Academic Writing - Model Answer (Task 1)

The table provides data on both male and female students obtaining teacher training qualifications in two time periods.

In 2005/6 approximately three times more students obtained a PGCE (24,405) rather than a BEd and other degrees (7,525). There were more than twice the number of females (17,420) with a PGCE than males (6,980) with the proportion of male qualifiers being 28.6%. A smaller number of male students (1,085) obtained a BEd and other degrees which amounted to less than 15%.

In the following academic year, the numbers of total PGCE qualifiers fell by 505 while those of BEd and other degrees went up by 520. The number of females with a PGCE remained almost the same at 17,415 while the males dropped by 1.5% to reach 6,485. There was a 0.1% rise in the proportion of male BEd and other degree qualifications which amounted to 1,125.

Overall, there were more females obtaining teacher training qualifications in both years with the PGCE course being preferred the most by both genders. There was a greater proportion of male qualifiers in 2005/6.