Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-03

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 6.5)

In today's world, it has been witnessed that there is a significant change in the lifestyle of people. In many countries, it became trend that people prefer to pay for things through mobile phone apps. This development has various benefits like transparency, fast service, security and safety.

One of the most significant benefits for paying through smart phones is transparency. It allows individuals to track their payment, because people can have an access to the statement when they make payment through apps. Therefore, it facilitates them to make budget and reduces the unnecessarily wastage of money. For instance, when we make payment through cash, there is no track of expenditure but when we paid through app, we can track them and it is consider as valid proof for making payments because it went directly to the seller's account.

Other benefit of making payment through online apps is safety and security. it is based on the belief that people do not need to carry money along with them, whenever they travel from one place to another. It reduces crime like theft and robbery. Secondly, if in case payment do not went through, it is refundable and come directly to the sender's account.

On the other hand, critics believe that it increases the cyber crime. Hackers can hack phone and transfer funds to their own account without getting permission from the applicant of an account. Although it increase cyber crime, there are alternatives like special cells are established by government who can track them and save the funds. There are options like 2 way verifications, funds will not trader until the applicant provides one-time password.

In conclusion, in spite of having disadvantages like hacking, advantages has significantly considerable. It provides us transparency, safety and security. People need to be more aware while using mobile apps.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have addressed all parts of the prompt by discussing the advantages and disadvantages of mobile payment apps. Your position is clear throughout the essay. The ideas are relevant, such as transparency, security, and the risk of cybercrime. However, some points could be developed further; for instance, the explanation of 'transparency' is a bit repetitive, and the discussion on cybercrime could benefit from a more concrete real-world example. Overall, the response is well-structured and directly answers the question, meeting the requirements for a Band 6.5 or 7.0. I have awarded a 6.5 as the development of ideas is slightly limited in depth.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices such as 'One of the most significant benefits', 'Other benefit', and 'On the other hand' to guide the reader. However, some transitions are a bit mechanical, and there are minor issues with referencing (e.g., 'it is consider as valid proof' lacks a clear antecedent). Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different ideas. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that pronouns clearly refer back to the intended nouns.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You have an adequate range of vocabulary to convey your ideas clearly. You use topic-specific terms like 'expenditure', 'cyber crime', and 'one-time password'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'unnecessarily wastage' (should be 'unnecessary waste') and 'funds will not trader' (should be 'transferred'). These errors do not impede communication, but they do limit the score. To improve, focus on learning common collocations and ensuring that word forms (nouns vs. verbs) are used correctly in context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb tenses and subject-verb agreement, such as 'it became trend' (should be 'it has become a trend'), 'payment do not went through' (should be 'does not go through'), and 'advantages has significantly considerable' (should be 'are significantly considerable'). These errors are noticeable but do not prevent the reader from understanding your message. Increasing your control over basic grammar and proofreading for tense consistency will help you achieve a higher band.

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