Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 15 · 2026-10-08

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 7.0)

With recent advancements in digital technology, there has been a growing trend to pay for things through mobile phone apps. This is not only logistically convenient but also keeps a record of our transactions. However, many conventional people are reluctant to pay through apps as they lack the necessary operational skills for these applications. I firmly believe that the advanatges of this digital development outweigh the disadavanatges.

Critics of this digital development contend that many older people do not know how to use banking apps, so they prefer to stick to their conventional payment methods. To illustrate, my father also prefer to pay in cash, as he does not know how to use mobile banking. Moreover, he fears that his financial privacy might be breached, if he installed a banking app. However, nowadays, digital transactions are very safe, as they offer a two-factor verification system, which helps to protect users from fraud.

Conversely, mobile banking has transformed our daily transactions with much more convenience and security than previously carrying cash in pockets. The logistic ease it offers is commendable, as people do not have to go through the hassle of withdrawing cash from the banks to pay for their purchases. For instance, when I travelled to Canada, I conveniently used my mobile app to pay for things without any prior stress of keeping exchanged currency with me. Digital banking also allows us to keep a track of our transactions. We can get a bank statement at any time and anywhere in the world without necessarily going to the bank.

In conclusion, I reaffirm my conviction that although the interface of mobile banking might be difficult to use for older generation, the benefits this current trend offers are multifold which certainly take precedence over the disadvantages. The logistic ease and a digital record of our payments have transfomed our daily transactions positively.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

Your position is clear from the introduction—“the advantages ... outweigh the disadvantages”—and remains consistent in the conclusion. You address both sides by noting older users’ difficulty and privacy concerns, then explaining convenience and transaction records as benefits. The personal examples about your father and paying in Canada make the discussion relevant, and the main ideas are extended with explanation. To strengthen the response further, develop the disadvantages more fully: the privacy concern is raised but quickly dismissed through a general claim that transactions are safe. A specific explanation of how safeguards work, or a balanced acknowledgement of remaining risks, would make the reasoning more convincing and reduce broad generalisations such as “digital transactions are very safe.”

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response has a clear four-paragraph structure, with an introduction, a paragraph presenting concerns, a paragraph explaining benefits, and a conclusion that restates your view. Progression is easy to follow, and signposts such as “To illustrate,” “Moreover,” and “Conversely” help show how ideas relate. The conclusion also returns to the two main benefits, giving the essay a sense of unity. Some linking is a little mechanical or imprecise: “Conversely” suggests a direct contrast, although the next paragraph mainly shifts to your supporting reasons. You could make connections more natural by using a transition that signals your own position, and by linking the privacy concern more explicitly to the security response.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use a reasonably varied vocabulary for the topic, including “digital transactions,” “financial privacy,” “two-factor verification,” and “transaction records.” These choices communicate the subject clearly, and phrases such as “the hassle of withdrawing cash” show some flexibility. However, several collocations or word forms are not natural, including “logistically convenient,” “logistic ease,” and “keep a track”; spelling errors in “advantages,” “disadvantages,” and “transformed” also reduce accuracy. At this level, the range is adequate and includes some less common language, but precision and natural collocation are not consistent enough for a stronger performance. Prefer established expressions such as “convenient,” “ease of use,” and “keep track of transactions.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

You use a range of sentence forms, including subordinate clauses (“as they lack the necessary operational skills”) and a relative clause (“which helps to protect users from fraud”). Many sentences are accurate and easy to understand, and punctuation generally supports the meaning. A few grammatical slips remain: “my father also prefer” should be “my father also prefers,” and “for older generation” needs an article or plural form, such as “for the older generation.” The comma in “might be breached, if he installed” is unnecessary, and “without any prior stress of keeping” is awkwardly constructed. These are limited issues rather than barriers to understanding; careful proofreading of agreement, articles, and clause punctuation would improve control.

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