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 many countries, playing for things using mobile phone apps is becoming increasingly common. This development is advantages and also have some disadvantages.

There are plenty of reasons to using mobile phone apps are increasingly because people use for payment, shopping, bill pay, and other services. Additionally people using apps for payment online is safer because you didn’t carry large amount with you all times. Furthermore digital payments record all the transactions history so if you didn’t remember were you spend money the app will help you.this is particularly useful for busy people because it saves time and makes everyday transactions easier.

However relevant reasons for disadvantage of using mobile app for paying, some time you spend extra money on paying online you don’t remember how much money in your account and you pay anytime anywhere. Moreover sometimes online payments fraud schemes happen due to paying online your personal information licked via online payments.the biggest problem is that mobile payments depends on smartphones, electricity and internet connections.if a person’s phone battery dies or there is a network problem, they may not be able to make a payment. There is also risk of online fraud, especially if users share their passwords.

In conclusion, both things are equally for paying online from mobile apps. Here are advantages and disadvantages are equally for using mobile apps.although paying through mobile apps can involve technical problems and security risks, I believe its advantages outweigh its disadvantages. Mobile payments are convenient, quick and useful for managing money.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by discussing both advantages and disadvantages of mobile payments and clearly states a position in the conclusion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For example, the point about 'fraud schemes' is mentioned but not fully explained or supported with a concrete example. The essay covers all parts of the task, but the arguments are presented in a repetitive manner, and the explanation of why the advantages outweigh the disadvantages is brief. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your points with more specific examples or detailed reasoning to ensure the reader fully understands your perspective.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with an introduction, body paragraphs for pros and cons, and a conclusion. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. For instance, the transition 'However relevant reasons for disadvantage' is grammatically awkward and does not flow well. Additionally, some sentences lack clear logical links, such as the sudden shift to the issue of 'electricity and internet' without a proper introductory phrase. While the overall progression of ideas is clear, the lack of sophisticated linking words and occasional confusion in referencing makes the flow feel somewhat disjointed.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and variety. You rely on basic terms like 'things' and 'paying', and there are several word-choice errors, such as 'personal information licked' (likely meant 'leaked') and 'playing for things' (meant 'paying'). The range is limited, and there is little attempt to use less common or more sophisticated vocabulary. To improve, focus on using more precise terminology related to financial technology, such as 'digital transactions', 'cybersecurity threats', or 'financial management tools', and ensure you proofread for spelling errors that can impede clarity.

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 hinder readability. Common issues include subject-verb agreement ('mobile payments depends'), incorrect verb forms ('reasons to using'), and punctuation errors, such as missing spaces after periods and missing commas. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors in basic grammar—such as 'you didn’t carry large amount'—prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. You should focus on mastering basic sentence construction and ensuring consistent tense usage throughout your writing.

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