Task 1 · pie chart · 18 samples

The charts below show the main reasons why students chose a particular university in the UK, in 1997 and 2007.

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Plan your answer

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Ideas to explore

Compare the leading reason across both years: suitable degree courses ranked first, rising slightly from 35% to 37%.
Highlight the largest increase: choosing a university close to the parental home went from 10% to 22%.
Contrast the sharpest decline with the smaller fall: sports and social activities dropped from 19% to 6%, while quality of resources moved from 21% to 17%.

Suggested structure

Paraphrase the chart topic and identify both years.
Give an overview of the top reason and the most notable increases and decreases.
Describe the 1987 figures, grouping the largest and smallest categories.
Compare the 2007 figures with 1987, using exact percentages and clear change language.

Useful vocabulary & examples

accounted for: made up a particular percentage or share
Suitable degree courses accounted for 35% of responses in 1987.
rose slightly: increased by a small amount
The share choosing suitable degree courses rose slightly to 37%.
increased considerably: grew by a noticeable amount
The proportion choosing a university close to home increased considerably, from 10% to 22%.
fell substantially: decreased by a large amount
Good sports and social activities fell substantially, from 19% to 6%.

Sample answers

AI-completed learning example

200 words · Illustrative target band

The pie graphs illustrate information regarding five primary factors driving the university selection of students in the UK between 1997 and 2007. Overall, there was a decreasing number of students choosing their universities based on most given reasons, except for suitable degree courses and proximity to parental home factors, which showed a reversed trend. Additionally, the first pie is labelled 1987 in the graphic…

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AI-completed learning example

187 words · Illustrative target band

The data compares the factors driving students’ application to a university in the UK in 1987 and in 2007. Overall, there were increases in the percentages of the suitability of majors, the distance between the university and home, and the teaching quality, while the figure for the quality of resources, sports and social activities decreased. In 1987, suitable degree courses were the leading reason, at 35%, followed …

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AI-completed learning example

208 words · Illustrative target band

The two pie charts give information about the major reasons why students chose a particular university in the United Kingdom in 1987 and 2007. Overall, while the suitability of degree courses remained the most significant reason in both years, remarkable changes occurred in other areas. Taking a closer look at the charts, it is obvious that they compare five reasons: quality of resources, suitable degree courses, pro…

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