Band 9: The table below shows the results of a survey that asked male and female university students about their main reasons for choosing their field of study. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words. ### Data for the Table Main Reasons for Choosing a University Major (%) Reason for Choosing Major Male Students Female Students Career Prospects 40% 30% Personal Interest 25% 45% Advice from Parents 15% 10% Teacher's Recommendation 5% 10% Future Salary Potential 15% 5%

The provided table compares the differences between male and female students regarding their main reasons for choosing a particular academic subject, with all data quantified in percentages.

Overall, while male students were largely motivated by extrinsic factors – notably career prospects, parental guidance, and potential earnings – female students were predominantly influenced by more intrinsic motivations like personal interest and teacher’s recommendation.

A granular examination reveals a disparity in the importance of career prospects, with this factor motivating 40% of male students, a figure 10 percentage points higher than that for their female counterparts. In terms of parental advice, there was a 5-percentage-point gap, with this factor influencing 15% of male students compared to 10% of female students. Regarding future salary potential, cited by 15% of male students, this figure starkly contrasts with the mere 5% recorded for their female counterparts.

The most pronounced gender gap was observed in the category of personal interest, which was dominated by female students at 45%, while the figure for male students was only 25%. In the final category, teacher recommendations, the proportion of female students (10%) was double that of male students (5%).