IELTS Tăng band Writing · Cuối khoá · Writing: Commuting and Screen Time

The table compares the proportion of commuters in a city who used five different modes of transport to get to work in 2010 and 2025, together with the average length of their journeys.

Overall, the private car remained the most common way to commute, but its share fell considerably, largely because of the arrival of the metro. Public transport journeys also became faster, whereas car journeys took longer.

In 2010, almost half of all workers (46%) drove to work, and motorbikes were the second most popular option at 22%. By 2025, the figure for cars had dropped to 31%, and motorbike use had also declined slightly to 18%. By contrast, the metro, which did not exist in 2010, was used by 17% of commuters in 2025, while the share of bus users rose modestly from 18% to 21%. The proportion of people who cycled or walked stayed almost unchanged, at around 13–14%.

As for journey times, a bus trip was the slowest option in 2010 at 48 minutes, but this fell to 39 minutes in 2025. Meanwhile, the average car journey increased from 34 to 41 minutes, making it the longest of all. The metro took 29 minutes, and trips by bicycle or on foot remained the shortest, at about 20 minutes.

Nowadays, it is common to see teenagers and young adults spending their evenings and weekends scrolling through social media or playing video games instead of being physically active. This trend has created several problems for both their health and their social lives, but I believe that families, schools and local authorities can take practical steps to reduce it.

The most obvious problem is the effect on physical health. Sitting for long periods burns very few calories, so young people who rarely exercise are more likely to become overweight and develop back or eye problems. Screen use late at night also disrupts sleep, which can lead to poor concentration at school or work the next day. A second issue is social isolation. Although online platforms allow people to stay in touch, many users replace face-to-face meetings with short messages, and as a result they may find it harder to build close friendships or communicate confidently in real life.

To tackle these problems, parents should first set clear limits at home, for example by keeping phones out of bedrooms after a certain time. This simple rule protects sleep and encourages other activities in the evening. Schools also have an important role to play. They could offer a wider range of after-school clubs, such as football, dance or hiking, so that students discover activities they genuinely enjoy rather than seeing exercise as a duty. Finally, local governments should invest in affordable sports facilities and safe parks, because many young people stay indoors simply because there is nowhere convenient to go.

In conclusion, excessive screen time harms young people's physical health and weakens their real-life relationships. However, if parents set reasonable rules, schools make sport more attractive and authorities provide accessible public spaces, young people are likely to find a healthier balance between their online and offline lives.