Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-11-11

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In many countries, paying for things using mobile phone (cellphone) apps is becoming increasingly common. Does this development have more advantages or more disadvantages?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 5.5)

A lot of countries payed things with the mobile phone wallet and this method has been growing in the last few years. Some people see this as an advantage because is safe and essay to check the spendings, but others said that could affect elderly citizens due to the majority pay by cash and not used to have a cellphone. This essay will discuss both sides and will draw a clear conclusion.

Nowadays, there are many costumers choose to pay with apps. This is because it is safe and only the owner of the phone is able to do the transfer. In addition, through the app users can tackle all the trasactions that they have made during the day or month. For example, Commbank is at app created by the official bank where you can link any credit or debit card. Paying with the phone and see the movements of certain period help them to stay on the monthly buget.

On the other hand, some others said that this could be a problem for some adults. Most of them prefer to pay in cash because there can phisicaly count the money and verify if the amoutn charget is correct. Furthermore, some of them do not know how to used the app and confused opennig the digital wallet.

In conclusion, the essay is clear that using the advantage of paying most the shopping by phone is convenient and secure because only the owner is authorized to made the trasaction. On the contrary, paying by cash in hand is a hight risk that should be avoide.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address the question by presenting benefits—security and easier spending records—and a drawback for older people who prefer cash or struggle with apps. Your conclusion clearly favours phone payments, so the reader can identify your overall view. However, the position is not fully consistent: the introduction promises to discuss both sides, while the conclusion calls cash a high risk without explaining that claim or clearly weighing it against the difficulty some older adults face. The supporting ideas are relevant but brief. For example, the Commbank example illustrates tracking spending, but you could explain more precisely how this helps users, and develop the security point with a realistic example. A clearer comparison of the advantages and disadvantages would make the response more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, one paragraph on advantages, one on disadvantages, and a conclusion. Linking phrases such as “In addition,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” help signal the stages of the argument. The main progression is understandable, although some connections are mechanical or unclear. For instance, “This essay will discuss both sides” is a formulaic signpost, and the final contrast beginning “On the contrary” does not clearly connect to the preceding claim. Some references, such as “some of them,” require the reader to infer that you mean older adults. Improve cohesion by linking each example directly to the point it supports and using clearer references and transitions between claims.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use some relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “digital wallet,” “credit or debit card,” “transactions,” and “monthly budget.” These terms show that you can communicate the main ideas about app payments and spending. However, the range is limited and several noticeable spelling, word-choice, and collocation errors make parts of the response difficult to read, such as “costumers,” “trasactions,” “amoutn charget,” and “hight risk.” Phrases such as “paying most the shopping by phone” are also not natural English. Build accuracy by checking spelling and learning common combinations, for example “make a payment,” “track spending,” and “older adults.” More precise vocabulary would help you explain the benefits and drawbacks without relying on repeated general terms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more extended sentences, including a reason clause (“This is because…”) and a contrast introduced by “On the other hand.” However, the range is limited, and errors in sentence construction and verb forms occur frequently enough to affect clarity. Examples include “because is safe,” which needs a subject, “there are many costumers choose,” which has an incomplete clause structure, and “do not know how to used,” where the verb form after “to” is incorrect. Agreement and tense are also inconsistent in “others said” and “there can phisicaly count.” Practise building accurate subject–verb–object sentences first, then add subordinate clauses. Check articles, verb forms, and agreement when editing each sentence.

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