This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of department stores and online stores in Australia from the real IELTS exam.
This one is tricky just because there is not a lot of data so I had to make it wordier to make sure that it was long enough and to be on the safe side!
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IELTS Essay Task 1: Department Stores and Online Stores in Australia
The table gives information about department and online stores in Australia in 2011.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
| Department Stores | Online Stores | |
| Number of Businesses | 67 | 368 |
| Profit (AUD) | 807 | 863 |
| Sales Revenue (AUD) | 12,700 | 13,400 |
| Growth | .4% | .6% |
The table displays figures for purchase-related data comparing Australian department stores and online stores in 2011. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that online stores were considerably more popular in terms of the number of businesses in operation though profits and revenue were relatively closer together, with online holding a small edge for each. The online stores also experienced meaningfully greater growth.
The number of businesses was overwhelmingly in favor of online stores according to the data at 368 online to just 67 physical locations. However, profit figures in Australian dollars (AUD) presented a more narrow advantage for online retail at $863 and $807 for department stores.
Concerning revenue, online purchases also displayed marginally higher final numbers. Online purchase revenue accounted for $13,400 compared to $12,700 for department locations. Finally, the growth percentage was considerably higher for online (.6%) relative to physical department stores (.4%).
Analysis
1. The table displays figures for purchase-related data comparing Australian department stores and online stores in 2011. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that online stores were considerably more popular in terms of the number of businesses in operation though profits and revenue were relatively closer together, with online holding a small edge for each. 3. The online stores also experienced meaningfully greater growth.
- Paraphrase what the process shows.
- Write a clear overview summarising the differences.
- You might need a second sentence for your overview.
1. The number of businesses was overwhelmingly in favor of online stores according to the data at 368 online to just 67 physical locations. 2. However, profit figures in Australian dollars (AUD) presented a more narrow advantage for online retail at $863 and $807 for department stores.
- Begin writing about the data for the first category.
- Describe the next area and compare it to the area before.
1. Concerning revenue, online purchases also displayed marginally higher final numbers. 2. Online purchase revenue accounted for $13,400 compared to $12,700 for department locations. 3. Finally, the growth percentage was considerably higher for online (.6%) relative to physical department stores (.4%).
- Write about the final other parts of the table – include everything!
- Try to paraphrase some words used before as well.
- Make sure nothing is missed.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean? Take some notes on a piece of paper to aid your memory:
The table displays figures for purchase-related data comparing Australian department stores and online stores in 2011. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that online stores were considerably more popular in terms of the number of businesses in operation though profits and revenue were relatively closer together, with online holding a small edge for each. The online stores also experienced meaningfully greater growth.
The number of businesses was overwhelmingly in favor of online stores according to the data at 368 online to just 67 physical locations. However, profit figures in Australian dollars (AUD) presented a more narrow advantage for online retail at $863 and $807 for department stores.
Concerning revenue, online purchases also displayed marginally higher final numbers. Online purchase revenue accounted for $13,400 compared to $12,700 for department locations. Finally, the growth percentage was considerably higher for online (.6%) relative to physical department stores (.4%).
Answers
Try to write down or think of an antonym/opposite word for further practice:
displays figures shows numbers
purchase-related data statistics related to buying stuff
comparing relative to
department stores places where items are sold
online stores websites and apps
Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that overall
considerably more popular much more people doing it
in terms of when it comes to
in operation open
profits money made after expenses deducted
revenue total money earned
relatively compared to
holding a small edge just a little bit more
experienced meaningfully greater growth underwent a lot more increase
overwhelmingly a lot more
in favor of with the other one higher
according to the data concerning the numbers
just only
physical locations actual places
presented shown
narrow advantage a little more
retail items being sold
concerning related to
displayed marginally higher final numbers showing a bit higher data
accounted for occupied
compared to relative to
considerably higher much more
relative to compared to
Pronunciation
Practice saying the words below using this tip with Google voice dictation:
dɪsˈpleɪz ˈfɪgəz
ˈpɜːʧəs-rɪˈleɪtɪd ˈdeɪtə
kəmˈpeərɪŋ
dɪˈpɑːtmənt stɔːz
ˈɒnˌlaɪn stɔːz
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˈəʊvərɔːl pəˈspɛktɪv, ɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærənt ðæt
kənˈsɪdərəbli mɔː ˈpɒpjʊlə
ɪn tɜːmz ɒv
ɪn ˌɒpəˈreɪʃən
ˈprɒfɪts
ˈrɛvɪnjuː
ˈrɛlətɪvli
ˈhəʊldɪŋ ə smɔːl ɛʤ
ɪksˈpɪərɪənst ˈmiːnɪŋfʊli ˈgreɪtə grəʊθ
ˌəʊvəˈwɛlmɪŋli
ɪn ˈfeɪvər ɒv
əˈkɔːdɪŋ tuː ðə ˈdeɪtə
ʤʌst
ˈfɪzɪkəl ləʊˈkeɪʃənz
prɪˈzɛntɪd
ˈnærəʊ ədˈvɑːntɪʤ
ˈriːteɪl
kənˈsɜːnɪŋ
dɪsˈpleɪd ˈmɑːʤɪnəli ˈhaɪə ˈfaɪnl ˈnʌmbəz
əˈkaʊntɪd fɔː
kəmˈpeəd tuː
kənˈsɪdərəbli ˈhaɪə
ˈrɛlətɪv tuː
Vocabulary Practice
Remember and fill in the blanks. Note it on a piece of paper so you can remember better:
The table d____________________s for p___________________________________g Australian d____________________s and o_________________s in 2011. L____________________________________________________________t online stores were c_________________________________________f the number of businesses i________________n though p_________s and r__________e were r___________y closer together, with online h_________________________e for each. The online stores also e_________________________________________h.
The number of businesses was o_______________y i________________f online stores a______________________a at 368 online to j______t 67 p____________________s. However, profit figures in Australian dollars (AUD) p_____________d a more n____________________e for online r_______l at $863 and $807 for department stores.
C_____________g revenue, online purchases also d______________________________________s. Online purchase revenue a______________r $13,400 c_______________o $12,700 for department locations. Finally, the growth percentage was c______________________r for online (.6%) r_______________o physical department stores (.4%).
Listening Practice
Listen to the related topic below and practice with these activities:
Reading Practice
Read more and use these ideas to practice:
Speaking Practice
Practice with the following related questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:
Buying
- Which item do you buy the most?
- Do you care about the price when buying an item?
- What was the last thing you bought?
- Are good products always expensive?
Writing Practice
Practice with the related line graph below and then check with my sample answer:
The table compares Australian department and online stores regarding the number of businesses, profits, revenues, and the growth rate in the year 2011.
Overall, it is readily apparent that the number of businesses of online stores was overwhelmingly higher than their department counterparts though the differences in profits and sales revenue were subtle with online stores holding a small edge. It is also noticeable that the rate of growth was slightly higher for online stores than for department stores.
In 2011, the number of businesses online stores had was 368, which was more than five times higher than the figure for department stores, at merely 67. However, profits that online stores made in the same year were just negligibly higher than those of department stores, at $863 and $807, respectively.
In terms of sales revenue, $13,400 was generated from selling on the Internet, as compared to brick-and-mortar stores with $12,700. Finally, the growth rate was slightly lower for department stores, at .4%, than for online stores, at .6%.
Well written!
Some really nice vocabulary and very accurate grammar – everyone can learn a lot from your writing!