Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-11

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)

Use of mobile phone apps is increasing at a rapid rate. Apps provide various tools, which are used to pay without the actual money. This is a positive development, if users follow all the necessary security precautions. This essay will shed light on that with relevant examples and reasons.

To begin with, Using a banking app allow users to pay online; thus, users don't need to carry cash. Moreover, it reduces the chances of cash being stolen or a robbery. These apps are user -friendly. Users can check their transections anytime, all the details are shown in these apps. For example, apps track all the money incoming and outgoing; therefore, it is easy to check expenses and income.

However, there is chance of fraud though online banking because these apps can be hacked and your money can be lost. User need to secure, all the password and all the necessary details such as card number. However, you lost your debit card then other person can use that card but with these apps you can add external security features such as face id or fingerprint; due to that, no one can use that except you. In this way these apps are not only allow many features but also very safe to use and reduce the chances of fraud .

In conclusion, merits are more than demerits, the only thing is that app need to be used under observation by using all the the security features. Always keep checking with bank, if anything wrong seen on the app.

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 essay addresses the prompt by discussing both advantages and disadvantages, ultimately taking a clear position that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. The ideas are relevant, such as the convenience of cashless transactions and the security risks of hacking. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the discussion on security could be more nuanced by exploring how banks mitigate these risks beyond just user-side precautions. While the response covers all parts of the task, the supporting arguments are relatively brief and could benefit from more detailed elaboration to reach a higher band level.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'To begin with,' 'Moreover,' and 'However,' which help guide the reader through the argument. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly repetitive. Additionally, there are instances where the flow between sentences is slightly disjointed, such as the transition between the discussion of fraud and the mention of biometric security. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between ideas would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, allowing the student to convey their meaning clearly. There are some attempts at topic-specific vocabulary, such as 'cashless transactions' (implied) and 'biometric security' (implied via face id). However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are minor errors in word choice and spelling, such as 'transections' instead of 'transactions'. To improve, the student should aim to incorporate a wider range of less common lexical items and ensure greater precision in word choice to demonstrate a more sophisticated command of the language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text, such as 'Using a banking app allow' (subject-verb agreement), 'User need to secure' (missing article/pluralization), and 'these apps are not only allow' (incorrect verb form). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage. While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent verb tense usage would be beneficial.

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