Describe an advertisement you think is useful – IELTS speaking part 3.
Describe an advertisement you think is useful
You should say:
- Where you can see it
- When you first saw it
- What it’s about
And explain why you think it’s useful
- Example 1
“I just recently saw this great ad on the side of a bus when I was commuting to work. It was for a product I had never heard of before , an online budgeting and financial management tool or app.
The ad featured a smiling, well dressed woman looking directly at the viewer with a call-to-action asking them to sign up for the service.
I think this ad is super useful as it puts the power in people’s hands to take control of their finances. With so many financial struggles, such as student debt, low wages and the high costs of living these days, it makes sense that people are looking for ways to budget.
It’s something I often worry about, and I guess this is why this ad caught my eye, as it gives people the tools they need to be better with their money.
It’s a really great reminder of how important budgeting is and it’s making sure to let everyone know that it’s a whole lot easier to manage one’s finances these days.
As well as that with this budgeting service there are no hidden fees or gimmicks, and it’s totally free and easy to use.
Overall, I really think this ad is highly useful and informational. I think it could be a great asset for anybody looking to get their financial lives in order.
Thank you.”
- Idioms
A “call to action” is an idiom used to encourage someone to take action to a specific issue or cause. For example: “The environmental group sent out a call to action asking people to reduce their carbon footprint to help save the planet.”
“To catch one’s eye is an idiom which means to attract one’s attention, usually through something striking or impressive. For example: “The bright red dress caught my eye right away”.
Gimmick is an idiom used to describe a clever trick or device used to get the attention of the public or to market a product. Example: The mobile game company used a new gimmick to attract more players.
The idiom “to get one’s life in order” means to organise and take charge of one’s life. For example, “After getting out of prison, John decided to get his life in order by finding a steady job and getting his finances in order.”
- Example 2
“I recently saw an eye-catching advertisement for a reusable water bottle whilst surfing online.
It had an image of a smiling person on a beach, soaking in the sun, with their reusable bottle sitting right next to them. I immediately became interested in what the ad was about because of how beautiful the image seemed.
The ad highlights how important it is for humans to be more conscious when it comes to the environment. It stated that by using a reusable water bottle instead of always purchasing plastic bottles it would result in saving a vast amount of waste from entering landfills and polluting our oceans.
It was a really informative and powerful ad and it struck a chord with me because it reminded me of how much plastic waste is generated every day and how much damage this causes the environment. What’s more, it even reminded me that buying a reusable bottle could save me money in the long run!
I think this advertisement is so useful because it provides a very simple way to help support the environment and it urges people to think about the effects of the plastic waste they produce everyday.
It’s a great reminder that we have the power to make small changes for a huge difference in the environment, and that’s why I think this ad was beneficial.
Thank you.”
- Idioms
Eye-catching is an idiom used to describe something that immediately grabs your attention or is visually appealing. For example: The dress she wore to the party was so eye-catching that everyone stopped to admire it.
The idiom “to strike a chord with” means to evoke an emotional or nostalgic response in someone. For example, “Listening to the old song struck a chord with me and made me feel sentimental.”
Describe an advertisement you think is useful – IELTS speaking part 3
How do you feel about online advertising?
“To be honest, I’m somewhat sceptical of online advertising, and often find it extremely annoying.
In some cases, they can flood your browser with a barrage of ads, making it hard to concentrate or even navigate through websites.
On the other hand, advertisers can use technology and tracking to target ads to the right audience.
For instance, I get ads for running shoes after searching for them on different websites.
Overall, I’m not a huge fan of online ads, but I guess they can have a legitimate purpose when used correctly.”
Do you think that it’s okay to target children with advertisements?
“No, personally,I don’t think it’s suitable to target young kids with advertisements. Children are fascinated with pretty much anything that catches their attention and they may feel pressured into buying things that their parents can’t afford.
On top of that, sometimes ads also contain very misleading claims, which means children may fall for them.
As well as that, as far as I remember studies have shown that too much commercial exposure to children can lead to an increased consumption of unhealthy snacks. So, all in all, I don’t think targeting children with ads is a good idea.”
Do you think that some advertisements can be misleading?
“Yes, I think some advertisements can be extremely misleading. For instance, ads that claim certain products can give you miraculous results in no time, such as beauty products or weight loss supplements.
However, In reality, it takes time for any product to show results, no matter how amazing it is.
Ads that show false information, such as exaggerated discounts, can also be very misleading.
Bottom line, when it comes to ads, I believe that it’s best not to believe everything you hear or watch, and we should always do our own research first.”
What forms of advertisements can we see these days?
“These days, there are so many different forms of advertisements. For example, we see plenty of television ads, print ads, and radio ads.
As well as that, we can also see ads in some unexpected places like online video streaming services and even inside the elevators of buildings!
What’s more, digital ads like pop-up ads on websites and social media ads have been popping up everywhere.
Personally, I find ads intrusive and overwhelming at times, but I understand they play an important role in helping businesses reach their target audience.”
More links to IELTS speaking part 2 and part 3 topics with example answers
Describe a foreigner who speaks your native language very well
Describe a drawing/painting that you like
Describe a person who enjoys cooking for others
Describe a time you had a problem using a computer
Describe a successful business person you know
