Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-26

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 7.0)

In the contemporary world, paying with a cell phone has become really popular. There are myriad benefits as well as drawbacks of using mobile phone apps for payment. However, I believe that the advantages of this development are greater than the disadvantages.

Examining the brighter side, the foremost one is that mobile payment is convenient. People can pay for goods and services quickly without carrying cash or a physical card. For example, a customer can use their phone to pay for groceries and restaurant bills within a few seconds. This is particularly useful for people who are travelling in a rush. Moreover, mobile payment apps save tons of time because users do not need to count cash or wait for the change.

Furthermore, phone payment provides more security. Most mobile payments require fingerprints, passwords, and facial recognition before any payment can be made. Therefore, if someone loses their phone, it may be difficult for another person to access bank details. Additionally, digital transactions are usually recorded in an application where users can track their payment history.

On the contrary, there is a darker side to using mobile payments. To begin with, the risk of online fraud and technical problems. If a person's phone is lost, hacked, or has no battery, making a payment can be difficult. However, this problem can be overcome by using a strong password and security features. For instance, if someone loses their phone on public transport, they may face difficulty if they only have a digital method for payment via phone.

To conclude, although paying by mobile phone has some disadvantages, I believe that the advantages are greater. It is convenient, fast, and easy to use in everyday life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The student addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of mobile payment apps and clearly stating a position in the introduction and conclusion. Ideas are relevant and supported with examples, such as paying for groceries or restaurant bills within a few seconds. However, some points could be extended further. For instance, the paragraph discussing the disadvantages mentions online fraud and technical problems, but the student quickly pivots to how this can be overcome and introduces a personal scenario about losing a phone. While the response meets the prompt's requirements and provides a clear overall evaluation, a deeper exploration of the negative impacts, such as digital exclusion for older generations or privacy concerns, would elevate the task response to a higher band. Overall, the response fulfills the criteria for a Band 6.5 or solid Band 7, and is graded at a Band 7.0 for addressing all parts with a clear position and supported ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving from an introduction to the benefits of convenience and security, then addressing the drawbacks, and finally providing a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are used appropriately to guide the reader, such as 'Examining the brighter side', 'Moreover', and 'On the contrary'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and effectively, with distinct breaks for each main idea. Although some transitional phrases are slightly formulaic, the overall structure is coherent and easy to follow. Referencing is generally clear, and the logical flow between sentences supports the overall argument well. This performance aligns comfortably with the Band 7 descriptors for Coherence and Cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow for flexibility and precision, using phrases such as 'contemporary world', 'myriad benefits', and 'digital transactions'. Less common lexical items are attempted with some awareness of style and collocation, such as 'facial recognition' and 'payment history'. There are occasional slight awkwardnesses or limitations in word choice, such as 'Examining the brighter side' instead of a more standard idiom, but these do not impede communication. Spelling and word formation are generally accurate throughout the essay. Because the vocabulary range is adequate to convey precise meanings and attempts some sophisticated phrasing despite minor limitations, this response fits well within the Band 7 criteria for Lexical Resource.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, incorporating conditional structures ('if someone loses their phone') and subordinate clauses effectively. There is a good degree of grammatical control, and punctuation is handled correctly throughout the text. While there are a few minor awkward constructions, such as 'To begin with, the risk of online fraud and technical problems' which lacks a main verb, the majority of sentences are grammatically sound and communication is never impeded. The control over complex forms demonstrates a solid grasp of grammar, warranting a Band 7.0 score according to the official descriptors.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.