Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-07
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 nations, using cellphone apps for paying bills is going to increase day by day. The advantages are safety, security, and convenience rather than using a purse. There are also disadvantages, such as the risk of fraud and the limited battery life of the cellphone.
On the one hand, the first benefit of mobile phone payment is its security and safety. This is because people do not face the risk of theft. And they can make payments confidently with safety. For example, nowadays, people use Apple Pay, which makes their life easy and safer. Secondly, people will have a record of the payments. Paying with a cellphone app will automatically make the receipt of any purchase. Later, you can save and use it as a record of your purchase history. For instance, using bank apps like Scotia Bank, will save your data for further uses.
On the other hand, there are some disadvantsges such as the risk of fraud. Sometimes, the apps will detect some money without any reason. Moreover, when people purchase some items and use their phone for payments, the machine deducts more money than the actual payment. To illustrate, sometimes, a hacker will hack the payment machine, so you risk fraud.
In conclusion, I think thatmaking payment by phone will be secure and safe rather than disa
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses the prompt by discussing both advantages and disadvantages; however, it fails to reach the minimum word count of 250 words, ending abruptly at 221 words. This significantly impacts the development of ideas, as the conclusion is incomplete and the arguments are somewhat superficial. While a position is stated, the lack of depth in the final paragraph and the failure to meet the length requirement prevent a higher score. To improve, ensure you fully develop each point with more detailed examples and complete your essay with a well-rounded conclusion.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into clear paragraphs, and the use of linking words such as 'On the one hand', 'Secondly', and 'Moreover' helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. However, the abrupt ending in the conclusion disrupts the overall coherence. While the logical flow is generally easy to follow, the mechanical nature of some transitions and the incomplete final sentence indicate a need for better control over the structure of the essay. Improving the transition between the body paragraphs and the conclusion would enhance the overall flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, with terms like 'convenience', 'purchase history', and 'fraud' used appropriately. However, there are some awkward phrasings, such as 'detect some money' instead of 'deduct funds' or 'make the receipt' instead of 'generate a receipt'. The range is somewhat limited, relying on basic descriptors. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise collocations and topic-specific vocabulary related to digital finance, while ensuring that word choices are accurate and natural in context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'making payment by phone will be secure and safe rather than disa' (incomplete sentence) and 'the apps will detect some money' (incorrect verb choice). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are minor errors in sentence construction. To improve, focus on ensuring subject-verb agreement and refining the use of complex structures to ensure they are error-free, which will help in achieving a higher band score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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