear on YouTube when I’m watching videos. The commercial showcases a mouthwatering, juicy, flame-grilled Whopper burger, with happy people enjoying it. The reason I dislike this is because I’m on a diet and trying to reduce my meat intake since I’ve gained some weight. What’s worse is that I work nights, and whenever I try to watch YouTube videos related to my studies, the burger ad pops up. It triggers cravings and distracts me from my work. The burger place is conveniently just a few blocks away and open 24 hours, making it even more tempting. This is why I dislike these ads—they pressure me to spend money and potentially gain more weight.

Version 2

That commercial was very old and used to be televised on TV, particularly around 3:00, 6:00, and 9:00 p.m., during primetime. It was an actual advertisement for a Catholic church campaign promoting the recitation of the rosary. The commercial had a plain white background and featured an eerie voiceover along with the face of the Virgin Mary. Whenever I saw it, it was very terrifying because the face had an uncanny valley effect. The term “uncanny valley” refers to when something or someone resembles a human but is not 100% human, creating a sense of unease. As a child, I didn’t understand this concept, so I was simply terrified. I remember being around 5 or 6 years old when they played it for a year.

Whenever I heard the sound starting, I would instinctively grab onto anything nearby and hug it out of fear. Many kids at that time shared the same feeling about this commercial, although I’m not sure why it was aired as a simple message about praying the rosary. Even now, when I come across this commercial on YouTube, I still get goosebumps. This is the reason why I hate this commercial.

IELTS Speaking Part 3 – Advertisement

What are the most advertised products in your country?

Recently, based on internet searches and observations from TV and cable, it’s evident that the most advertised products are food supplements and colleges, especially during this time of the year. Firstly, phone companies, particularly Samsung, release new models almost every quarter, aiming to boost their sales. Secondly, during primetime, numerous ads for food supplements targeting adults and older individuals are aired. It’s common to see around five commercials per hour promoting supplements that claim to enhance strength or strengthen legs. Lastly, colleges heavily advertise from May to July, highlighting the benefits of enrolling or studying at their institutions. Additionally, there is a prevalence of cram school commercials during this period.

Which one is more effective, newspaper advertising or online advertising?

In my opinion, when it comes to effectiveness, it largely depends on the target audience. While online advertisements have the potential to reach a wide audience, they may not always be targeted effectively. This approach is often referred to as a “shotgun approach” where advertisements are dispersed across different regions, hoping for a response from someone. On the other hand, I believe that newspapers can be more effective, particularly when targeting a localized audience. Newspapers often contain ads that cater to specific demographics, such as property foreclosures or government bidding opportunities. The readers of newspapers are typically more focused and engaged, making them a suitable target audience for certain types of advertisements.

What are the benefits of advertising?

One of the main benefits of advertising is brand awareness. Through advertising, companies can create associations between their products and the needs or desires of consumers. Take Coca-Cola, for example. Despite being a well-established company, they continue to advertise regularly, introducing new slogans. By doing so, they strive to maintain their brand awareness and ensure that people continue to associate their product with happiness and fun. This ongoing brand awareness is a significant advantage of advertising. Another benefit of advertising is its ability to boost sales. Let’s consider the example of Burger King promoting their Whopper burger during the summer. By advertising their product, they can significantly increase their sales. As a business owner, if you want to generate more profit, advertising is a necessary investment.

What do you think of celebrity endorsements in advertising?

Personally, I believe that endorsers are essentially selling themselves. Sometimes this can be viewed positively, while other times it may be seen as negative. Take the example of Marco Pierre White, who was the first celebrity chef in the world and gained fame in his early twenties. Now in his sixties, he has become an endorser for Knorr. Many people perceive this as him selling out. However, it’s important to recognize that this is how the business works. Endorsers align themselves with certain products or brands and earn money from it. Different people have different perspectives on this matter.

Another example is Dave Chappelle, who has endorsed both Coke and Pepsi. In one of his comedy specials, he jokingly mentioned that it’s all about the money and he can’t even tell the difference between the two. This highlights the fact that celebrity endorsements are primarily driven by business interests.

Does advertising encourage us to buy things we don’t need?

Yeah, absolutely. I remember recently when I go on TikTok or any other social media platform, whenever I see a novelty item that looks good, I tend to add it to my cart. It’s simply interesting for us to buy things that we don’t really need, sometimes just because they are colorful. I remember buying 10 spinners because they looked cool, but after two days, I decided not to use them anymore. So yeah, I realize that sometimes I make purchases based on how products are portrayed in commercials.

What role does social media play in advertising?

Currently, social media plays a critical role in advertising. In the past, advertising relied heavily on a shotgun approach and timing. However, with the advent of social media, platforms now have access to our information, which they sell to advertising agencies and companies. This allows them to precisely understand our preferences and interests, creating algorithms that direct the advertising content we see.

For instance, if I am currently searching for a vacation trip, I can expect to receive numerous ads related to travel. This demonstrates the significance of social media in the advertising industry, as it enables advertisers to target specific audiences based on their online behavior and preferences.

  

Check Placement Test for Speaking

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Please visit the website Educatorian to find suggested answers for IELTS speaking questions. Additionally, I recommend checking out Ian’s personal website for further information.
请访问Educatorian网站，找到雅思口语问题的建议答案。此外，我建议查看伊恩的个人网站以了解更多信息。