Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-24

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 contemporary society, a significant number of people use cellphone apps to pay their bills, for online shopping, and recharge the phone. This practice is now becoming increasingly common among people. This essay will address whether paying online using cellphone apps has more advantages or disadvantages.

With the advancement of technology, individuals are opting to use apps to do their tasks. They find this convenient to pay online rather than go out and standing in a long queue. For instance, if a person wants to pay a utility bill, he has to visit the desired department which he only can visit during working days. Moreover, he has to wait in a long queue which takes time and energy. In contrast, paying any bill using a cellphone app is just a tap way which eventually save his time and energy. Moreover, let alone only a individual can pay the bill he can purchase any thing online like groceries, travel tickets, cinema tickets, medicines, etc.

On the other hand, we must not forget the disadvantages of online paying apps. A person is just a click away to get robbed as he is more prone to be the victim of a fraud. A considerable number of aging individual are the victim of online scam. For instance, payment apps save your card details which might access by a hacker and he can use the details any time and rob an individual. In addition, the majority of people are not aware of online scams they easily share their OTP (one time password) with a stranger on a call which cost them hefty money.

In my perspective, one should be caution while using any online paying app. As it gives us the convenience but along with that if a user will not take measures he may lose his life's saving which he might never recover.

To conclude, we must use anything within a limit because anything beyond the exceeding limit is harmful. People must use apps as they are convenient and easy to use but with great care so that they will not suffer in the long run.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of using mobile payment apps, ultimately providing a clear, albeit slightly generalized, perspective in the conclusion. The ideas are relevant and generally supported with everyday examples, such as avoiding long queues at utility departments and the risk of online scams like OTP sharing. However, some arguments lack deeper extension; for instance, the explanation of security risks could be more thoroughly explored. Nevertheless, the student maintains a clear position throughout, fulfilling the requirements for Band 6.5 to 7.0. Because the response is well above the minimum length requirement, no penalty has been applied, and the comprehensive coverage of the prompt points toward a solid Band 6.5.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with a clear paragraph-by-paragraph structure, moving logically from an introduction to advantages, disadvantages, personal perspective, and conclusion. Cohesive devices are employed, such as 'Moreover', 'In contrast', and 'On the other hand', though their usage is sometimes mechanical or repetitive. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. However, referencing is not always clear, as seen in sentences like 'let alone only a individual can pay the bill he can purchase any thing online', which disrupts the natural flow of information. Overall, the logical progression is evident, making it a solid Band 6.0 performance.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating topic-specific terms such as 'utility bill', 'OTP (one time password)', 'online scam', and 'convenience'. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary, but these are occasionally marred by word-choice and collocation errors, such as 'online paying app' instead of 'mobile payment app', 'aging individual' instead of 'elderly individuals', and 'cost them hefty money'. Spelling is generally accurate, and while vocabulary limitations and occasional awkward phrasing are apparent, they do not impede communication. This fits comfortably within the Band 6 descriptor.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response exhibits a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some variety in structure through conditional clauses and relative pronouns (e.g., 'if a person wants to pay a utility bill, he has to visit...'). However, there are frequent grammatical errors and awkward constructions throughout the text, such as 'is just a tap way which eventually save his time', 'let alone only a individual can pay the bill he can purchase', and 'one should be caution'. Subject-verb agreement issues ('save his time', 'might access by a hacker') and article errors are also present. While these errors do not severely impede communication, they prevent the essay from achieving a higher band, making Band 5.5 the most appropriate score.

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