Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-08-31

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)

There is a new trend around the world nowadays to use mobile apps for payments at any store instead of using physical cards or cash. However, I believe that this phenomenon has more advantages than the disadvantages.

To begin with, people are relying on technological advancement like using mobile apps for payments. There are multiple pros of this scenario. Firstly, it is very convenient for people because they do not need to carry any purse, cash or any physical credit/debit cards everywhere they go. Secondly, it is easy and faster way of payment and does not require any confusing techniques. Finally, people sometimes could get multiple offers and discounts if they use mobile apps to pay for the things. For instance, many restaurants provide discounts and weekly offers if the payment is done by apps like Apple pay and Google pay.

On the other hand, there are also some drawbacks of using mobile phones and apps for paying. The advancement of technology has become so popular among people especially youngsters because mostly people are not carrying their purses and relying on mobile phones to pay. However, sometimes low battery of the device and network problem can create multiple issues. The individual could face problems paying through mobile if they do not have any alternative options. Moreover, there are also chances of frauds and scams on various online platforms. For example, people nowadays provide their card details for any subscription or online shopping websites which could result in a huge scam.

In conclusion, there are multiple advantages of using mobile phone apps for payments as its convenient, faster and sometimes could get discounts. However, we should not rely completely on mobile phones as it may result in scams.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The ideas are relevant, such as convenience and discounts for the pros, and technical failures or security risks for the cons. However, the development of these points is somewhat superficial. For instance, the discussion on security risks could be more deeply explored with more specific examples beyond just 'subscription websites'. To reach a higher band, ensure that each point is fully extended with more detailed reasoning or illustrative examples to demonstrate a more thorough exploration of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The use of cohesive devices like 'To begin with', 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'Finally', and 'On the other hand' helps guide the reader through the argument. However, the progression of ideas within paragraphs is sometimes a bit mechanical. The referencing is generally clear, though some transitions between sentences could be smoother to improve the flow. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate and the structure supports the central argument effectively.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. There is an attempt to use some topic-specific vocabulary such as 'technological advancement', 'physical credit/debit cards', and 'online platforms'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is some repetition of basic words like 'things' and 'people'. To improve, the writer should aim for more precise collocations and a wider variety of synonyms to avoid repetitive phrasing and to demonstrate a more sophisticated command of the language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'mostly people are not carrying' (should be 'most people') and 'as its convenient' (should be 'as it is convenient'). Additionally, there are minor issues with article usage and pluralization. The control of grammar is generally good enough that communication is not impeded, but the frequency of these minor errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Increasing the variety of complex structures while ensuring accuracy would be beneficial.

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