This is an IELTS writing task 1 sample answer essay on the topic of social media presences for small, medium, and large businesses in the UK from the real IELTS exam.

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IELTS Essay Task 1: Social Media Presence for Businesses

The bar chart illustrates the percentage of businesses in the UK who had a social media presence from 2012 to 2016.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

IELTS Essay: Social Media Presence for Businesses
IELTS Essay: Social Media Presence for Businesses

The bar chart displays data concerning the social media presence of small, medium and large businesses in the UK between 2012 and 2016. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that figures for all types of businesses grew despite a widespread and significant pullback in 2015. Large businesses increased the least yet had by far the greatest presence each individual year.

In terms of small businesses, less than 30% (the lowest data point on the chart) had a social media presence in 2012. This number then rose to 35% by 2014, before a pullback to 30%, and a final surge to fewer than 50% with a presence to end the period. The trend for medium-sized businesses was similar, beginning at 31%, rising significantly to slightly under 50% in 2013 and 2014, falling to 30% in 2015, before finally growing to 52% by 2016.

The proportions for large businesses were more than double small and medium enterprises to begin the period (78%). This figure largely plateaued until 2015 when it fell to its nadir of at 51%, preceding a final recovery to 79% in 2016.

Analysis

1. The bar chart displays data concerning the social media presence of small, medium and large businesses in the UK between 2012 and 2016. 2. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that figures for all types of businesses grew despite a widespread and significant pullback in 2015. 3. Large businesses increased the least yet had by far the greatest presence each individual year.

  1. Paraphrase what the bar chart shows.
  2. Write a clear overview summarising the differences.
  3. You might need a second sentence for your overview.

1. In terms of small businesses, less than 30% (the lowest data point on the chart) had a social media presence in 2012. 2. This number then rose to 35% by 2014, before a pullback to 30%, and a final surge to fewer than 50% with a presence to end the period. 3. The trend for medium-sized businesses was similar, beginning at 31%, rising significantly to slightly under 50% in 2013 and 2014, falling to 30% in 2015, before finally growing to 52% by 2016.

  1. Begin writing about the data for the first category.
  2. Describe the next area and compare it to the area before.
  3. Continue describing the data.

1. The proportions for large businesses were more than double small and medium enterprises to begin the period (78%). 2. This figure largely plateaued until 2015 when it fell to its nadir of at 51%, preceding a final recovery to 79% in 2016.

  1. Write about the final other parts of the bar chart – include everything!
  2. There is a lot of data in this one but try to get to all of it.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean? Take some notes on a piece of paper to aid your memory:

The bar chart displays data concerning the social media presence of small, medium and large businesses in the UK between 2012 and 2016. Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that figures for all types of businesses grew despite a widespread and significant pullback in 2015. Large businesses increased the least yet had by far the greatest presence each individual year.

In terms of small businesses, less than 30% (the lowest data point on the chart) had a social media presence in 2012. This number then rose to 35% by 2014, before a pullback to 30%, and a final surge to fewer than 50% with a presence to end the period. The trend for medium-sized businesses was similar, beginning at 31%, rising significantly to slightly under 50% in 2013 and 2014, falling to 30% in 2015, before finally growing to 52% by 2016.

The proportions for large businesses were more than double small and medium enterprises to begin the period (78%). This figure largely plateaued until 2015 when it fell to its nadir of at 51%, preceding a final recovery to 79% in 2016.

Answers

Try to write down or think of an antonym/opposite word for further practice:

displays data shows statistics

concerning having to do with

social media presence how active you are on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, etc.

small, medium and large businesses local and international companies

the UK England, the United Kingdom

Looking from an overall perspective, it is readily apparent that figures overall

all types of every kind of

grew despite increased regardless of

widespread common throughout

significant pullback big reduction

least yet lowest however still

by far a lot more

greatest biggest

each individual year every single year in question

in terms of when it comes to

less than lower compared to

lowest the least

rose increased

final surge last increase

fewer than less than

to end the period at the end of the time surveyed

trend pattern

medium-sized not too big or small

similar almost the same

beginning at starting at

rising significantly to increasing a lot to

slightly under a little less than

falling to decreasing to

before finally prior to a last

proportions percentages

more than double 200%+

enterprises companies

to begin the period at the start

largely plateaued until mostly stay the same up to

fell decreased

nadir lowest point

preceding before

recovery coming back to its previous number

Pronunciation

Practice saying the words below using this tip with Google voice dictation:

dɪsˈpleɪz ˈdeɪtə 
kənˈsɜːnɪŋ 
ˈsəʊʃəl ˈmiːdiə ˈprɛzns 
smɔːlˈmiːdiəm ænd lɑːʤ ˈbɪznɪsɪz 
ðə juː-keɪ 
ˈlʊkɪŋ frɒm ən ˈəʊvərɔːl pəˈspɛktɪvɪt ɪz ˈrɛdɪli əˈpærənt ðæt ˈfɪgəz 
ɔːl taɪps ɒv 
gruː dɪsˈpaɪt 
ˈwaɪdsprɛd 
sɪgˈnɪfɪkənt ˈpʊlbæk 
liːst jɛt 
baɪ fɑː 
ˈgreɪtɪst 
iːʧ ˌɪndɪˈvɪdjʊəl jɪə
ɪn tɜːmz ɒv 
lɛs ðæn 
ˈləʊɪst 
rəʊz 
ˈfaɪnl sɜːʤ 
ˈfjuːə ðæn 
tuː ɛnd ðə ˈpɪərɪəd
trɛnd 
ˈmiːdiəm-saɪzd 
ˈsɪmɪlə
bɪˈgɪnɪŋ æt 
ˈraɪzɪŋ sɪgˈnɪfɪkəntli tuː 
ˈslaɪtli ˈʌndə 
ˈfɔːlɪŋ tuː 
bɪˈfɔː ˈfaɪnəli 
prəˈpɔːʃənz 
mɔː ðæn ˈdʌbl 
ˈɛntəpraɪzɪz 
tuː bɪˈgɪn ðə ˈpɪərɪəd 
ˈlɑːʤli ˈplætəʊd ənˈtɪl 
fɛl 
ˈneɪdɪə 
pri(ː)ˈsiːdɪŋ 
rɪˈkʌvəri 

Vocabulary Practice

Remember and fill in the blanks. Note it on a piece of paper so you can remember better:

The bar chart d_____________________________g the s______________________e of s______________________________s in t________K between 2012 and 2016. L________________________________________________________________s for a______________f businesses g_____________e a w___________d and s____________k in 2015. Large businesses increased the l________t had b______r the g__________t presence e__________________r.

I______________f small businesses, l____________n 30% (the l_________t data point on the chart) had a social media presence in 2012. This number then r_____e to 35% by 2014, before a pullback to 30%, and a f___________e to f____________n 50% with a presence t_________________d. The t_______d for m_______________d businesses was s__________r, b_____________t 31%, r________________________o s________________r 50% in 2013 and 2014, f_____________o 30% in 2015, b____________y growing to 52% by 2016.

The p______________s for large businesses were m_______________e small and medium e_____________s t__________________d (78%). This figure l_______________________l 2015 when it f_____l to its n_________r of at 51%, p___________g a final r__________y to 79% in 2016.

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:

Concentration (Ebook available on my Patreon)

  1. Do you find it hard to concentrate?
  2. What do you do to concentrate better?
  3. Did you concentrate on your studies a lot when you were younger?

Writing Practice

Practice with the related table below and then check with my sample answer:

IELTS Essay: Distances Travelled Bar Chart

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