Passenger travel by transport type: IELTS Task 1 answer #23, band 5.0

A student’s answer to this repeated IELTS question, shared without their name and marked by Axiom on the four criteria. Select a highlighted passage to see how it could be revised, and why.

128 words. Marked by Axiom on 12 October 2026. Estimated by AI. It isn’t an official IELTS score.

The bar chart this answer describes

Values in distance travelled, units not stated. Values approximate: read from the original chart, not printed on it.

Show the data

Passenger travel by transport type (IELTS Task 1 bar chart) (distance travelled, units not stated)
	1990	2000
Bicycle	3	1
Motorbike	4	2
Air	1	4
Bus	40	42
Rail	35	37
Total	100	110

Academic Task 1128 words

The chart shows the total distance travelled by passengers on five types of transport in the UK between 1990 and 2000.

The bar charts compare five different transports (bicycle, bike, airplane, bus, rail) in terms of the total distance travelled by passengers in the UK between 1990 and 2000. The figures are given as passenger kilometers (billions).

From an overall perspective, airplane, bus, and rail experienced upward trends, albeit at varying levels, while bicycle and bike declined over the period. Of particular note is bus, the transport system maintained its high level of position and recorded the lengthiest distance travelled by passengers.

Coherence & cohesion
Close revision note
RevisedOverall, the data shows that airplane, bus, and rail all experienced upward trends, although at varying levels, while bicycle and bike both declined over the same period.
This revision provides a clearer and more cohesive explanation of the data.
Coherence & cohesion
Close revision note
RevisedNotably, the bus maintained a high position in the transport system and recorded the longest distance travelled by passengers.
This revision simplifies the language and improves the flow of the sentence.

Starting with bicycle, which recorded at about 5 billion kilometers in 1990, however, the transport system reduced slightly, reaching a low level of approximately 3 billion kilometers. At the same time, the transport of bike experienced similar trend. The travelling of bike accounted for 7 billion kilometers.

Coherence & cohesion
Close revision note
RevisedHowever, starting with a distance of about 5 billion kilometers in 1990, the bicycle transport system slightly reduced, reaching a low level of approximately 3 billion kilometers.
This revision improves the sentence structure and makes the meaning clearer.
Lexical resource
Close revision note
RevisedSimultaneously, the bike transport system experienced a similar trend.
The revised sentence is more precise and uses more appropriate vocabulary.

Select a highlighted passage to see its suggested revision.

Estimated by AI. It isn’t an official IELTS score.

What Axiom wrote for each criterion: why the answer earned its band, and what to work on next.

Coherence & cohesion

Band 5.0/ 9

The essay is logically organized and the information is clearly and coherently presented. However, there are a few areas where the flow of information could be improved.

Suggestions

Use a variety of cohesive devices to improve the flow of information.
Consider using more complex sentence structures to provide a more detailed and nuanced explanation of the data.

Sentence revisions 3

RevisedOverall, the data shows that airplane, bus, and rail all experienced upward trends, although at varying levels, while bicycle and bike both declined over the same period.
This revision provides a clearer and more cohesive explanation of the data.
RevisedNotably, the bus maintained a high position in the transport system and recorded the longest distance travelled by passengers.
This revision simplifies the language and improves the flow of the sentence.
RevisedHowever, starting with a distance of about 5 billion kilometers in 1990, the bicycle transport system slightly reduced, reaching a low level of approximately 3 billion kilometers.
This revision improves the sentence structure and makes the meaning clearer.

Grammar & accuracy

Band 5.0/ 9

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms and there are very few grammatical errors. However, there are a few instances of awkward or incorrect sentence structure.

Sentence revisions 2

RevisedHowever, starting with a distance of about 5 billion kilometers in 1990, the bicycle transport system slightly reduced, reaching a low level of approximately 3 billion kilometers.
The revised sentence has a more natural and clear sentence structure.
RevisedAt the same time, bike transport followed a similar trend.
The revised sentence has a more natural and clear sentence structure.

Lexical resource

Band 5.0/ 9

The essay uses a good range of vocabulary and there is evidence of less common and idiomatic language. However, there are a few instances of awkward or incorrect word choice.

Sentence revisions 2

RevisedNotably, the bus maintained a strong position in the transport sector and recorded the longest distance travelled by passengers.
The revised sentence is more precise and uses more appropriate vocabulary.
RevisedSimultaneously, the bike transport system experienced a similar trend.
The revised sentence is more precise and uses more appropriate vocabulary.

Task achievement

Band 5.0/ 9

The essay provides a clear overview of the main trends, differences or stages in the data. The essay also includes specific details and examples to support the main points. However, the essay could be improved by providing a more detailed analysis of the data and by making more specific comparisons between the different types of transport.

Suggestions

Provide a more detailed analysis of the data and make more specific comparisons between the different types of transport.
Consider discussing the reasons for the trends and differences in the data.

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