IELTS Task 1: International Student Numbers (Table)
The Task
The table below shows the number of international students (in thousands) studying in four countries in 2010, 2015, and 2020. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words.
| Country | 2010 | 2015 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | 690 | 975 | 1,075 |
| UK | 405 | 435 | 485 |
| Australia | 270 | 295 | 460 |
| Canada | 240 | 350 | 530 |
Sample Band 8 Response
149 wordsModel answer written by EduForEveryone — for guidance only. Not an official examiner response.
The table shows the number of international students, in thousands, studying in the USA, the UK, Australia and Canada in 2010, 2015 and 2020.
Overall, all four countries attracted more international students over the decade. The USA hosted by far the largest numbers throughout, while Canada experienced the most rapid growth, rising from the smallest host to the second largest.
The USA dominated at every point, with student numbers climbing steadily from 690,000 in 2010 to 1,075,000 in 2020. The UK grew much more slowly, from 405,000 to 485,000, and was overtaken by both Canada and Australia by the end of the period.
Canada saw the steepest increase, more than doubling from 240,000 to 530,000 to become the second-largest destination by 2020. Australia's growth was uneven, rising only modestly from 270,000 to 295,000 between 2010 and 2015 before accelerating sharply to 460,000, which nonetheless left it in fourth place.