IELTS Task 1 Table Sample: Student Numbers (Band 7)
Question
The table below shows the number of international students, by major field of study, enrolled in higher education in three different countries in 2022. The figures are given in thousands.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
| Field of Study | USA (in thousands) | UK (in thousands) | Australia (in thousands) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business & Management | 210.5 | 135.2 | 95.8 |
| Engineering | 195.8 | 85.6 | 62.1 |
| Health Sciences | 98.2 | 70.1 | 55.4 |
| Arts & Humanities | 65.4 | 92.5 | 38.7 |
| Computer Science | 150.3 | 68.9 | 71.3 |
Write at least 150 words.
The table illustrates the number of international students, measured in thousands, who were enrolled in five major fields of study in the USA, the UK, and Australia during 2022.
Overall, the USA was the most popular destination for overseas students across the majority of the disciplines listed. Business & Management consistently ranked as the most common major in all three nations, while the UK was the leading choice for students of Arts & Humanities.
In detail, the USA attracted the highest number of students in four of the five academic fields. Business & Management and Engineering were the most prominent choices, with figures of 210,500 and 195,800 respectively. The USA's enrollment in engineering, for instance, was more than double the 85,600 students in the UK. Computer Science was also a significant field in the USA, with 150,300 students, a number substantially higher than the UK's 68,900 and Australia's 71,300.
Regarding the other countries, Business & Management was also the top preference in both the UK (135,200) and Australia (95,800). A notable exception to the USA's dominance was in Arts & Humanities, where the UK enrolled 92,500 students, considerably more than the 65,400 in the USA. Australia consistently recorded the lowest numbers of international students in every category, including Health Sciences, with 55,400 students.