Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-21

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)

The trend of online payments is gaining popularity globally. While some find the mobile phone applications unreliable and difficult to use others feel it is more convenient and advanced. This essay will discuss the merits and demerits of using mobile applications for payments before stating why I find it more advantageous.

The primary benefit of using cellphones for payments is convenience. Consumers can make trasactions with the very same mobile phones that they carry with them all the time. As a result, they no longer need to carry a separate purse or a wallet just for the sake of carrying cash. Moreover, the banking apps allow users access to their bank statements, where they can clearly see their transaction history. Because of this, people can actively track their finances therfore, make better financial desicions. By this I mean, having a complete picture of the cash inflow and outflow helps individuals in comparing and planning their monthly budgets instead of guessing.

On the other hand, many people argue that the digital payment systems are not dependable. Applications often encounter bugs that may cause them to malfunction. As a result, transactions would not be processed. For this reason people often keep cash as a backup for emergencies. Additionally, some people experience difficulties with navigating the digital sytems. Many elderly and technolically illiterate individuals in our society find it especially challenging. They could fall into online scams by entering or be taken advantage of by vendors by being charged extra without them realising.

In conclusion, although some may find online payment systems difficult, it offers a more convenient system that also helps in managing money more efficienty. Due to these reasons, I strongly believe that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of using mobile phone apps for payments and clearly stating a personal position in the introduction and conclusion. Ideas are relevant and extended, such as the discussion on convenience, tracking finances, and potential security risks like bugs or scams. The main points are well-developed with appropriate explanations, meeting the requirements for a Band 7 performance under this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay presents a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, starting with an introduction, moving to advantages, then disadvantages, and concluding cleanly. Cohesive devices are used reasonably well, such as 'Moreover', 'As a result', and 'On the other hand'. However, there is a minor punctuation slip resulting in a run-on clause ('finances therfore, make'), and some linking could be smoother, which fits the Band 7 descriptor.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow some flexibility and precision, incorporating terms like 'cash inflow and outflow', 'technically illiterate', and 'undependable'. There are a few spelling and word-choice errors, such as 'trasactions' instead of 'transactions' and 'desicions' instead of 'decisions', alongside 'sytems'. These minor errors do not impede communication, placing the response solidly at Band 6.5 or 7.0, leaning towards a 6.5 due to the repetition of basic spelling slips.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The writer demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, using conditional and relative clauses effectively (e.g., 'While some find the mobile phone applications unreliable...'). There are some grammatical errors, such as missing subject-verb agreement ('others feel it is' vs 'some find'), a missing preposition or modifier in 'entering or be taken advantage of', and spelling typos. However, the majority of sentences are clear and the errors rarely impede communication, reflecting a Band 6.5 performance.

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