Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

It is true that many people are choosing electronic methods to pay for things because they find it safer and secure. I believe this trend has more merits than drawbacks. I will explain some reasons in upcoming paragraphs.

The prominent reason of selecting cellphones to pay for things is convenience. To make it more clear, many people find unsafe to carry large amount of cash, which can be stolen easily. If they use mobile phones to pay not only it feel safe but it also efficient to carry and they can make a purchase within a few seconds which make this trend more effective.

Moreover, people prefer to use mobile apps to pay for their things because they are faster, reliable, and alter buyer by sending a balance notification which indicates how much they have spent and how much they have in their account. When people use hard cash, they have to calculate each and every time after purchase, which is quite time-consuming.

Although paying with phones can be challenging sometimes due to poor connection, malfunctioning and other technical issues, it provides greater benefits as it is easy to use, carry and pay the bills which makes this method efficient.

In conclusion, while paper cash can be helpful where the connection is weak, the electrical way is most suitable option for people due to reliability, simplicity, and convenience it offers. I feel using cellphone apps to make payments will stay remain in the future as compare to use paper cash.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses the prompt by discussing the advantages and disadvantages of mobile payment apps, maintaining a clear position throughout. The main ideas—convenience, security, and technical reliability—are relevant. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the point about 'security' is mentioned but not fully explored with specific examples or deeper analysis. The conclusion is clear, but the overall development of the argument lacks the depth required for a higher band. The response covers all parts of the task, but the supporting arguments could be more detailed to fully satisfy the requirements for a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'Although', and 'In conclusion' are used to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions feel repetitive. Referencing is generally clear, but there are instances where the connection between sentences could be smoother. For example, the transition between the second and third paragraphs could be more sophisticated. Overall, the progression of ideas is logical, and the paragraphing is appropriate for the task.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There is an attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'electronic methods', 'transaction', and 'technical issues'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are some awkward collocations, such as 'electrical way' instead of 'digital payment methods' or 'electronic payment systems'. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the message, it lacks the precision and variety needed for a higher band. The errors in word choice do not impede communication, but they do limit the score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'many people find unsafe to carry' (missing 'it'), 'not only it feel safe' (incorrect word order), and 'as compare to use' (incorrect verb form). While these errors are noticeable, they do not prevent the reader from understanding the main points. The punctuation is generally correct, but the control over complex structures is inconsistent. To improve, the student should focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of comparative structures.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.