Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-05

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)

Nowadays, payments through smartphones are increasing day by day. Even though settling money through mobile phones have many benefits such as faster and safe transactions , whereas it has some significant drawbacks too.

Firstly, one of the major positives of online payment is faster transactions and the only requirement is a cellphone with good internet connection. Since the transfer is happening between bank accounts of customer and retailer the process is transparent and reliable. Moreover, this is the best method for a common man to get rid of counterfeit currencies. For example, It is very hard to distinguish the original and fake notes especially during the busy hours in a shop, hence by paying through online this serious threat can be avoided.

However, the main disadvantage is internet connection. In many developing nations and in isolated places a high speed internet is still a dream. For instance, during the last summer I had visited an island in Canada called Pele island with my friends which do not have any network for mobile phones, but still it is a famous tourist attraction. The tourists suppose to visit there carry required amount of cash with them, because there are many shops and restaurants that only accepts cash. Furthermore, there are many places in developing countries that are not developed in terms of technology also prefer cash payments.

In conclusion, although this development offers several benefits, it also have some drawbacks. The technology has developed and people are doing their payments using their finger tips have many advantages such faster method and safety, Nevertheless, unavailability of network connection and undeveloped places is a serious concern for this development.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, identifying both advantages and disadvantages. The position is clear throughout the essay. Ideas are relevant, such as the mention of counterfeit currency and the issue of internet connectivity in remote areas. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited; for instance, the discussion on the 'common man' could be further expanded with more nuanced analysis. While the response is balanced, it lacks a strong concluding summary that synthesizes the arguments to definitively answer whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Overall, the task is addressed adequately, but more depth in the supporting arguments would elevate the score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, each with a clear focus. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Moreover', 'However', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader through the argument. However, there are some instances where the flow is slightly mechanical or awkward, such as the transition in the final paragraph: 'The technology has developed and people are doing their payments using their finger tips have many advantages such faster method and safety'. The referencing is generally clear, but the structure of some sentences within paragraphs could be improved to ensure a smoother progression of ideas.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended meaning, with some attempts at topic-specific language like 'counterfeit currencies', 'transparent', and 'reliable'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are occasional errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'settling money' instead of 'making payments' or 'doing their payments'. The phrase 'using their finger tips' is also slightly unnatural in this context. To reach a higher band, the student should aim for more precise and varied vocabulary, moving beyond basic descriptors to more sophisticated academic terminology.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('this development... have some drawbacks'), missing articles ('a high speed internet'), and awkward phrasing ('The tourists suppose to visit there carry'). Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence structure in the conclusion is particularly fragmented. The student shows an ability to use complex sentences, but the frequency of errors prevents a higher score, as these errors occasionally distract the reader.

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