Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-13

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)

In many countries, the digital payment is rapidly increasing in the world. People are using their smart phones for buying things. This essay covers both advantages and disadvantages of paying using smart phone applications.

Firstly, people are addicted to modern technology it is making people life flexible and convenient. Generally people are preferring to pay through mobile phones instead of paying through cash. The advantages of using mobile payment would be less worried about theft occurring because people wont carry much cash in their pockets. Another advantage when people travel to different countries for a a vacation there is no need to exchange the cash to another currency in the airports because the smart phone payments has inbuilt capable to add multiple cards with the help of it payments are made and mostly acceptable in all different countries. For Example people uses iPhone has an inbuilt apple pay option where users can add multiple cards and make the payments for any products in a store.

Secondly, the older generations people will have difficulties to use smart phone payments. The major disadvantage is hackers can easily access our data can lead to money laundry. For instance people can hack the phones easily and can steal sensitive information another one will be if the phone is last or stolen its hard for the people to make the payments with out carrying a cash. Also if there is power outage in the stores we can't make the payments using the smart phones.

In conclusion, I would believe making payments though mobile has its pros and cons. People should prefer to use both paying products using smart phones and carrying less cash in case of any emergency.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both advantages and disadvantages as required by the prompt. However, the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. For instance, the point about 'money laundry' (likely meaning money laundering or fraud) is mentioned but not clearly explained in the context of mobile payments. The position is clear, but the supporting arguments lack depth and specific evidence. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your points with more detailed explanations or more sophisticated examples, ensuring that the logic behind each argument is fully articulated rather than just stated.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas from advantages to disadvantages. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or repetitive. Phrases like 'Another advantage' and 'Secondly' are used, but the transition between sentences within paragraphs can be abrupt. Additionally, some referencing is unclear, such as the phrase 'with the help of it' in the second paragraph, which makes the sentence structure awkward. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that pronouns clearly refer to their antecedents would enhance the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are several instances of awkward word choices, such as 'money laundry' instead of 'financial fraud' or 'identity theft', and 'inbuilt capable' instead of 'built-in capability'. The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited, relying on basic terms like 'good' or 'bad' concepts without using more sophisticated collocations. To improve, focus on learning topic-specific vocabulary related to digital technology and finance, and pay closer attention to correct word forms and collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the reader's understanding. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('the smart phone payments has inbuilt'), missing articles ('the digital payment is rapidly increasing'), and awkward phrasing ('the older generations people'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with run-on sentences. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for subject-verb agreement would be highly beneficial.

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