Destinations for International English Students Reading Answers: This guide presents comprehensive answers for the Destinations for International English Students reading passage. You will find detailed explanations supported by specific location references within the passage for all 15 questions, covering table completion, matching headings, and true/false/not given statements. These answers are designed to help you improve your reading skills and better understand how to locate information quickly and accurately in IELTS Reading tests.
Free IELTS Reading Practice Tests
You need to spend 20 minutes answering Questions (1-15) given below based on the passage.
Paragraph (i)
At any given time, more than a million international students around the world are engaged in the study of the English language in a predominantly English-speaking country. The five most popular destinations, in order of popularity, are the U. S., Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. The reasons for choosing to study English abroad differ with each individual, as do the reasons for the choice of destination.
Paragraph (ii)
Numerous studies conducted in Britain and the United States show that the country of choice depends to a large extent on economic factors. While this should not provoke much surprise, careful analysis of the data suggests that students and their parents are most influenced by the preconceptions they have of the countries considered for study abroad, which, in turn, influence the amount they or their parents are prepared to outlay for the experience. The strength of international business connections between countries also gives a good indication of where students will seek tuition. In the main, students tend to follow the traditional pattern of study for their national group.
Paragraph (iii)
The United States attracts the most diverse array of nationalities to its English language classrooms - this heterogeneity being largely due to its immense pulling power as the world's foremost economy and the resulting extensive focus on U.S. culture. Furthermore, throughout the non-European world, in Asia and North and South America especially, the course books used to teach English in most elementary and high schools introduce students to American English and the American accent from a very early age. Canada also benefits from worldwide North American exposure, but has the most homogenous group of students - most with French as their first language. Before furthering their English skills, students in Europe study from predominantly British English material; most Europeans, naturally, opt for neighboring Britain, but many Asian, Middle-Eastern, and African students decide upon the same route too.
Paragraph (iv)
Australia and New Zealand are often overlooked, but hundreds of thousands of international students have discovered the delights of studying in the Southern Hemisphere. The majority are Asian for reasons that are not difficult to comprehend: the proximity of the two countries to Asia, (Jakarta, the capital of Australia's closest Asian neighbor, Indonesia, is only 5506 kilometers from Sydney), the comparatively inexpensive cost of living and tuition, and, perhaps of most importance to many Asian students whose English study is a prelude to tertiary study, the growing awareness that courses at antipodean universities and colleges are of an exceptionally high standard. In addition, revised entry procedures for overseas students have made it possible for an increasing number to attend classes to improve their English for alternative reasons.
Paragraph (v)
Australia and New Zealand have roughly the same mix of students in their language classrooms, but not all students of English who choose these countries are from Asia. The emerging global consciousness of the late twentieth century has meant that students from as far as Sweden and Brazil are choosing to combine a taste for exotic travel with the study of English 'down under' and in 'the land of the long white cloud'. But even the Asian economic downturn in the 1990s has not significantly altered the demographic composition of the majority of English language classrooms within the region.
Paragraph (vi)
Nor have the economic problems in Asia caused appreciable drops in full-time college and university attendances by Asian students in these two countries. This is partly because there has always been a greater demand for enrolment at Australian and New Zealand tertiary institutions than places available to overseas students. In addition, the economic squeeze seems to have had a compensatory effect. It has clearly caused a reduction in the number of students from affected countries who are financially able to study overseas. However, there has been a slight but noticeable shift towards Australia and New Zealand by less wealthy Asian students who might otherwise have chosen the United States for English study.
Paragraph (vii)
The U.S. and Britain will always be the first choice of most students wishing to study the English language abroad, and it is too early to tell whether this trend will continue. However, economic considerations undoubtedly wield great influence upon Asian and non-Asian students alike. If student expectations can be met in less traditional study destinations, and as the world continues to shrink, future international students of English will be advantaged because the choice of viable study destinations will be wider.
Also Read:
Table Completion (Questions 1–3)
Complete the table below.
Choose NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS AND/OR A NUMBER from the passage for each answer.
Country |
Main Group of Students |
Key Reason for Choice |
---|---|---|
1. _____________ |
French-speaking students |
Exposure to North American English |
2. _____________ |
Mostly Asian students |
Affordable study and living costs |
3. _____________ |
Diverse nationalities |
Cultural influence and strong economy |
Matching Headings (Questions 4–9)
Choose the correct heading for each paragraph (i–vi) from the list of headings below.
Write the correct number (i–ix) in boxes 4–9.
List of Headings
i. The global appeal of studying English in North America
ii. Why students choose certain countries
iii. The most popular countries for learning English
iv. High educational standards in the Southern Hemisphere
v. Economic factors and traditional choices
vi. The influence of American media
vii. Changing patterns in Asian student mobility
viii. Reasons for studying English in Australia and New Zealand
ix. A future with more diverse English study destinations
True/False/Not Given (Questions 10–15)
Do the following statements agree with the information in the passage?
Write TRUE if the statement agrees with the information.
Write FALSE if the statement contradicts the information.
Write NOT GIVEN if there is no information on this.
Table Completion (Questions 1–3)
Question |
Answer |
Location Reference |
Explanation |
---|---|---|---|
1 |
Canada |
Paragraph (iii), 4th sentence |
“Canada also benefits from worldwide North American exposure, but has the most homogenous group of students—most with French as their first language.” This shows French-speaking students mainly go to Canada. |
2 |
Australia and New Zealand |
Paragraph (iv), 2nd and 3rd sentences |
“The majority are Asian… proximity of the two countries to Asia… comparatively inexpensive cost of living and tuition.” This explains Asian students prefer these countries due to cost and location. |
3 |
United States |
Paragraph (iii), 1st and 2nd sentences |
“The United States attracts the most diverse array of nationalities... due to its immense pulling power as the world’s foremost economy and… extensive focus on U.S. culture.” |
Matching Headings (Questions 4–9)
Question |
Paragraph |
Heading Number |
Heading Text |
Location Reference / Explanation |
---|---|---|---|---|
4 |
(i) |
iii |
The most popular countries for learning English |
First paragraph lists “The five most popular destinations…” |
5 |
(ii) |
v |
Economic factors and traditional choices |
Paragraph discusses “economic factors,” “preconceptions,” and “traditional pattern of study for their national group.” |
6 |
(iii) |
i |
The global appeal of studying English in North America |
Talks about US’s economy, culture, and diversity attracting students worldwide. |
7 |
(iv) |
viii |
Reasons for studying English in Australia and New Zealand |
Paragraph explains “Asian majority,” “proximity to Asia,” “inexpensive cost of living and tuition,” and “high educational standards.” |
8 |
(v) |
iv |
High educational standards in the Southern Hemisphere |
Mentions “mix of students,” “exotic travel,” “high standard” of courses in Australia and NZ. |
9 |
(vi) |
vii |
Changing patterns in Asian student mobility |
Discusses “economic problems in Asia,” “shift towards Australia and New Zealand,” and “less wealthy Asian students.” |
True/False/Not Given (Questions 10–15)
Question |
Answer |
Location Reference |
Explanation |
---|---|---|---|
10 |
FALSE |
Paragraph (iii), 4th sentence |
“Before furthering their English skills, students in Europe study from predominantly British English material.” So American English is not the standard in most European schools. |
11 |
TRUE |
Paragraph (iii), 4th sentence |
“Canada… has the most homogenous group of students—most with French as their first language.” Indicates mainly French-speaking students. |
12 |
FALSE |
Paragraph (vi), 2nd sentence |
“There has always been a greater demand for enrolment… than places available to overseas students.” So not all applicants are accepted. |
13 |
TRUE |
Paragraph (vi), 4th sentence |
“Economic squeeze… caused a reduction in the number of students… who are financially able to study overseas.” This refers mainly to the U.S. as per previous context. |
14 |
NOT GIVEN |
No direct information |
Passage does not compare the number of students choosing New Zealand versus the UK explicitly. |
15 |
FALSE |
Paragraph (vii), last sentence |
“Economic considerations undoubtedly wield great influence…” shows cost is still very important to students worldwide. |
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