Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-15

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 5.5)

In most of the countries, it has became more common to do payment through cellphones. I certainely feel that this developments advantages outweight the disadvantages. This essay will delineate both the things in the ensuing paragraphs.

In this contemporary world, increasing number of people are getting mobile phones. Due to this, people are learning all the things which make their life more easier. To add to this, people like to do transfer through digital app and not have to worry about keeping cash. Another reason is that, it is more convenient and reliable method for all kinds of transections.

Moreover, people are buying things in cheaper price. By this I mean, they get some discounts on certain things and with the coupons they can purchase or get their groceries in lower prices. This is how people find payment option with the mobile phone much reliable.

However, I should not overlook the demerits of this digital developments. Some specific age groups such as, old people are not able to fit in this development. Furthermore, getting phones and learn about the technology is difficult task for them in this age. Being these reasons, they are still prefer to buy things with the cash over to mobile phones.

To conclude, although older generation is still choose cash method for payments, other age groups are more into cellphone apps. As it is convenient, reliable, safer and for its low cost to get things, people are prefering more mobile apps for payments.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The essay addresses the prompt by discussing the advantages and disadvantages of mobile payments. However, the response is slightly under the 250-word minimum, which limits the depth of the arguments. While you clearly state your position, the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. For example, the point about 'cheaper prices' is not fully explained or linked logically to the technology itself. To improve, ensure you provide more detailed examples and extend your analysis to meet the word count requirement, which will allow for a more comprehensive exploration of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear introduction and conclusion. You use some cohesive devices like 'Moreover', 'However', and 'To conclude' to link ideas. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the phrase 'delineate both the things'. The progression of ideas is generally easy to follow, but the transitions could be more sophisticated to improve the overall coherence of the argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the range and precision required for a higher band. You rely on simple descriptors like 'good' or 'easier' and repeat words such as 'reliable' and 'things'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'do transfer' instead of 'make transfers' and 'transections' (spelling error). To reach a higher band, focus on using more precise academic vocabulary and ensure you are using words in their correct context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

There is a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but the essay contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow. Examples include 'it has became' (should be 'has become'), 'life more easier' (should be 'life easier'), and 'they are still prefer' (should be 'they still prefer'). Subject-verb agreement and verb tense consistency are areas that need significant attention. While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors prevent the essay from reaching a higher band score.

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

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