Modes of Transport Used by Children Traveling to School (1990 and 2010)
IELTS Academic Writing Task 1 - Bar Graph![](https://www.ieltsvisa.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Modes-of-Transport-Used-by-Children-Traveling-to-School-1990-and-2010.png)
IELTS Writing Task 1 Question
The graph below shows the number of trips made by children in one country to travel to and from school in 1990 and 2010 using various modes of transport. Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features and make comparisons where relevant.
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Common Questions for the Bar Graph
Key Points for the Report
1. Graph Type: Column Graph
2.Title: Modes of Transport Used by Children Traveling to School (1990 and 2010)
3. Focus : Comparison of trips made by children in different years and modes of transport
Comparison Showing and Trends Any change over time (such as an increase or a decrease) is a trend.
Comparison 1 : Transport Modesions
- Details:
1. A variety of transport modes were analyzed: bus, car, walking, cycling, and combined bus and walking.
Comparison 2: Shifts Over Time
-
Details:
1. A significant shift occurred between 1990 and 2010 in preferred modes of transport.
Sample Answer
The column graph illustrates the number of trips made by children travelling to and from school in a particular country between 1990 and 2010, utilizing various modes of transport. The vertical axis represents the number of trips in millions per year, while the horizontal axis categorizes the transport modes: bus, car, walking, cycling, and bus and walking combined.
In 1990, bus trips dominated with around 12 million, significantly surpassing walking and cycling, which each accounted for approximately 6 million trips. Car trips were the least popular at about 4 million, while the combined trips by bus and walking reached around 7 million.
By 2010, the landscape of school travel had changed dramatically. Car trips rose to about 12.5 million, becoming the most utilized mode of transport, with an increase of 8.5 million from 1990. Conversely, bus trips decreased to 6 million, halving from their previous count. Walking trips dropped to 3 million, and cycling further reduced to only 2 million. Combined bus and walking trips fell by 1 million from 1990.
Overall, the data reveals a clear shift from buses as the primary mode of transport in 1990 to cars taking precedence by 2010.
Top 26 Vocabularies
Vocabulary (type) | Type |
Meaning | Synonyms | Examples |
Illustrates | Verb | To explain or make something clear by using examples or visuals | Demonstrates, depicts, shows | “The graph illustrates the number of trips made by children.” |
Dominated | Verb | To be the most prominent or prevalent | Controlled, prevailed, led | “In 1990, bus trips dominated with around 12 million.” |
Significant | Adjective | Sufficiently great or important to be worthy of attention | Notable, considerable, substantial | “A significant shift occurred between 1990 and 2010.” |
Utilized | Verb | To make practical and effective use of | Employed, applied, used | “Cars became the most utilized mode of transport.” |
Landscape | Noun | A particular area or aspect of a situation | Environment, scene, setting | “The landscape of school travel had changed dramatically.” |
Trips | Noun | Journeys or travels made to a destination | Journeys, excursions | “The graph shows the number of trips made by children to and from school.” |
Number | Noun | A count or total of something | Quantity, total | “The number of trips in 1990 was higher for buses than other modes.” |
Vertical Axis | Noun | The axis in a graph that runs vertically, representing data | Y-axis, upright axis | “The vertical axis represents the number of trips made.” |
Horizontal Axis | Noun | The axis in a graph that runs horizontally, representing categories | X-axis, side axis | “The horizontal axis categorizes the transport modes.” |
Category | Noun | A group or class of things with shared characteristics | Class, type, group | “The data is categorized into modes of transport such as bus, car, walking, and cycling.” |
Mode | Noun | A method or way of doing something | Method, means, manner | “The most popular mode of transport in 2010 was by car.” |
Dominant | Adjective | Having control or influence over something | Leading, primary, chief | “In 1990, buses were the dominant form of transport.” |
Surpassed | Verb | To exceed or go beyond in amount, quality, or degree | Outpaced, exceeded | “Bus trips surpassed walking and cycling trips significantly in 1990.” |
Significantly | Adverb | To an important or notable degree | Substantially, considerably | “Car trips increased significantly from 1990 to 2010.” |
Count | Noun | The total amount or number of something | Total, sum | “The count of car trips in 2010 reached 12.5 million.” |
Decrease | Verb | To reduce in size, amount, or number | Diminish, lessen | “Bus trips decreased to 6 million by 2010.” |
Rise | Verb | To increase or go up in level, number, or amount | Increase, grow, escalate | “Car trips rose to 12.5 million in 2010.” |
Half | Verb | To reduce by fifty percent | Halve, split | “Bus trips halved from 1990 to 2010.” |
Dropped | Verb | To fall or decrease in amount or number | Fell, declined, decreased | “Walking trips dropped to 3 million by 2010.” |
Further | Adjective | To a greater extent or degree | Additional, more, extra | “Cycling trips further reduced to only 2 million.” |
Shift | Noun | A change or movement from one position to another | Change, transition, move | “There was a shift from buses to cars as the preferred mode of transport.” |
Precedence | Noun | The condition of being more important or having priority | Priority, priority status | “By 2010, cars had taken precedence over buses in school travel.” |
Utilize | Verb | To make use of something | Employ, use, apply | “The various modes of transport were utilized by children for their school trips.” |
Comparative | Adjective | Involving comparison, showing how things differ | Relative, contrasting | “The comparative data shows the increase in car trips and the decrease in bus trips.” |
Demonstrates | Verb | To clearly show or make something evident | Displays, exhibits | “The graph demonstrates the travel trends over the years.” |
Becomes | Verb | To begin to be something or change into a different state | Turns, changes, develops | “Car trips became the most utilized mode of transport by 2010.” |
Overall | Adverb | Considering everything or as a whole | In total, generally | “Overall, there was a dramatic shift in the school travel patterns between 1990 and 2010.” |
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