Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-30

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 this contemporary era, the mode of payment with mobile phone apps is becoming significantly common in many nations. Despite certain disadvantages, I firmly believe that the advantages are more compelling.

To begin with, online payments by using apps can helps people to maintain their spendings. In other words, individuals can easily track their money uses with the help of weekly insights. For instance, online banking apps not only provides the proper data of payments for personal use but also it is helpful for business to track their financial records. Moreover, there is always a risk of theft when people using cash or cards as a payment method. More deeply, keeping a lot of cash can be risk in a public places and confidential information is easy to track from the cards.

Furthermore, in recent times most of the mobile apps offer points on every purchase, To explain it, some fuel station provide a discount if people use their apps as a payment method or add some points for future use. To cite an example, in north American store such as Shoppers Drug mart, Wallmart, and Beer stores, offer thing in return of digital points.

However, online payment method needs internet connectivity, most of the remote areas do not have proper service which makes mobile phones apps nearly impossible to use. Eventually, mobile apps only works in areas with proper internet connectivity.

All in all, while online payment methods have some limitation in remote areas, there are significant benefits to use the digital mode of payment, it helps to organize the spendings, less risk of information theft, and this method offers different types of discounts at most the stores.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing a clear position that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The ideas are relevant, covering financial tracking, security, and loyalty rewards as advantages, and internet dependency as a disadvantage. However, the development of these points is somewhat superficial. For instance, the discussion on security could be more nuanced, and the examples provided, while relevant, are slightly repetitive in their focus on retail stores. To reach a higher band, you should aim to expand on the implications of these points rather than simply listing them. The conclusion effectively summarizes the main points and reiterates your stance, ensuring the task is fully addressed.

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 generally easy to follow. You use a range of cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Moreover', 'Furthermore', and 'All in all'. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and there are minor issues with referencing and sentence-level cohesion, such as the comma splice in the final paragraph: '...mode of payment, it helps to...'. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring punctuation is used to separate independent clauses would enhance the flow and coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to express your ideas clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'financial records', 'confidential information', and 'digital mode of payment'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of slightly awkward phrasing, such as 'money uses' instead of 'spending habits' or 'financial transactions'. Additionally, there are minor errors in word choice, such as 'most the stores' instead of 'most stores'. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations and precise terminology to demonstrate a wider range of vocabulary and better control over word choice.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('apps can helps', 'apps not only provides'), incorrect article usage ('in a public places'), and minor punctuation errors. While you attempt complex sentences, they are often marred by these small errors. To achieve a higher score, focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and article consistency. Increasing the accuracy of your complex structures will help you move toward a higher band.

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