Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-08

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 6.0)

With the advancement of technology, modes of payments have been changed. New methods of payments used by the public. I would like to explain the methods of payments and why they are so popular and their pros and cons in the upcoming paragraphs.

First of all, since the last couple of years people have used their mobile phones to pay for their shopping. This has more advantages than its disadvantages. They do not want to carry any cash or plastic bank cards with them. For example, you are going to attend a special event and you are all dressed up and you don't want to carry any purse with you. People can use their phones to pay for their meals and drinks without worrying about ruining their style by carrying big bags.

Another advantage is Nowdays ,no one go out without their cellphones, so sometimes you forgot to take your wallet with you but this way you don't have to worry about it because you can pay with your mobile phone. For example, without the invention of paying by cell phones, people had to make sure they had their wallet with them and if it was misplaced it would become stressful but no need to worry about it .

On the other hand, paying with the help of mobile apps has a few disadvantages. For example, if you're going to pay for things and you get to know they do not accept apple pay or Google pay. They only accept actual cards and cash then it can become a moment of embarrassment. I would like to say,

you have your wallet with you when you go out, so you don't have to come back without buying anything if they have some technical errors with their systems.

In conclusion, I would like to say, this development has more pros than its cons. The younger generation really enjoy paying with their cell phones rather carrying cash and cards in their pockets.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses the prompt by discussing the advantages and disadvantages of mobile payments. However, the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. While you mention convenience and the risk of technical failure, the arguments lack depth and specific, real-world examples beyond personal anecdotes. To reach a higher band, you should expand on the broader implications, such as security concerns, data privacy, or the digital divide, rather than focusing primarily on the inconvenience of carrying a wallet. The position is clear, but the overall task response would benefit from more sophisticated analysis and a more formal tone.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'First of all', 'Another advantage', and 'On the other hand' to signal transitions. However, the use of these devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. Additionally, some sentences are loosely connected, and the referencing is occasionally unclear. For instance, the transition between the introduction and the first body paragraph is abrupt. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the flow and coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'paying for things', 'modes of payments', and 'pros and cons' are used frequently. There is an attempt to use some topic-specific vocabulary, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. You also have some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'Nowdays' (spelling) and 'get to know they do not accept' (which is informal). To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated synonyms and idiomatic expressions related to digital finance and technology.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb tenses and article usage (e.g., 'modes of payments have been changed', 'no one go out'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some run-on sentences and missing commas. While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they demonstrate a lack of control over more complex structures. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and refining your use of complex sentences will help improve your accuracy and range.

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