Task 2 essay
IELTS Writing Task 2: Fast food
Question type: Two-part question: why is this happening, and is it positive or negative?
The question
Many people now eat fast food regularly instead of cooking meals at home.
Why is this happening? Is this a positive or negative development?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Write your own answer first. Then get an estimated band and corrections from our AI marker.
Answer this questionHow to approach it
- Answer both questions with a separate paragraph for each.
- Give two or three reasons, then a clear judgement on whether the trend is positive or negative.
- Mention health, cost and family life.
Model essay
268 words (minimum 250). Written to show the features of a Band 8-level answer.
In many countries, people are eating fast food regularly rather than cooking at home. This essay will explain why this is happening and argue that it is a largely negative development.
There are several reasons for this trend. The main one is lack of time. Many people work long hours or commute long distances, and when they get home, they are too tired to cook a proper meal. Fast food is quick, requires no preparation and can now be delivered to the door within minutes through apps. Another reason is cost and convenience. In some places, a fast-food meal can be as cheap as buying fresh ingredients, especially for people who live alone. Finally, heavy advertising, often aimed at children and young people, makes fast food seem attractive and fashionable.
In my opinion, this is mainly a negative development. Most fast food is high in salt, sugar and fat, and eating it regularly has been linked to obesity, heart disease and diabetes, which place a heavy burden on health services. Moreover, when families stop cooking, children may never learn basic cooking skills or how to prepare healthy meals for themselves. Shared family meals, which give parents and children a chance to talk, also become less common. It is true that fast food offers convenience, and an occasional takeaway is not harmful, but relying on it as a regular part of the diet has serious long-term costs.
In conclusion, busy lifestyles, low prices and advertising have made fast food increasingly popular. However, because of its effects on health and family life, I believe this trend is a negative one.
Useful language from this answer
- there are several reasons for this trend
- starting the first part of the answer
- the main one is…
- prioritising your reasons
- delivered to the door
- brought to your home
- place a heavy burden on
- create a big cost or pressure for
- relying on it as a regular part of the diet
- depending on it too often
Common mistakes with this question
- Answering only one of the two questions.
- Mixing reasons and effects in the same paragraph so the answer to each question is unclear.
- Saying fast food is 'unhealthy' without explaining why or what the effects are.
Now write your own answer
Reading a model helps, but writing is what improves your band. Answer this question and get an estimated band for all four criteria, with corrections taken from your own sentences.
This model answer was written by TestWise Prep to show the features of a high-scoring answer. It is not official IELTS material. Use it for ideas and language, not to memorise.