Ielts Academic Writing Task 1 Sample 12

You should spend a maximum of 20 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic: 

The image provides information about the profitability development of Spotify.

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

You should write at least 150 words.

The graph illustrates Spotify’s financial performance from 2009 to 2024, tracking both annual net income/loss after taxes and paid subscriber growth, with values presented in millions of euros and subscriber numbers respectively.

The company’s financial trajectory shows persistent net losses from 2009 through 2022, with the most substantial deficit occurring around 2017 at approximately -€1,200 million. Despite these consistent losses, the period was characterized by steady growth in paid subscribers, as indicated by the ascending green line.

A significant financial turning point emerges in 2023, with the company recording its first positive net income. This trend is projected to continue into 2024, suggesting a transition toward sustained profitability. Concurrently, paid subscriber numbers maintain their upward trajectory, reaching approximately 300 million by the end of the observed period.

The data demonstrates Spotify’s evolution from a growth-focused business model, characterized by substantial investments and losses, to an increasingly profitable enterprise. The parallel growth in subscriber base and financial performance post-2022 indicates a successful transition in the company’s business strategy toward profitability while maintaining market expansion.