Hello everyone, and welcome back to IELTS TIME. I’m your host, Archer, and today we’re diving into a really common Part 3 topic: Shopping and Consumer Habits.
Part 3 is all about going deeper — it’s where examiners check how well you can express opinions, compare ideas, and think critically. And what better topic to explore than shopping — something we all do, but rarely stop to analyze.
In today’s episode, you’ll first hear a mock interview between Jessica and Joseph,
After that, I’ll go through each question, summarise his main points, and highlight some key vocabulary and ideas you can use in your own answers.
Alright — let’s get started! Here’s the mock interview.
How have people’s shopping habits changed in recent years?
Shopping habits have changed dramatically because of technology and lifestyle shifts. These days, people rely far more on online platforms since they’re faster, cheaper, and offer endless variety. Before, shopping was a weekend activity, but now it happens throughout the week on phones. I also think people have become more price-conscious because it’s so easy to compare options. Overall, shopping has turned into something far more digital and impulsive than it used to be.
Do you think online shopping will replace traditional stores in the future?
I doubt physical shops will ever disappear completely. Even though online shopping dominates, people still value the experience of seeing and touching products before buying. For instance, in fashion or electronics, quality and fit are hard to judge online. What I do see happening is more integration — stores becoming “showrooms” where people try items, then buy online later. So, instead of replacing, both forms will probably blend together.
Why do some people prefer to shop in small local stores instead of big malls?
Many people feel that small local shops offer a more authentic and personal experience. You often get to know the owner, and the service feels genuine rather than sales-driven. There’s also a sense of community — supporting local businesses makes people feel they’re contributing to something meaningful. On top of that, small stores often sell unique or handmade products you can’t find in large retail chains. It’s less about convenience and more about connection and values.
How has advertising influenced people’s shopping behavior?
Advertising has become incredibly powerful, especially through social media. It doesn’t just inform us about products anymore — it creates a lifestyle image that makes people want to buy in. Influencers and targeted ads blur the line between genuine recommendation and marketing. As a result, people often purchase emotionally rather than rationally. In a way, modern advertising sells identity as much as it sells products.
Do you think people nowadays buy things they don’t really need? Why?
Absolutely, and I think it’s partly psychological. Modern life encourages instant gratification, and shopping gives people that quick dopamine hit. With one click, you can escape stress or boredom. Social media adds to that by constantly showing curated images of what others have, which fuels comparison. So, people end up buying to feel relevant or happy, even though the feeling rarely lasts.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of shopping online?
The biggest advantage is convenience — it saves time, offers variety, and often better prices. It’s also great for people who live in small towns with limited options. However, the main drawback is trust; photos can be misleading, and returning products isn’t always easy. Another issue is overconsumption — because buying online feels effortless, people tend to purchase more than they need. So while it’s efficient, it can also encourage wasteful behavior.
How do you think technology has changed the way people shop?
Technology has made shopping far more personalized and data-driven. Companies now track your habits and suggest products before you even think about them. That’s convenient, but also slightly intrusive. On the positive side, mobile payments and virtual fitting tools have made the process smoother and more engaging. Overall, technology has turned shopping into a highly customized, almost predictive experience.
Do you think shopping has become more of a social activity than a necessity?
Yes, especially among younger generations. Many people go shopping not because they need something, but because it’s a way to socialize or pass time. Malls and shopping streets have become social spaces — people eat, take photos, and post about their day. It’s almost a form of leisure or self-expression now. In that sense, shopping reflects modern culture as much as it fulfills practical needs.
Do men and women have different shopping habits? In what ways?
Generally, yes, though the gap is narrowing. Traditionally, women tend to browse more, compare options, and pay attention to details like design or texture. Men, on the other hand, are usually more task-oriented — they go straight for what they want and finish quickly. But nowadays, with online shopping and social media, men are becoming more brand-aware too. I’d say gender differences still exist, but they’re becoming less pronounced as shopping evolves.
Alright, now that you’ve heard Joseph’s answers, let’s take a closer look at each question. I’ll summarize his main points and point out some useful vocabulary and expressions you can borrow to make your own answers more fluent and natural
For the first question about how shopping habits have changed in recent years, Joseph talked about how shopping has become far more digital and technology-driven. He mentioned that people now rely heavily on online platforms because they are convenient and offer a wide variety of options. He contrasted this with the past, noting that shopping used to be mainly a weekend activity, whereas now it can happen anytime during the week. He also mentioned that people are more price-conscious, because comparing prices is so easy. You could enhance your own answers here by using phrases like dramatically changed, online platforms, digital habits, impulsive buying, or price-conscious when describing changes in shopping behavior.
When discussing whether online shopping will replace traditional stores, Joseph explained that physical shops will not disappear completely. He emphasized that many people still value the experience of seeing and touching products, especially in areas like fashion and electronics where quality and fit are important. He also suggested that stores might evolve into showrooms, where customers try items before purchasing online. Phrases you could use to enrich your answer include dominate, coexist, physical experience, blend together, and showrooms.
On the topic of why some people prefer small local stores instead of big malls, Joseph highlighted that these shops often provide a more authentic and personal experience. He mentioned that customers frequently get to know the owner, and the service feels genuine rather than sales-driven. He also pointed out that shopping locally gives a sense of community and the satisfaction of supporting small businesses, and that these stores often sell unique or handmade products. Vocabulary you could incorporate when talking about this includes authentic experience, genuine service, sales-driven, supporting local businesses, meaningful connection, and unique products.
When answering how advertising has influenced shopping behavior, Joseph explained that advertising is extremely powerful, especially on social media. He mentioned that modern ads often create lifestyle images rather than simply promoting products, and that influencers and targeted ads can blur the line between genuine recommendation and marketing. He also noted that people often purchase emotionally rather than rationally. For your own answers, you could use phrases such as influencer marketing, lifestyle image, blur the line, purchase emotionally, and identity marketing.
For the question about whether people buy things they don’t really need, Joseph noted that many purchases are driven by impulse or instant gratification. He explained that shopping can provide a temporary dopamine hit or a way to escape stress or boredom. Social media also plays a role by constantly showing curated images of what others have, which fuels comparison. He added that people often buy to feel relevant or happy, even if the feeling is short-lived. You could add phrases like instant gratification, dopamine hit, curated images, comparison culture, or temporary satisfaction when describing similar ideas.
When talking about the advantages and disadvantages of online shopping, Joseph mentioned the convenience, variety, and sometimes better prices as the main benefits. He also pointed out that online shopping is particularly useful for people in small towns with limited options. On the downside, he noted trust issues such as misleading photos and difficult returns, and added that online shopping can encourage overconsumption or wasteful behavior. Some vocabulary you could use in your own answers includes convenience, variety, overconsumption, misleading photos, wasteful behavior, and effortless purchasing.
Regarding how technology has changed the way people shop, Joseph explained that shopping has become more personalized and data-driven, with companies tracking habits and suggesting products proactively. He also highlighted innovations like mobile payments and virtual fitting tools, which make shopping smoother, while noting that this level of personalization can feel slightly intrusive. Useful phrases you might include are personalized, data-driven, tracking habits, predictive experience, virtual fitting tools, intrusive, and personalized marketing.
On whether shopping has become more of a social activity, Joseph observed that especially younger people go shopping not just to buy things, but to socialize. He described malls and shopping streets as social spaces where people eat, take photos, and post online. He also mentioned that shopping has become a form of leisure and self-expression, reflecting modern culture as much as practical needs. You could use phrases like social activity, social spaces, leisure activity, self-expression, and consumer culture when discussing this topic.
Finally, on the question of whether men and women have different shopping habits, Joseph noted that women tend to browse, compare options, and pay attention to details such as design or texture, whereas men are usually more task-oriented, going straight for what they need. He also added that online shopping and social media are making men more brand-aware, and that although gender differences still exist, they are becoming less pronounced. Vocabulary you could use in your own answers includes task-oriented, brand-aware, browse, compare options, less pronounced differences, and gap is narrowing.
Overall, you can see how Joseph combined clear content with natural topic-specific vocabulary. By paying attention to his ideas and using these suggested expressions, you can make your own answers more fluent, precise, and engaging.
That’s it for today’s episode on shopping and consumer habits. I hope Joseph’s answers and our discussion of key points and vocabulary give you some practical ideas for your own Part 3 responses. Keep practicing, and I’ll see you next time!
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