Expenditure on Children’s Sports and Participation
You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The graphs below show the average monthly expenditure on children’s sports and participation in different sports in the UK from 2008 to 2014.
Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
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Sample Answer 1
The two line graphs illustrate the average monthly expenditure on children’s sports and the participation levels in three specific sports—football, athletics, and swimming—in the United Kingdom from 2008 to 2014.
Overall, spending on children’s sports saw a consistent rise throughout this period, and football remained the most popular sport among children, with significantly more participants than athletics or swimming. However, athletics experienced a sharp increase in participation between 2010 and 2012, closing the gap with other sports.
In terms of expenditure, monthly spending started at £20 million in 2008 and rose steadily over the years. By 2011, this amount had surpassed £25 million, and it reached around £32 million by 2014, indicating a continuous growth in financial investment towards children’s sports activities.
Regarding participation, football had the highest number of young participants in each year, beginning with approximately 8 million children in 2008 and seeing a slight increase to around 9 million by 2014. Swimming participation also grew moderately, beginning at about 2 million in 2008 and reaching close to 4 million by 2014. Athletics, while initially the least popular, surged dramatically from roughly 1 million participants in 2010 to about 5 million in 2012, and it stabilized slightly below this figure by 2014.
Sample Answer 2
The two line graphs illustrate the monthly expenditure on children’s sports and participation in three specific sports—football, athletics, and swimming—in the United Kingdom over the period from 2008 to 2014.
In general, the average monthly expenditure on children’s sports saw a steady upward trend, while football consistently maintained its popularity with the highest number of participants. Notably, athletics experienced a significant rise in participation during the middle of the observed period, bringing its numbers closer to those of other sports.
According to the expenditure data, parents spent approximately £20 million monthly on children’s sports in 2008, and this figure rose gradually each year. By 2014, the spending reached roughly £32 million, reflecting a consistent increase in financial commitment towards these activities over the years.
Turning to the participation figures, football attracted the largest number of young participants throughout the period, beginning with close to 8 million in 2008 and showing a slight growth by 2014. Meanwhile, swimming witnessed a steady increase, starting at a lower baseline and reaching nearly 4 million participants by the end of the period. Athletics, although initially less popular, saw a sharp rise from 2010 to 2012, with its participant count peaking around 5 million before leveling off slightly below this in 2014. This rapid growth in athletics marked a noticeable shift in children’s sports participation patterns.
Sample Answer 3
The two line graphs depict the monthly expenditure on children’s sports and participation levels in three sports—football, athletics, and swimming—in the UK from 2008 to 2014.
Overall, the monthly expenditure on children’s sports demonstrated a continuous rise throughout this period, while football remained the most popular sport among children. Athletics, however, displayed the most pronounced growth in participation, particularly between 2010 and 2012, reaching levels closer to the other sports.
The data on spending shows a gradual increase, beginning at approximately £20 million per month in 2008 and rising steadily over the years. By 2014, parents’ monthly investment in children’s sports reached around £32 million, indicating a consistent rise in financial support for sports-related activities.
Looking at the participation figures, football held the highest number of young participants each year, starting at about 8 million in 2008 and growing moderately by 2014. Swimming also saw steady growth, starting with a lower number of participants and nearly doubling by the end of the period. Athletics, though initially the least popular, experienced a sharp surge between 2010 and 2012, bringing its participant numbers close to 5 million, after which it leveled off. This surge in athletics participation stands out as a significant trend in children’s sports engagement over the years.
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