IELTS Writing Task 2 topics: Media, with practice questions and ideas
Quick answer
IELTS publishes no list of Task 2 topics, so media is a theme that candidates report from practice material, not one IELTS confirms. It is commonly reported with advertising, how people get their news, social media, celebrity coverage and online video. Prepare ideas and vocabulary for each angle, not a memorised essay, and answer the exact question in front of you, whichever of the five shapes it takes.
The app marks a Task 2 essay on all four criteria and gives an Examiner's Summary, so you can see whether your media examples supported your argument or only illustrated it.
iOS and Android
Paid app: what it costs · billing and refunds · support
On this page
Media as a Task 2 theme is about how information, entertainment and persuasion reach people: through advertising, newspapers, television, online video and social platforms. IELTS publishes no list of Task 2 topics. The themes on this page are commonly reported by candidates from practice material, so prepare by theme and by essay shape, and answer the question you are given, not the one you hoped for.
The angles this theme comes up with
- Advertising. Questions ask how advertising affects what people want and whether children or certain products need limits. You weigh information and choice against pressure and manipulation.
- News and reliability. Questions ask where people should get news and what a news organisation owes its audience. You weigh speed and access against accuracy and checking.
- Social media and its influence. Questions ask about the effects on young people, relationships and opinions. You weigh connection and expression against comparison and distraction.
- Celebrity coverage. Questions ask whether reporting on the private lives of well-known people is harmless or harmful. You weigh public interest and entertainment against intrusion and the example it sets.
- Screen time and entertainment. Questions ask about hours spent on television and online video. You weigh learning and relaxation against less activity and less face-to-face time.
Practice questions
These ten questions are invented for practice, in our own words. They are not copied from any list or past paper. Each shape links to its guide the first time it appears.
- Advertising aimed at children should be banned. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (agree or disagree)
- News organisations should publish only facts that have been checked, even if this means they report events more slowly. To what extent do you agree or disagree? (agree or disagree)
- Some people think that social media is the best way to find out about the news. Others believe traditional sources such as newspapers and television are better. Discuss both views and give your opinion. (discuss both views)
- Some people think media coverage of celebrities’ private lives is harmless entertainment. Others think it is intrusive and does harm. Discuss both views and give your own opinion. (discuss both views)
- Many people now get most of their news from social media. Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages? (advantages and disadvantages)
- Many people spend several hours a day watching online videos. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages? (advantages and disadvantages)
- False information spreads quickly online. What problems does this cause, and what can be done to reduce it? (problem and solution)
- Many young people feel under pressure because of the images they see on social media. What are the causes of this, and what solutions can you suggest? (problem and solution)
- Many people trust information because it appears online. Why do you think this happens? Should schools teach students how to judge media sources? (two-part question)
- Fewer people now read printed newspapers. Why is this happening, and is it a problem for society? (two-part question)
Ideas for and against
Advertising
- For advertising: it tells people what products exist and what they offer, so buyers can compare. It also supports television and websites that people enjoy using, and creates work in design and film.
- Against advertising to children: young children cannot always tell persuasion from information, so they may pressure parents into buying things. Constant exposure can also shape unhealthy habits, such as a liking for sugary snacks.
News and reliability
- For checking before publishing: a report that is wrong can ruin reputations and mislead many people, and a correction rarely reaches everyone who saw the first story. Careful checking builds the audience’s trust over time.
- For speed: in an emergency, people need rapid information to stay safe, and waiting for every detail may do harm. Updating a story as facts arrive balances the two.
Social media and its influence
- For: it connects people who live far apart and gives ordinary people a way to share their views. A student can find a community for a rare interest without leaving home.
- Against: users compare their lives with polished images, which can make them feel inadequate. Feeds are designed to keep attention, so hours pass without people noticing and less time is left for sleep or study.
- On news: people may only see views they already hold, so opinions become more extreme and groups talk past one another.
Celebrity coverage
- For: coverage of famous people is entertainment that many readers enjoy, and public figures choose a life in the spotlight. Their behaviour can also be a matter of public interest.
- Against: constant attention can harm the mental health of the person and their family, who did not all choose fame. Stories about appearance or relationships can also set unrealistic standards for readers, especially teenagers.
Screen time and entertainment
- For: online videos can teach a language, a recipe or a repair at a time and speed the viewer chooses. They also offer relaxation after a demanding day.
- Against: hours spent sitting reduce exercise and time with family. A viewer who moves from clip to clip may find it hard to concentrate on a longer task such as reading a book.
Vocabulary for this theme
| Word or phrase | What it means | In a sentence |
|---|---|---|
| mass media | forms of communication that reach large audiences | Mass media shape what people think is important. |
| target audience | the group of people a message is aimed at | Advertisers adjust their language to suit the target audience. |
| misinformation | false or misleading information, spread whether or not on purpose | Misinformation can spread across a city before it is corrected. |
| fact-check | to examine a claim to see whether it is true | Responsible journalists fact-check a story before publishing it. |
| media literacy | the ability to understand and judge media messages | Media literacy lessons help teenagers question what they see online. |
| influence public opinion | to change what many people believe | A single news story can influence public opinion on an election. |
| sensationalism | presenting events in a shocking way to attract attention | Sensationalism makes small events seem more serious than they are. |
| echo chamber | an environment in which people hear only views like their own | Social platforms can become an echo chamber for extreme opinions. |
| invasion of privacy | an intrusion into someone’s personal life | Photographing a celebrity’s family is an invasion of privacy. |
| consumer behaviour | the way people choose and buy goods and services | Advertising can change consumer behaviour among teenagers. |
| go viral | to spread very quickly across the internet | A false claim can go viral before anyone checks it. |
| screen time | the hours spent looking at a screen | Too much screen time can reduce sleep and exercise. |
A worked plan
Question 5: many people now get most of their news from social media. Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?
- Introduction. Paraphrase the question. Opinion: the disadvantages outweigh the advantages, because the benefits of speed and access come with weak checking.
- Body paragraph one (advantages). Reason: social media delivers news immediately and from many voices. Consequence: people learn about events as they happen and hear from those on the spot. Example: residents of a flooded area who post updates help neighbours avoid dangerous roads before any news report appears.
- Body paragraph two (disadvantages, with my opinion). Reason: no editor checks most posts, and feeds show people what they already agree with. Consequence: false stories spread widely and opinions become more divided. Example: a doctored photo shared thousands of times may shape what readers believe long after it is shown to be false.
- Conclusion. Social media is fast and open, but unchecked information and narrow feeds outweigh these gains, so people should also use sources that verify their reports.
How the app marks it
IELTS Mentor AI marks a Task 2 essay on all four criteria, reports a band range for each criterion and adds an Examiner’s Summary. After you answer one of these questions, the Task Response comments are the ones to read first: they show whether each point about the media was explained with a consequence or an example, or only named.
Where this fits
This page is one theme among the commonly reported ones. The general answer, what are common IELTS Writing Task 2 topics, explains why the themes are candidate-reported and not an IELTS list. The shape guides cover how to plan each type of question: agree or disagree, discuss both views, problem and solution, advantages and disadvantages and two-part questions. To see a finished essay at three levels, read an advantages and disadvantages essay at Band 6, 7 and 8, and when you have written your own, the essay checker gives you feedback on it.
Frequently asked questions
Is media a common IELTS Writing Task 2 topic?
IELTS publishes no list of Task 2 topics, so how often a theme appears is not known outside IELTS. Media is commonly reported by candidates from practice material, next to technology and education. Prepare it as a theme worth knowing, and not as a prediction of your test.
What do IELTS media questions usually ask?
Practice material commonly reports questions on advertising and children, whether news should come from social media or traditional sources, celebrity coverage, and time spent on online video. The ten questions below are invented in our own words to show the range and the five shapes.
Does a media question mean I should write only about social media?
No. Read the exact wording and write about what it asks. Content not related to the topic is penalised, according to IELTS.org's Writing format pages, so a question about newspapers needs an answer about newspapers, even if you know more about social platforms.
Can I mention real websites or companies?
You can, but you do not need to. A general example, such as a video shared widely before anyone checked it, supports a point without risking a factual mistake. Keep names short, and make sure the example does real work in the argument.
Practise this with instant AI feedback
Record your answer in the app and get your grammar, vocabulary, fluency and pronunciation analysed in seconds.
Paid app: what it costs · billing and refunds · support