You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The graph below shows four countries of residence of overseas students in Australia.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
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Model Answer 1
The graph illustrates the number of overseas students coming to Australia from four countries of residence—Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore—between 1982 and 2000.
Overall, the most striking features are the sharp rise in Indonesian student numbers and the fluctuating trend in Hong Kong's student figures. In contrast, the number of students from Malaysia and Singapore grew steadily over the years. Indonesia witnessed the most rapid growth, while Hong Kong experienced considerable volatility during the same period.
In more detail, Indonesia started with approximately 2,000 students in 1982, but this figure surged significantly after 1994, peaking at around 27,000 in 1998. However, the numbers dropped slightly towards the end of the period but remained well above those from the other countries. Meanwhile, Malaysia showed a more gradual increase in student arrivals, with numbers rising from around 5,000 in 1982 to nearly 17,000 by 2000.
As for Hong Kong, the number of students fluctuated significantly between 1987 and 1999, culminating in a peak of about 18,000 in 2000. Singapore, on the other hand, exhibited a more stable pattern, with student numbers steadily increasing from below 2,000 in 1982 to nearly 20,000 by 2000. These trends demonstrate that, aside from Indonesia’s rapid growth and Hong Kong’s oscillations, the other two countries of residence of overseas students in Australia showed relatively smooth growth.
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Model Answer 2
The graph provides data on the number of students arriving in Australia for education from four countries of residence—Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore—over the period from 1982 to 2000.
Overall, the most notable features are the substantial increase in Indonesian student numbers and the dramatic oscillations in the number of Hong Kong’s students, while the other two countries displayed comparatively gradual growth trends. Indonesia led the surge in student arrivals, though this growth slowed in the final years. In contrast, although the presence of Hong Kong’s students in Australia oscillated from 1987 onwards until 1999, Malaysia and Singapore experienced steady upward trends in student arrivals.
Looking more closely, Indonesian students started at a low figure, with around 2,000 in 1982, but their numbers rapidly climbed after 1994, peaking at approximately 27,000 by 1998. However, this figure experienced a decline towards 2000, though it remained higher than the figures for the other countries throughout the period. Meanwhile, Malaysia's student arrivals saw a consistent, albeit slower, rise from around 5,000 in 1982 to about 17,000 in 2000.
The student numbers from Hong Kong fluctuated substantially between 1987 and 1999, reaching a peak of nearly 18,000 by 2000. Singapore, on the other hand, exhibited a more stable and gradual increase, with student numbers growing from below 2,000 in 1982 to nearly 20,000 by the end of the period. This shows that, the overseas students in Australia from Malaysia and Singapore experienced relatively steady growth.
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Model Answer 3
The graph illustrates the number of students arriving in Australia for education from the four countries of residence—Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore—over the period from 1982 to 2000.
Overall, the most significant features are the sharp rise in Indonesian student numbers and the fluctuations in Hong Kong’s student numbers, while Malaysia and Singapore displayed more steady increases. Indonesia saw the most pronounced growth, though this upward trend tapered off towards the end of the period. Hong Kong's student arrivals oscillated, in contrast to the consistent growth trends of Malaysia and Singapore.
In greater detail, Indonesian student numbers were minimal at around 2,000 in 1982, but they began to increase rapidly after 1994, peaking at approximately 27,000 by 1998. After this point, the numbers declined slightly but still remained significantly higher than those of the other countries throughout the period. Meanwhile, Malaysia experienced a gradual rise in student numbers, starting from around 5,000 in 1982 and reaching approximately 17,000 by 2000.
Hong Kong’s student arrivals in Australia fluctuated considerably between 1987 and 1999, with a peak of nearly 18,000 by 2000. By contrast, Singapore showed a steady increase from below 2,000 students in 1982 to nearly 20,000 in 2000. This suggests that, aside from the fluctuations in Hong Kong, the other three countries of residence of overseas students in Australia exhibited more predictable growth patterns.
Model Answer 4
The graph illustrates the number of students from four countries of residence—Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore—who arrived in Australia for education between 1982 and 2000.
Overall, the most striking feature is the significant increase in student numbers from Indonesia, while the other three countries experienced more moderate, fluctuating growth. Indonesia saw the largest surge in student arrivals, followed by a decline in the last few years. Meanwhile, though Hong Kong experienced dramatic oscillations, Malaysia and Singapore displayed steady growth in student arrivals throughout the given period.
In detail, the number of Indonesian students started at a very low figure at around 2000 in 1982 but rose rapidly after 1994, reaching a peak of around 27,000 by 1998. However, this number dropped noticeably after 1998, while still remaining higher than the figures for the other three countries. On the other hand, Malaysia, represented by the dotted line, saw a smaller but relatively consistent rise from around 5,000 students in 1982 to approximately 17,000 by 2000.
Although Singapore showed a stable increases, Hong Kong's student numbers fluctuated heavily between 1987 and 1999, peaking nearly 18,000 in 2000. Singapore experienced a steady growth from 1988 to 2000, with the number of students rising from below 2,000 to around 20,000 by the end of the period.
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