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

Try your own response before reading the samples.

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

  1. Paraphrase the chart topic and identify both years.
  2. Give an overview of the top reason and the most notable increases and decreases.
  3. Describe the 1987 figures, grouping the largest and smallest categories.
  4. 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

190 words · Illustrative target band

The two pie charts illustrate primary factors that influenced students’ decisions to pursue higher education institutions in the UK from 1997 to 2007. Overall, it is evident that academic-related reasons have become prominent over a decade, while non-academic aspects have been marginalized. The proportion of relevant academic programs consistently remained the prevailing factor, while robust growth was seen in the pr…

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AI-completed learning example

174 words · Illustrative target band

The two pie charts illustrate the main reasons why students selected a particular university in the UK in 1987 and 2007. Overall, while the suitability of degree courses remained the most significant reason in both years, notable changes occurred in other areas. The importance of proximity to parental homes increased significantly, whereas factors like teaching quality changed only modestly, rising from 15% to 18%, w…

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AI-completed learning example

194 words · Illustrative target band

The charts compare the primary factors that influenced students’ decisions to attend a specific university in the UK in 1987 and 2007. Overall, the most notable changes are the increased importance of suitable degree courses and quality of teaching over the 20-year period, while the priority given to quality of resources and good sports/social activities declined considerably. In 1987, suitable degree courses were th…

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