Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-01
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)
In the recent years, Advancement in the technology brings the whole world into small gadget called mobile phone. Moreover, these are the convenient and safe for any transaction of money so it is widely used method by public for paying up for things in many countries. I think it has a more advantages with a very little drawbacks, which I will explain in the ensuing paragraphs.
To begin with, people are using mobile application for paying their bills and have a various benefits like using mobile phone is very easy and effortless method for people just need to touch their phone in to the reader and payment is gone through so they do not need to use their brain for calculation. Furthermore, public does not need to carry cash with them everywhere for the payments. Which means they are stress free from pick pockets. However, this method is less time consuming, pocket friendly, and easy excisable for everyone there are the foremost reasons preferable method by every individual.
As every coin has two sides, this methods have few drawbacks as well. The main concern is public needs to be alert all the time with the fraud application in which might be they loose their money while doing online payments. Also they need to take care of the theft of smartphones and secure every bank account with special passwords or fingerprint so if it is stollen then unknown person can not able to make any transfer.
To conclude, Public is using easy approach for payments but as same time they need to be alert and clever with the process and safe from fraud.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the prompt by discussing both advantages and disadvantages of mobile payment apps. However, the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. For example, the point about 'not needing to use their brain for calculation' is informal and lacks depth. While a position is clear, the supporting arguments are repetitive and lack specific examples or detailed reasoning. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your points with more sophisticated arguments, such as the impact on financial inclusion or the efficiency of digital records, rather than focusing solely on the convenience of not carrying cash.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. Phrases like 'Which means they are stress free' and 'As every coin has two sides' are used in a way that disrupts the flow. Additionally, the transition between ideas within paragraphs is sometimes abrupt. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring that each sentence logically follows the previous one will significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. There are several instances of awkward collocations and word choice errors, such as 'easy excisable' instead of 'easily accessible' and 'stollen' (spelling error). You rely on basic descriptors like 'easy' and 'safe' repeatedly. To improve, try to incorporate more topic-specific vocabulary related to finance and technology, such as 'digital transactions,' 'cybersecurity,' or 'financial literacy,' and pay closer attention to word forms and spelling.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Issues include subject-verb agreement ('Advancement... brings'), article usage ('the theft of smartphones'), and sentence fragments ('Which means they are stress free'). While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on proofreading for articles, verb tenses, and sentence boundaries will help improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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