Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-27

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)

Nowadays, in many nations, people prefer to pay by using mobile phone apps instead of cash. This development has both positive and negative impacts. This essay will discuss both impacts along with examples.

To commence with, there are plenty of merit points behind this trend. Firstly, payment by apps is more convenient than cash. Individuals do not need to carry cash with them all the time. They can buy anything anytime. Furthermore, electronic payments are more transparent. The chances of fraud become less through electronic payments because all transactions are being recorded. Moreover, in this technological era, there are very less chances when someone ask for a traditional method of payment. Every single shopkeeper prefer to have digital payment method because in digital way, people do not have to worry about handling the cash. It will directly deposit to their bank accounts. For instance, it is often seen that whenever people visit shopping malls, restaurants or cafes, they always ask for credit or debit card.

On the other hand, there are some demerit points behind this trend. Firstly, due to excessive use of technology, traditional method is disappearing day by day. Moreover, elder people are not familiar with technology, sometimes they face difficulty in using payment apps. To add to it, individuals like to do few things in private but digital method invade that privacy. Furthermore, due to electronic method, people end up on spending on those things which are not even necessary.

In conclusion, although this development has bot negative and positive effects, advantages outweigh the disadvantages. In my opinion, along with digital method, people ought to use traditional method too.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The essay addresses the prompt by discussing both advantages and disadvantages of mobile payment apps. You clearly state your position in the conclusion that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the point about 'privacy' is mentioned but not fully explained or supported with a concrete example. Similarly, the argument regarding 'overspending' is introduced but lacks depth. To reach a higher band, ensure that each main point is supported by a specific, well-developed example rather than just listing general observations. The response is balanced, but the depth of analysis needs to be more consistent throughout the body paragraphs.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct focus. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Furthermore', 'Moreover', and 'On the other hand' to signal transitions between ideas. While these are effective, the flow is occasionally mechanical. Some sentences feel slightly disjointed, and the referencing could be smoother. For example, the transition between the benefits of transparency and the habits of shopkeepers is a bit abrupt. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence logically follows the previous one will help improve the overall cohesion of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'transparent', 'technological era', and 'invade that privacy'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'merit points' and 'demerit points' are not standard English collocations; 'advantages' and 'disadvantages' would be more natural. Additionally, 'very less chances' is grammatically incorrect and should be 'very few chances'. To improve, focus on learning common collocations and using more precise academic vocabulary to express your ideas, rather than relying on repetitive or slightly unnatural phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors that persist throughout the text. Examples include 'Every single shopkeeper prefer' (subject-verb agreement), 'someone ask' (should be 'asks'), 'it will directly deposit' (should be passive: 'it is directly deposited'), and 'bot negative' (spelling error). These errors do not impede communication, but they do indicate a lack of control over complex structures. To improve, pay closer attention to subject-verb agreement, verb tenses, and the correct use of passive voice when discussing general processes.

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