Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-14

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 clearly seen in many countries people are opting advanced payment methods such as payments through mobile apps rather than cash. The essay will indicate there are more disadvantages over the advantages of such using this technology for purchasing products.

The main benefit of using mobile payment apps are one need not to carry physical money into their pocket. If in case person dependent on cash and in certain situation he is short of money then he need to search a bank to withdraw the money only then he could able to buy the things. Moreover, these are mode of payment is so fast that money is transfer to other account within a few seconds.

The main lacking is this is based on the technology so no one can predict when there might be any technical problem during that time person will get stuck. For example, if mobile network range is weak , one could able to connect with apps and do the payment of the things even though there is a lot of money in once account. Not only this it is also seen that certain apps charges a little amount if one need to send money back in their bank account. In spite of this if the payment struck and request for the refund due to any reason one need to suffer a lot as the client support centre of apps will say to contact bank and bank would say that it is not in their hand anymore.

At last, even though it is fastest and reduce the burden of the once pocket but one cannot ignore that the consequences such as technology failure, money deduction and extra mental pressure.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response6.0
Coherence and Cohesion6.0
Lexical Resource5.5
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 disadvantages outweigh the benefits. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While the benefit of convenience is mentioned, the explanation is repetitive and lacks depth. Similarly, the disadvantages regarding technical failure and customer support are relevant but could be supported with more specific, real-world examples rather than general hypothetical scenarios. To reach a higher band, you should aim to expand on your points with more detailed analysis and ensure the conclusion reflects the depth of the arguments presented.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the argument. There is a logical progression from the introduction to the body paragraphs and the conclusion. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'The main lacking is' and 'At last'. Additionally, some referencing is unclear, for example, 'these are mode of payment' contains a grammatical error that disrupts the flow. Improving the variety and precision of your linking words and ensuring that pronouns clearly refer to their antecedents would significantly improve the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'advanced payment methods' and 'physical money'. However, there are several instances of imprecise word choice and awkward collocations, such as 'The main lacking is' (should be 'The main drawback is') and 'money is transfer' (should be 'money is transferred'). Some phrasing is repetitive, and the vocabulary lacks the sophistication required for higher bands. To improve, focus on learning collocations and using more precise academic vocabulary to express your ideas more naturally.

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 clarity. Examples include 'one need not to carry' (should be 'one does not need to carry'), 'If in case person dependent on cash' (missing articles and verb), and 'money is transfer' (incorrect verb form). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with spacing around commas. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focus on subject-verb agreement, article usage, and consistent verb tense.

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

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