Student Expenditure over a Three-Year Period in the United Kingdom - Task 1
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Student Expenditure over a Three-Year Period in the United Kingdom - Task 1 Bar Chart

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.


The chart shows student expenditure over a three-year period in the United Kingdom.


Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.


Write at least 150 words

Student Expenditure over a Three-Year Period in the United Kingdom - Task 1 Bar Chart Band 9 Sample Reports

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Sample Answer 1

The diagram delineates the variations in student expenditure over a three-year period in the United Kingdom, as evidenced by a survey conducted by the Department for Education and Employment, examining the years 1996 and 1999 and categorizing the outlays into seven primary facets.


At first glance, it is evident that during the period in question, there was a discernible shift in the spending patterns of UK students under 26 in higher education. Notably, there was a contraction in outlays on food, accommodation, and course-related expenses, contrasted by an uptick in financial commitment to entertainment and travel essentials.


Delving into the specifics, we observe that the allocation of funds for entertainment held the lion's share of expenditures, escalating from 26% to 31% by 1999. Meanwhile, the proportion of student expenditure on accommodation underwent a slight decrease, tapering from 23% to 20%. A similar trend was witnessed in the realms of food, household items, and non-essential travel, where the proportions of spending all diminished.


Furthermore, the expenditure on children, likely attributed to student-parents, constituted a modest 1% in 1996. The financial outlay on educational courses also experienced a downturn from 10% to 7%. The 'Other' category, encompassing non-essential consumer goods and credit repayments, saw an increase from 12% to 16%, reflecting a shift towards these expenses over the three-year period in the United Kingdom.


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Sample Answer 2

The provided bar chart meticulously outlines the shifts in student expenditure over a three-year period in the United Kingdom for individuals under the age of 26 engaged in tertiary education, according to a thorough study by the Department for Education and Employment, focused on the fiscal years of 1996 and 1999.


An overview of the data reveals a nuanced realignment in fiscal habits among students, showcasing a contraction in the percentages dedicated to traditional academic and living expenses, juxtaposed with a rise in allocations for leisure and obligatory travel. This pivot in spending underscores a broader narrative of evolving student priorities during this three-year span in the United Kingdom.


Scrutinizing the details, the expenditure on entertainment not only dominated the chart but also swelled from 26% to 31%, underscoring an amplified student preference for leisure activities. In contrast, the funds allocated for accommodation experienced a relative downturn, descending from 23% to a more modest 20%. A similar trend was observed in the expenditures on sustenance, domestic goods, and non-essential voyages, all of which saw diminished financial shares.


The 'Other' category, which encapsulates non-essential consumer goods and credit repayments, was one of the few to buck the trend, expanding from 12% to a notable 16% of total student expenditure over the three-year period in the United Kingdom. This increment hints at a growing proclivity for such expenditures among the student demographic.


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Sample Answer 3

The bar chart presents an analytical comparison of the areas of student expenditure over a three-year period in the United Kingdom, specifically for individuals under 26 years of age in higher education, drawing on data collated by the Department for Education and Employment for the years 1996 and 1999.


The overview of the chart indicates a clear shift in spending patterns, with entertainment and essential travel claiming increased shares of student budgets, while traditional expenditures such as food, housing, and academic costs have declined. This suggests a reevaluation of fiscal priorities among students in the specified timeframe in the United Kingdom.


Intricately detailed in the third segment of the analysis, expenditures on entertainment not only topped the list but surged from 26% to 31%, signaling a robust inclination towards recreational activities. Accommodation, while still a significant expense, receded from occupying 23% to 20% of the student budget. The trend of reduction continues across necessities like food, household goods, and non-essential travel, all witnessing a drop in their financial allotments. Finally, the 'Other' category, encompassing sundry consumer items and credit repayments, displayed a contrasting trajectory, rising from 12% to 16%.



Sample Answer 4

The bar chart meticulously delineates the pattern of student expenditure over a three-year period in the United Kingdom, focusing on individuals younger than 26 in higher education, with the survey conducted by the Department for Education and Employment in the years 1996 and 1999.


An overarching glimpse of the chart reveals distinct shifts in the financial distribution among UK students under 26, with a marked elevation in funds allocated towards entertainment and essential travel, as opposed to a discernible dip in spending on academic-related costs, living accommodations, and other necessities. This overall change points to a redefined set of fiscal priorities within the student populace over the noted period in the United Kingdom.


Zooming into the specifics, the allocation for entertainment purposes notably soared from 26% to an appreciable 31%, highlighting an augmented preference for leisure amidst the student community. Conversely, the percentage of student expenditure dedicated to accommodation underwent a slight decline from 23% to 20%, mirroring a similar descent in budgeting for food, domestic goods, and non-imperative travel, all of which witnessed a contraction in their respective shares of total expenses.


The 'Other' segment, encompassing items like credit repayments and non-essential consumer goods, stood out with an increment from 12% to 16%, suggesting an increased financial orientation towards these expenditures by the students over the three-year period in the United Kingdom.


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