Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-07-25

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 7.5)

It is irrefutable that an increasing number of individuals are using their mobile apps for paying at shops. This advancement has more advantages than disadvantages as discussed as follows.

One of the main benefits of paying by cellphone is convenience. Nowadays, people do not need to carry their cards or cash in their wallets every time they go outside the house for shopping. Applications like wallet, PayPal have made the transactions smoother by just a few clicks on the phone screen. Although this method requires internet usage, individuals do not need to tap their bank cards or count cash while using this technological feature. This, in turn, saves a lot of time at billing counters either in maps or at traditional shops.

Moreover, this method facilitates individuals in keeping record of their transactions. Each spending amount remains saved in the phone along with its date which reduces stress while calculating monthly expenses. While using cash for paying at different locations people often lose track of their expenses which becomes stressful.

However, the major disadvantage which is worth noting is that elderly people suffer with this advancement of technology. Especially senior citizens who are comfortable in using physical currency do not possess enough knowledge about using these services. For instance, when they visit places which only accept online transfers for buying some materials, they are unable to pay their bill. Therefore, they need to look for other sources to spend their cash.

In conclusion, advancement of paying bills using mobiles is widely accepted by the public due to its proximity. Nevertheless, the only disadvantage is that not everyone is able to use it because of the insufficient knowledge.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The ideas are relevant, with the benefits of convenience and transaction tracking well-supported. The disadvantage regarding the elderly is also clearly explained. However, the development of ideas is somewhat brief; for instance, the explanation of how mobile payments save time could be more detailed with a concrete example. The conclusion is clear and restates the position effectively. Overall, the response is well-focused and meets the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic, such as convenience or the challenges faced by the elderly. Cohesive devices like 'Moreover', 'However', and 'Therefore' are used appropriately to link ideas. While the progression is clear, some transitions between sentences could be more sophisticated to improve the flow. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the advantages from the disadvantages, ensuring the reader can follow the argument easily.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The vocabulary is generally appropriate for the task and allows for clear communication. You use terms like 'irrefutable', 'facilitates', and 'transactions' effectively. However, there is some repetition of basic words like 'paying' and 'using'. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate more precise collocations and less common lexical items. For example, instead of 'paying at shops', you could use 'conducting retail transactions'. The word 'proximity' in the conclusion is used slightly incorrectly in this context; 'accessibility' or 'ease of use' would have been more accurate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are clear and grammatically sound, though there are minor errors, such as 'paying by cellphone' (should be 'paying with a mobile phone') and 'suffer with this advancement' (should be 'suffer from'). Punctuation is generally accurate, and the errors present do not impede communication. To improve, try to vary your sentence structures further by using more conditional clauses or passive voice constructions to demonstrate greater control over complex grammar.

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