Media & AdvertisingTwo-part
IELTS Essay: Celebrity News in the Media (Band 9 vs 6.5)
In short
Below is a full Band 9 model answer to this IELTS Writing Task 2 question, the same question written at Band 6.5, and a criterion-by-criterion breakdown of exactly what separates them — so you can see what to change in your own writing. Then check your essay with the free tool.
The question
News about celebrities and famous people takes up a large part of newspapers, television and websites in many countries. Why is this kind of news so popular, and is this a positive or negative development?
How to approach a Two-part question
A two-part question contains two direct questions; you must answer both, and roughly equally. Plan one body paragraph per question so neither is neglected — writing 200 words on the first part and 50 on the second is a common way to lose Task Response marks even when the English is strong.
The plan
- 01Introduction: paraphrase the topic and signpost both parts — the reasons for popularity and an overall evaluation.
- 02Body 1 (part 1): explain why celebrity news is popular — fascination, escapism, connection, and commercial incentives.
- 03Body 2 (part 2): argue the trend is negative — it displaces serious news, invades privacy, and distorts young people's values.
- 04Conclusion: summarise the causes and restate that the development is negative.
Band 9 model answer
Stories about the private lives of the rich and famous now fill a striking proportion of both traditional and online media, from tabloid front pages to trending social feeds. This essay will examine why such coverage attracts so many readers before arguing that, on the whole, its dominance is a regrettable trend.
The popularity of celebrity news stems largely from a deep-seated human fascination with the lives of others. Following a film star's romance or a footballer's extravagance offers audiences a form of escapism, a welcome distraction from the routine of everyday life. Such stories also foster a sense of connection: fans feel they know the personalities they admire, and gossip about them provides easy common ground in conversation. Media outlets, acutely aware that these articles generate clicks and advertising revenue, feed this appetite relentlessly.
Despite this appeal, I regard the trend as predominantly harmful. When trivial gossip crowds out coverage of politics, science and world affairs, the public becomes less informed about issues that genuinely shape their lives. The relentless scrutiny can also be devastating for the individuals concerned, whose privacy is routinely sacrificed for entertainment, with little regard for their wellbeing. Perhaps most worrying is the effect on young people, who may come to prize fame and appearance above education and substance, absorbing distorted values from what they consume.
In summary, celebrity news thrives because it entertains and creates a feeling of intimacy, yet its prominence displaces more meaningful reporting and distorts social priorities. I therefore consider this a negative development, and one that thoughtful media consumers would do well to resist.
The same question at Band 6.5
Today the news about celebrities and famous people is very popular and it is everywhere in the newspaper, TV and internet. In this essay I will explain why people like this news, and I will discuss if it is a positive or negative thing.
There is many reasons why celebrity news is so popular. Firstly, people are curious about the life of famous people, because their life looks exciting and different from normal people. For example, everybody wants to know who they are dating or what clothes they are wearing. When we read about a famous singer or actor, we feel like we know them personally. Secondly, this kind of news is a good entertainment and it help people to relax after a hard day of work. Also, people like to talk about celebrities with their friends.
In my opinion, this development is more negative than positive. The first problem is that celebrity news take the place of important news like politics and economy, so people do not know what is really happening in the world. In the past, the news was about serious topic, but now it is more about gossip. Another problem is that the journalists follow the celebrities everywhere and this is not fair for their privacy. Furthermore, young people want to be famous instead of studying hard, which is bad for their future.
In conclusion, celebrity news is popular because people are curious and it is entertaining, but I think it is a negative development because it replace serious news and give bad example to the youth.
What separates them, criterion by criterion
| Criterion | Band 9 | Band 6.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Task Response | Answers both parts fully — explaining the popularity through 'a deep-seated human fascination' and escapism, then arguing clearly that the trend is 'a regrettable trend'. | Addresses both parts, but the reasons stay general ('their life looks exciting') and the evaluation is asserted rather than developed. |
| Coherence & Cohesion | Smooth, varied cohesion moves the argument forward ('Despite this appeal', 'Perhaps most worrying'). | Mechanical linking ('Firstly', 'Secondly', 'Also', 'Furthermore') and simple listing of ideas. |
| Lexical Resource | Precise collocation such as 'relentless scrutiny', 'a form of escapism' and 'distorted values'. | Limited, repeated vocabulary ('famous people', 'news', 'popular', 'problem') across the essay. |
| Grammatical Range & Accuracy | A range of accurate complex forms ('When trivial gossip crowds out coverage of politics, science and world affairs, the public becomes less informed...'). | Mainly simple sentences with recurring errors ('There is many reasons', 'it help people', 'it replace serious news', 'give bad example'). |
Examiner's note
The Band 9 answer addresses both questions in depth, moving from a psychologically astute account of celebrity culture's appeal to a firmly argued verdict, all in precise, varied English. The 6.5 essay answers both parts and is easy to follow, but general ideas, mechanical signposting and frequent errors ('it help people', 'it replace serious news') cap its score.
Vocabulary from the Band 9 answer
| Word / phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| deep-seated | strongly felt and firmly established, hard to change |
| a form of escapism | a way of avoiding reality by focusing on something more pleasant |
| foster a sense of connection | to encourage a feeling of closeness or belonging |
| generate clicks | to make people click on content online, which produces income |
| feed this appetite | to keep supplying something people strongly want more of |
| relentless scrutiny | constant, intense attention and examination |
| crowds out | pushes something else aside by taking up all the available space |
| distorted values | a warped or unhealthy sense of what really matters |
Frequently asked questions
How do I make sure I answer both parts of a two-part question?
Devote one body paragraph to each part — here, one on why celebrity news is popular and one on whether it is positive or negative. Leaving either part thin or unanswered limits your Task Response score.
Do I need a personal opinion in a two-part question?
Only if a part asks for one. This prompt asks whether the trend is positive or negative, so you must state and justify a clear view, as the Band 9 answer does when it calls it 'a regrettable trend'.
How should I structure a two-part essay?
A four-paragraph plan works well: introduction, one body paragraph per question, and a conclusion that briefly restates both answers. Keep the two parts clearly separated so the examiner can see each is addressed.