Recent writing test 07/2023
People’s shopping habits are affected the most by their age group rather than by any other factors.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Sample answer 7.5
There is an assumption that age is the most significant driver of people’s shopping behaviors. However, I believe that there are other factors that influence people’s shopping habits no less than age does.
It is true that age somewhat accounts for how and why people select certain sorts of products over others. This is because different age groups often mean different needs. For instance, while young people tend to select state-of-the-art phones from competing brands such as Apple and Samsung, elder people often prefer products that are adequate, providing basic functions such as contacting, entertainment, and photographing.
Financial condition is yet another vital factor that impacts people’s shopping styles. Take the example of phone selection again for consideration. Two people at exactly the same age who come from different family backgrounds probably make dramatically different choices. Therefore, those who live in wealthier families tend to choose an impressive device that reflects their social status. Meanwhile, those whose family’s financial conditions are limited will likely prioritize a reasonably priced device.
Moreover, people’s shopping behaviors can also be influenced by their personalities. To illustrate this, the issue of phone purchases should be examined once more. Between two people at exactly the same age and with similar family backgrounds, one can follow the trend and purchase a cutting-edge device, while the other may opt for minimalism and select an ordinary phone instead.
In conclusion, it is my view that age is only one of many factors that strongly impacts how and why people buy particular products over others. Other factors include financial condition and character tendencies.
263 words – Band 7.5
Highlight Vocabulary
- Driver (of something) [n]: one of the main things that influence something or cause it to make progress
- Account for something [v] = explain [v]: to be the explanation or cause of something
- State-of-the-art [adj]: using the most modern or advanced techniques or methods; as good as it can be at the present time
- Adequate [adj]: enough in quantity, or good enough in quality, for a particular purpose or need
- Status [n]: the social or professional position of somebody/something in relation to others.
- Prioritize something [v]: to treat something as being more important than other things
- Price [v] (transitive, usually passive, intransitive): to fix the price of something at a particular level . E.g.: The main courses are all reasonably priced. These goods are priced too high. Their printers are competitively priced.
- Purchase [n]: the act or process of buying something
- Cutting-edge [adj]: at the newest, most advanced stage in the development of something
- Opt for/against something [v]: to choose to take or not to take a particular course of action
- Minimalism [n]: a style of art, music or design that uses very simple ideas or a very small number of simple elements
- Ordinary [adj]: not unusual or different in any way
