Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-16

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)

The use of mobile phone apps for paying for things is becoming increasingly common in many countries. This development has more advantages than disadvantages.

One of the advantages of this development is its speed. Most online transactions in recent times are considered the fastest way to conduct business. With the help of mobile phone apps, most online payments are fast. Most customers tend to purchase most of their items online due to the speed of the transaction. Another aspect of the advantages of this development is how convenient it is, mostly for customers. Many customers now enjoy the convenience that goes with online transactions. With the help of these mobile phone apps, many individual can now buy things in the comfort of their homes, schools, or work, without the need of visiting the physical store for payment. This serves as a convenient means of business transactions in many countries today. For instance, a lady who works daily with no fixed hours can purchase some items online and pay with her mobile phone app, with no need to visit physical stores.

One of the disadvantages of this development is network failure. This is an important factor to consider before any online payment. Most online transactions tend to fail due to poor network service. This can be either from the network service provider or the bank app; this can lead to delays in transactions. Another disadvantage of this development is its high risk of scams. With online payment, Most customers expose themselves to online scam with the input of some of their bank details as a method of payment. For instance, many customers tend to input vital details on their ATM card before any transaction can be completed, thereby giving room for them to be scammed with such details.

In conclusion, the advantages of using mobile phone apps are easy and convenient. However, its disadvantages are network failure and a high risk of scammers. This development has more advantages than disadvantages.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have addressed all parts of the prompt by discussing both advantages and disadvantages and clearly stating your position. The ideas are relevant, such as speed, convenience, network failure, and security risks. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat repetitive. For instance, the discussion on 'speed' and 'convenience' overlaps significantly, and the examples provided are quite generic. To reach a higher band, you should aim to extend your arguments with more depth or specific real-world examples rather than repeating similar points. Your position is consistent throughout the essay, which is a positive aspect of your response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, with each paragraph focusing on a specific aspect of the topic. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'One of the advantages', 'Another aspect', and 'In conclusion' to guide the reader. However, the transitions between sentences can feel a bit mechanical or repetitive. For example, the start of several sentences with 'Most' or 'Many' makes the flow feel slightly predictable. To improve, try to vary your linking words and ensure that the relationship between ideas is more fluid rather than relying on a list-like structure.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, allowing you to express your ideas clearly. You use topic-specific terms like 'online transactions', 'network service provider', and 'bank details'. However, there is a lack of variety in your word choice, and some phrasing is slightly unnatural, such as 'giving room for them to be scammed'. There are also some minor errors in word formation and collocation, such as 'many individual' instead of 'many individuals'. To improve, focus on using more precise synonyms and collocations to enhance the sophistication of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this level. While your meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('many individual can now buy') and punctuation errors. Some sentences are also slightly awkward in their construction. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic errors like pluralization and ensure that your complex sentences are constructed with greater grammatical precision.

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