Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-21

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 6.5)

In recent years, online payment apps are becoming increasingly common in many countries. While this development has few drawbacks, I believe the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages.

Nowadays, the world has become fast-paced and people prefer quick and convenient technology. One of the major advantages of payment by mobile phone apps is that they are a good replacement of cash and credit cards. For instance, if a person accidentally forgets their wallet on the way to the supermarket, they can use their online banking app to make the payment. As a result, the need of carrying a wallet at all times has reduced.

Another advantage is that the use of online apps for payment has made the management of finances easier. This is because the record of all payments received and the amount spent can be kept on the mobile banking apps. Due to this there has been a significant decline in incidents of theft and financial fraud. For example, if a store only accepts online payments then the owner does not require employee for handling cash and the chances of theft reduces.

Although, there are a lot of benefits of this development but there are a few disadvantages too. Poor internet connection or any glitch in the app can delay payments which can make this method an inconvenience. Therefore, credit cards and cash must be present as an alternative.

In conclusion, the payment of things through mobile apps is time efficient and convenient but can be the opposite if alternative payment method are not considered as back up.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout. The advantages are well-developed, particularly the points regarding convenience and financial management. The disadvantages are mentioned, though they are less developed than the advantages. The ideas are relevant and supported by examples, such as the supermarket scenario and the reduction of theft. To reach a higher band, the discussion of disadvantages could be expanded with more depth, perhaps by discussing the digital divide or security risks beyond just technical glitches. Overall, the response is well-focused and meets the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'For instance', 'As a result', and 'In conclusion' are used appropriately to link ideas. However, there is some minor repetition in the use of transition words, and the connection between the second and third paragraphs could be smoother. Paragraphing is used sufficiently, and the overall structure supports the argument well, making the text easy to read and understand.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is sufficient for the task and allows for clear communication. You have used some topic-specific terms like 'financial fraud', 'time efficient', and 'online banking'. While the range is adequate, it lacks the more sophisticated or idiomatic expressions that would characterize a higher band. There are occasional inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'the need of carrying' (should be 'need to carry') and 'the payment of things' (should be 'paying for things'). Expanding your range to include more precise collocations would improve the overall quality of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While many sentences are clear, there are several grammatical errors that persist. For example, 'the chances of theft reduces' should be 'reduce' (subject-verb agreement), and 'alternative payment method are' should be 'methods are' (pluralization). Additionally, the sentence 'Although, there are a lot of benefits... but there are a few disadvantages too' is grammatically redundant as 'although' and 'but' should not be used together. Despite these errors, the meaning is never obscured, and the punctuation is generally accurate throughout the text.

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