Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-09-27

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 5.0)

In todays rapidly changing world, cellphones have become the most import part of our day and paying for the apps that are most commonly used is becoming a significant matter of debate. While some believe the apps should be free, there are many who argue to this. This essay will highlight both the advantages and disadvantages for the same motion. And will support both the views with appropriate examples.

While on one hand, the usuage of phone are becoming more and more common. The app that we are using the most are getting expensive day by day. People have started to belive that paying for the apps is acceptable, because they are learning from these apps. For instance, apps like weather app, news articles app or stocks app. Gives us alot of useful information, so paying for them doesn't hurt them. Moreover these apps only most runs on subscription based models, so if someone doesn't need that information, they can opt out from the app.

On the other hand, people argue for the same because they feel like the disadvanatges for this motion is significantly higher. For most the apps people pay once and the app charges them for the entire year. Moreover people feels like that information that these apps are providing are largly in public interest and the apps should not charge for it. For example the news apps, provide the general news from all around the globe and that is somethings which should not be charge as it is people right to have the correct information.

However to conclude, I feel like paying for the apps have equal advantages and disadvantages. Its totally upto the individuals how they want to access them. And what they feel about the payment for the certain apps.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.5
Coherence and Cohesion5.0
Lexical Resource5.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.0

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by discussing both the advantages and disadvantages of paying for mobile applications. However, the interpretation of the prompt shows some confusion; the student frequently drifts into discussing paying for 'apps' in general rather than focusing specifically on paying for goods and services *using* mobile phone apps, which is what the prompt implies. The position is somewhat unclear, with the conclusion stating that advantages and disadvantages are equal. Ideas are presented, such as subscription models and the public interest nature of news apps, but they remain somewhat underdeveloped and repetitive, justifying a Band 5.5.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The essay is divided into paragraphs, including an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion, which provides a basic overall structure. However, logical progression is hindered by confusing transitions and unclear referencing. For example, sentences like 'While some believe the apps should be free, there are many who argue to this' and 'people argue for the same because they feel like the disadvanatges for this motion is significantly higher' create confusion regarding the writer's stance. Cohesive devices are used awkwardly or inaccurately, such as 'And will support both the views' starting a new sentence fragment, leading to a Band 5.0 classification.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is basic and repetitive throughout the essay. The student frequently repeats terms like 'apps', 'paying', and 'information'. There are noticeable word choice and collocation errors, such as 'most import part', 'usuage of phone', 'most runs on subscription based models', and 'something which should not be charge'. These errors sometimes cause slight difficulty for the reader, though basic communication is maintained, fitting the criteria for a Band 5.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but control is weak. There are frequent grammatical and punctuation errors, including subject-verb agreement issues ('weather app... Gives us', 'the apps people pay once and the app charges', 'people feels like'), fragment sentences ('And will support both the views'), and incorrect verb forms ('should not be charge'). These errors are frequent enough to cause difficulty for the reader at times, placing the grammar performance firmly at Band 5.0.

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