Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-19

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)

Task 2.

Debate exists over whether paying by mobile phones is a beneficial or a limitation, as it is gaing popularity in many nations. This essay attempts to elucidate both perks and drawbacks of this trend with justified examples.

Convinence and Speed are the foremost plus of this approach. Since people can make payments quickly and easily using their smartphones, they do not need to carry cash or Cards. consequently, it saves time and makes everyday transactions more convenient. Essay to track spending's is another significant advantage. For instance, digital payment platforms keep a record of transactions, making it easier for users to track their spending and manage their finances.

Security risks represents one major concern associated with approach. To clarify, smartphone applications store personal and financial information, hackers may steal sensitive data or access user's bank details which therefore create privacy treat. Technical problems are another possible drawback. To exemplify, if the phone battery dies or the internet connection is unavailable, people may be unable to complete their payments. Thus, it creates an issue for the user to make instant payment.

In conclusion, although electronic payments provides ease of use, rapidity and allows individuals to keep an eye on expenses, however, downsides such as privacy concerns and technical difficulties should not be ignored.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response addresses the prompt by discussing both advantages and disadvantages of mobile payments. However, the essay is significantly under the 250-word minimum requirement, which limits the depth of the arguments. While the main points regarding convenience and security are relevant, they are not sufficiently extended or supported with detailed examples. The position is clear, but the lack of development and the failure to meet the length requirement prevent a higher score. To improve, you should expand on your points with more specific real-world examples and ensure your essay meets the minimum word count to allow for a more comprehensive discussion.

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 'consequently', 'for instance', and 'to exemplify', though some are used incorrectly or with awkward punctuation (e.g., 'consequently' following a lowercase letter). The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the mechanical nature of some transitions and the brevity of the response limit the flow. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that punctuation around these devices is accurate to enhance the overall readability.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, covering the topic of digital payments with terms like 'transactions', 'financial information', and 'privacy concerns'. However, there are several spelling errors ('gaing', 'Convinence', 'treat') and minor word-choice issues ('spending's', 'rapidity'). The range is somewhat limited, relying on basic descriptors. To reach a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more precise, topic-specific vocabulary and ensure accurate spelling. Using more sophisticated collocations would also help demonstrate a broader lexical range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('Security risks represents', 'electronic payments provides') and punctuation errors, particularly with sentence fragments and capitalization. While the meaning is generally clear, these errors are persistent. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and proofreading for basic punctuation and capitalization. Increasing the variety of complex sentence structures while ensuring they are error-free will also help improve your score in this criterion.

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