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Top Priorities by Business Companies in the USA in 2016 - IELTS Task 1 Bar Graph Band 9 Sample Report

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.


The graph below shows the top priorities by business companies in the USA in 2016.


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


Write at least 150 words.

Top Priorities by Business Companies in the USA in 2016 - IELTS Task 1 Bar Graph Band 9 Sample Report

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Sample Answer 1

The bar chart illustrates the top priorities by business companies in the USA in 2016, categorizing data based on company size—ranging from those with fewer than 25 employees to those with over 200 employees.


In general, companies across all sizes focused mainly on generating leads and converting them into customers, indicating a shared emphasis on customer acquisition. However, a closer look reveals differences in priorities, particularly as company size increases, with larger firms giving more attention to cost efficiency and revenue generation from existing customers.


For small companies, with up to 25 employees, the priorities of converting leads to customers and increasing lead numbers were equally high at 71%. These were followed by revenue growth from existing customers at 43%, while providing ROI for marketing activities and reducing acquisition costs lagged significantly, with 33% and 20%, respectively.


In contrast, medium-sized firms (26-200 employees) placed the highest priority on converting leads to customers at 79%, and increasing leads at 73%. Both revenue growth and ROI measurement shared a priority of 47%, while cost reduction received the least focus at 26%. Large firms, with 201 or more employees, also prioritized converting leads (66%) and lead generation (62%) but demonstrated a noticeable inclination toward revenue growth (58%) and ROI measurement (55%), with 30% emphasis on reducing acquisition costs, underscoring a balanced approach to profitability.


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Sample Answer 2

The bar chart illustrates the top priorities by business companies in the USA in 2016, categorizing them according to company size, from small entities with fewer than 25 employees to large corporations with over 200 employees.


Overall, the chart reveals that across all company sizes, primary focus areas included lead generation and converting contacts into customers. Interestingly, larger firms also prioritized cost-efficiency measures, while medium-sized and smaller companies were less focused on minimizing customer acquisition expenses.


For small companies (0 to 25 employees), converting leads and increasing the number of contacts were equally emphasized, both hovering around the highest priorities. Their third focus area was generating revenue from current customers, though significantly lower than the top two priorities. Meanwhile, tracking marketing ROI and reducing acquisition costs were relatively minor concerns in this group.


Medium-sized firms, with 26 to 200 employees, showed a particularly strong emphasis on customer acquisition, placing higher priority on converting leads and generating contacts than smaller companies. This category also displayed balanced interest in increasing revenue from existing clients and tracking the ROI of marketing activities, while reducing acquisition expenses remained the least important.


For large companies (201 or more employees), lead generation and conversion remained crucial; however, this group exhibited a more balanced approach by placing substantial priority on revenue growth from existing clients and measuring ROI. Additionally, a notable portion of these companies aimed to cut down on customer acquisition costs, demonstrating a combined focus on both expanding and managing expenses.



Sample Answer 3

The bar chart displays the top priorities by business companies in the USA in 2016, segmented by company size, ranging from small businesses with fewer than 25 employees to large enterprises with over 200 employees.


Overall, regardless of company size, the primary focus of these businesses was on acquiring new customers, particularly by increasing leads and converting them into paying clients. Notably, larger companies also showed considerable interest in minimizing customer acquisition costs and maximizing revenue from their existing client base, highlighting a balanced approach to both growth and efficiency.


In smaller firms with up to 25 employees, equal emphasis was placed on generating leads and converting these leads into customers, both standing at 71%. These companies also focused moderately on deriving revenue from existing clients (43%), while showing comparatively less interest in tracking ROI (33%) and reducing acquisition costs (20%).


Medium-sized companies (26-200 employees) demonstrated an even higher preference for customer acquisition, with lead conversion and lead generation marked at 79% and 73%, respectively. Additionally, they assigned balanced importance to revenue growth and measuring ROI, each at 47%, but showed minimal concern for cost reduction (26%). Meanwhile, larger companies (201 or more employees) allocated 66% priority to converting leads and 62% to generating leads, while giving significant importance to revenue growth (58%) and ROI (55%). The focus on reducing acquisition costs was higher in large businesses, reaching 30%, indicating a clear attempt to manage expenses.



Sample Answer 4

The bar chart illustrates the top priorities by business companies in the United States in 2016, segmented by company size, from small firms with fewer than 25 employees to large enterprises with over 200 employees.


Broadly speaking, the chart reveals that smaller and medium-sized businesses concentrated primarily on increasing leads and customer conversion. In contrast, large companies spread their focus more evenly across lead generation, customer acquisition, revenue growth, and marketing ROI.


For small companies with under 25 employees, lead generation and converting leads to customers were equally prioritized, with each receiving a 71% emphasis. These businesses also directed some attention toward revenue generation from existing clients, allocating 43%, while showing minimal priority for ROI tracking at 33% and cost reduction at 20%.


In medium-sized companies, consisting of 26 to 200 employees, generating leads took precedence, as shown by a significant 79% priority. Their secondary focus was on converting these leads to customers, with a 73% emphasis. Revenue growth from existing clients and measuring marketing ROI were also relevant, with both aspects receiving equal attention at 47%. Reducing acquisition costs remained their lowest concern.


Large companies, with over 200 employees, exhibited a balanced focus, assigning importance to lead generation (62%) and conversion (66%), along with revenue growth from current clients (58%) and ROI measurement (55%). Cost reduction was less prioritized but still notable at 30%, showing a mix of growth and efficiency-driven strategies in their operations.


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