Information about students studying in six departments in an Australian university in 2011

IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 - Tables

20:00

IELTS Writing Task 1 Question

The table below gives information about students studying in six departments in an Australian university in 2011. Summarise the information making comparisons where relevant.

Common Questions for the Table

1. Graph Type: Table

2. Title: Student Distribution in Six Departments at an Australian University in 2011

3. What are the units of measurement?: Percentage of students

4. Who: Students studying in six different departments

5. When: 2011

6. Where: An Australian university

7. Topic: Gender distribution and language background of students in various academic departments

Comparison Showing and Trends Any change over time (such as an increase or a decrease) is a trend.

Comparison 1 : Gender Distribution

Details:

1. More females than males studied in the Arts and humanities departments.

2. In the humanities department, females made up 72% of the student population, while in information technology and engineering, they constituted only 17% and 15% respectively.

Comparison 2 : Non-Native Speakers

Details:

1. The proportion of non-native English speakers was below 50% across all departments.

2. Science subjects attracted a relatively higher percentage of non-native speakers, ranging from 38% to 49%, while humanities and education had lower percentages at 12% and 16% respectively.

Comparison 3 : Foreign Student Proportion

Details:

1. Physics and information technology departments had the highest percentages of foreign students at 56% each.

2. Engineering followed with 48%, while science had 31%. Humanities and education had the lowest foreign student representation, comprising only 20% and 23%, respectively.

Sample Answer

The table provided illustrates the distribution of students across six departments in an Australian university in 2011, highlighting differences in gender and language background.

Overall, it is evident that while more females than males enrolled in Arts, non-native speakers showed a preference for Science subjects.

In the humanities, education, science, and physics departments, over half of the students were female, with the humanities department having the highest female representation at 72%. Conversely, only 17% and 15% of students in information technology and engineering were female, respectively.

Regarding language background, non-native English speakers constituted less than half of the department’s student population. Science subjects had a relatively higher percentage of non-native speakers, ranging from 38% to 49%, whereas humanities and education had only 12% and 16%, respectively.

The trend for foreign students mirrored that of non-native speakers, with physics and information technology leading at 56% each, followed by engineering at 48%. Humanities and education departments had the lowest foreign student representation, at just 20% and 23%.

Top 28 Vocabularies

Vocabulary	Type	Meaning	Synonyms	Examples
Proportion	Noun	A part or share of the whole	Ratio, fraction	“More females than males studied in Arts.”
Preference	Noun	A greater liking for one alternative over another	Choice, inclination	“Non-native speakers preferred Science subjects.”
Representation	Noun	The action of speaking or acting on behalf of someone	Depiction, portrayal	“Females made up 72% of the student population in humanities.”
Enrollment	Noun	The act of enrolling or being enrolled	Registration, admission	“The distribution of students across six departments.”
Gender distribution	Noun	The relative numbers of males and females in a population	Gender ratio	“Gender distribution varied significantly by department.”
Illustrates	Verb	To show or explain in detail	Demonstrates, depicts	“The table illustrates the distribution of students across departments.”
Distribution	Noun	The way something is spread or allocated	Allocation, dispersion	“The distribution of students varied across departments.”
Department	Noun	A specific division of study or faculty	Division, section	“There were six departments represented in the table.”
Background	Noun	The circumstances or facts that form the setting	Context, history	“The students’ language background differed across departments.”
Enrolled	Verb	To sign up or register for a course or program	Registered, signed up	“More females than males were enrolled in the Arts department.”
Preference	Noun	A greater liking for something	Inclination, choice	“Non-native speakers showed a preference for Science subjects.”
Represented	Verb	To be present or included in a group	Depicted, portrayed	“Females represented 72% of students in the humanities department.”
Proportion	Noun	A part or share in relation to the whole	Ratio, fraction	“The proportion of females in the engineering department was very low.”
Non-native speakers	Noun	Individuals who speak a language that is not their first	Foreign speakers, second-language speakers	“Non-native speakers made up a significant portion of Science students.”
Constituted	Verb	To make up or form part of a whole	Composed, formed	“Non-native speakers constituted less than half of the department’s population.”
Language background	Noun	The linguistic origin or proficiency of a person	Linguistic background	“Students’ language background influenced their department preference.”
Significantly	Adverb	In a way that is important or noticeable	Considerably, notably	“The number of females in humanities was significantly higher than in IT.”
Diverse	Adjective	Showing a great deal of variety	Varied, different	“The department had a diverse group of students with varying language backgrounds.”
Rate	Noun	The amount or degree of something measured over time	Percentage, proportion	“The rate of female students was highest in the humanities.”
Trend	Noun	A general direction or pattern	Pattern, movement	“The trend for foreign students mirrored that of non-native speakers.”
Foreign students	Noun	Students who come from countries other than the one where they study	International students, overseas students	“Physics had the highest percentage of foreign students.”
Contrast	Verb/Noun	To compare in order to highlight differences	Differentiate, compare	“The proportion of female students in engineering contrasted sharply with that in humanities.”
Relatively	Adverb	In comparison with something else	Comparatively, somewhat	“Science had a relatively higher proportion of non-native speakers.”
Percentage	Noun	A rate or proportion per 100	Ratio, share	“The percentage of foreign students in IT was high.”
Representation	Noun	The act of portraying or acting on behalf of someone	Depiction, portrayal	“The representation of females in the humanities was the highest.”
Demonstrated	Verb	To show or prove clearly	Showed, exhibited	“The data demonstrated that female students were more likely to enroll in humanities.”
Incorporated	Verb	To include or combine as part of something	Included, combined	“Non-native speakers were incorporated into the Science departments in significant numbers.”
Proportionate	Adjective	Being in correct or balanced proportion	Balanced, equal	“The proportionate distribution of students across departments varied.”

Our Books

Master IELTS Speaking Part 1

Buy Now

IELTS Writing Task 1 Book

Buy Now

IELTS Writing Task 2 Book

Buy Now

Writing Task 1 Question Types



Diagrams

Practice IELTS Other Modules



IELTS Listening

The IELTS Listening test assesses how well you can understand spoken English in various contexts. It lasts about 30 minutes and is divided into four sections with a total of 40 questions. The listening tasks become increasingly difficult as the test progresses.



IELTS Academic Reading

The IELTS Academic Reading section assesses your ability to understand and interpret a variety of texts in academic settings. It is designed to evaluate a range of reading skills, including skimming for gist, reading for main ideas, reading for detail, understanding inferences, and recognizing a writer's opinions and arguments.



IELTS Speaking

The IELTS Speaking test assesses your ability to communicate in English on everyday topics. It lasts 11-14 minutes and consists of three parts: introduction, cue card, and a discussion based on the cue card topic.



IELTS General Reading

IELTS General Reading tests your ability to understand and interpret various types of texts. Here are some key areas and types of content you can expect to encounter in the reading section, along with tips for effective preparation.



IELTS Academic Writing Task 1

In IELTS Academic Writing Task 1, you are presented with a visual representation of information, such as graphs, charts, tables, or diagrams, and you are required to summarize, compare, or explain the data in your own words.



IELTS General Writing Task 1

In IELTS General Writing Task 1, you are required to write a letter based on a given situation. The letter can be formal, semi-formal, or informal, depending on the prompt. Here’s a breakdown of the key components to include in your letter



IELTS Academic Writing Task 2

In IELTS Academic Writing Task 2, you are required to write an essay in response to a question or topic. Here’s a guide to help you understand the essential elements of this task



IELTS Exam Tips

To succeed in the IELTS exam, practice regularly, familiarize yourself with the test format, improve your vocabulary, develop time management skills, and take mock tests to build confidence.



Grammer for IELTS

Grammar is the foundation of effective communication in English. Understanding tense usage, subject-verb agreement, and sentence structure enhances clarity and coherence in writing and speaking.



Vocabulary for IELTS

Vocabulary plays a crucial role in the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) exam, especially in the Speaking and Writing sections. Here’s an overview of why vocabulary is important and how it impacts your performance