Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-04

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 6.0)

Paying by using smart phones for different things in many countries is becoming popular day by day. From my perspective, It has more benefits but drawbacks as well that cannot be ignored which are discussed in coming paragraphs.

To begin with, making payments at different shops using mobile phone via applications such as apple wallet, google pay is more easier as one just to have tap the card and there is no need to carry physical cards or cash. Moreover, we can keep a track on transactions so by any chance any mishappening occur you do not need to go bank for details as its visible through mobile where card has been used recently. Further, one do not need to remember the pin for all cards as by your face ID you will be able to pay using phone.

On the other hand the main drawback for this is everything works through internet and if internet stop working then you will not be able to pay and then still you need cash or physical card to pay for the things. Further, if the cellphone is lost then you do not have access to anything and in that case you also need cash or card to pay for things.

In summary we can say that using mobile phones is a easier way to make payments and it automatically maintains the record of transactions but if internet stops then nothing will work. So it is convenient to use phones for payments but it has its drawbacks too that cannot be ignored.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response6.0
Coherence and Cohesion6.0
Lexical Resource6.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.5
Overall6.0

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses the prompt by discussing both advantages and disadvantages of mobile payment apps. You clearly state your position that there are more benefits, though the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, while you mention tracking transactions and convenience, these points could be expanded with more specific examples or deeper analysis to reach a higher band. The conclusion is clear, but the overall development of the arguments remains quite brief. To improve, ensure that each point is supported by a more detailed explanation or a concrete real-world scenario to demonstrate a more thorough exploration of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for advantages and disadvantages, and a summary. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Moreover', 'On the other hand', and 'In summary' to guide the reader. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally repetitive. To improve, try to vary your linking words and ensure that the transition between your points is smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the internal cohesion within the body paragraphs could be strengthened by using more sophisticated referencing and discourse markers.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You use a sufficient range of vocabulary to communicate your ideas, such as 'transactions', 'mishappening', and 'convenient'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'more easier' (which is a grammatical error as well as a lexical one) and 'mishappening' (which is not the standard term for a security breach or error). To reach a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more precise, topic-specific vocabulary and avoid repetitive phrasing. Expanding your range of collocations will help you express your ideas with greater sophistication and clarity.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include 'one just to have tap the card' (incorrect verb form), 'one do not need' (subject-verb agreement error), and 'a easier way' (incorrect article usage). While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your message, they are frequent enough to limit your score. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, correct article usage, and ensuring that your complex sentences are constructed accurately. Proofreading for these common slips will significantly enhance your writing.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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