Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

Nowadays, paying for goods and services has become increasingly popular in many countries. Although this trend has few drawbacks, I believe it offers far more advantages because it is convenient, fast, and secure.

There are multifarious benefits of mobile payments apps. Most conspicuous one is that they save time and make daily transactions much easier. People no longer need to carry cash or even physical bank card. They can simple scan the QR code or tap their phone to complete a payment within seconds. For example, I often use my phone to pay for groceries because it is quick and hassle-free. Moreover, mobile payment apps are generally safe. Most of them use security features such as passwords, fingerprints, or facial recognition, making it difficult for others to access the account. In addition, users receive instant notifications after every transaction, allowing them to monitor their spending and quickly detect any suspicious activity. This reduces risk of losing money compared with carrying cash.

However, there are some drawbacks, if a person's phone battery dies or there is no internet connection, they may not be able to make a payment. Furthermore, some elderly people find mobile apps difficult to use as they are less familiar with modern technology. Despite these issues, the problem can be solved by carrying a physical bank card as backup for payment.

In conclusion, while mobile payment apps have few demerits, I believe the merits greatly outweigh them. They provide greater convenience, faster transactions, and improved security, making them an excellent payment method for modern society.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position that the advantages of mobile payments outweigh the disadvantages. The ideas are relevant and supported by examples, such as the mention of QR codes and security features like facial recognition. The development is logical, with a clear distinction between the benefits and the drawbacks. To reach a higher band, you could expand slightly more on the 'disadvantages' section to provide a more balanced discussion, as the current argument is somewhat brief. However, the position remains clear throughout the essay, and the conclusion effectively summarises your stance.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is well-organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and you use cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'In addition', and 'However' to link your points effectively. The paragraphing is logical, moving from the benefits to the drawbacks and finally to a conclusion. To improve, ensure that your referencing is always precise; for instance, in the sentence 'However, there are some drawbacks, if a person's phone battery dies...', the comma splice could be avoided by using a full stop or a semicolon to better separate the clauses, which would enhance the flow of your argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, using terms like 'multifarious', 'conspicuous', and 'hassle-free' appropriately. Your word choice is generally accurate and helps convey your meaning clearly. There are a few minor slips, such as 'physical bank card' (which should be plural 'cards') and 'reduces risk' (which requires an article: 'the risk'). To move into the higher bands, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic expressions related to technology and finance, and ensure consistent attention to pluralisation and article usage.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. Most of your sentences are clear and error-free. However, there are some grammatical slips, such as 'They can simple scan' (should be 'simply') and the comma splice in the third paragraph. Additionally, 'Most conspicuous one is that...' is missing an article ('The most conspicuous one...'). While these errors do not impede communication, increasing the frequency of error-free complex sentences and refining your control over articles and adverbs will help you achieve a higher score.

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

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