Nowadays it is easy to apply for and be given a credit card. However, some people experience problems when they are not be able to pay their debts back. In your opinion, do the advantages of credit cards outweigh the disadvantages?
Sample Response
It is all too easy to obtain a credit card and then run up debtsthen to run up debts which are difficult to repay. In my opinion, the disadvantages of credit cards far outweigh the advantages.
Many people consider only the benefits of owning a credit card. It is true that a credit card gives users access to fundsgives you access to money and the option to repay the amount laterthe facility to pay it back later, like a loan. This could be useful for emergencies or a large expense, such as a holidaysomething expensive, like a holiday. In addition, having a credit card is safer than carrying cashmore secure than carrying money around with you. If you lose your wallet or purse, or if you are mugged in the street, a quick phone call to the bank means that the card will be blocked immediatelythe card will be instantly refused if anyone tries to use it.
On the other hand, credit cards encourage people to spend money they do not have. I would never have a credit card for this reason. Debts can build up and leave people in seriousreal financial difficulties. When people cannot repay their debtscannot pay their debts back, everyone suffers: those in debt may lose their homes, the banks lose money, and the whole economy suffers. The enticing message of ‘spend today, pay tomorrow’ should not seduce usUS into adopting this attitudeembracing this philosophy. As my mother used to say: it will end in tears.
In conclusion, listen to the advice of the older generation. Do not be tempted by the ease of using a credit card, because it may result in mounting debts which cannot be paid back.
Why this response received Band 8.0
The response’s strongest feature is its direct, persuasive comparison, with specific benefits and clearly developed financial risks supporting a consistent position. Its main limitation is a slightly conversational closing and one or two imprecise lexical choices, which modestly reduce the otherwise polished academic tone. The highest-priority improvement is to express the final judgment analytically and preserve the same precise register throughout.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The question is fully addressed through a clear judgment and well-developed, relevant consideration of both advantages and disadvantages.
Make the conclusion explicitly summarize why the financial risks outweigh the practical benefits instead of shifting into direct advice.
Coherence and Cohesion
The argument is easy to follow, with focused paragraphs, natural progression, and cohesive devices used effectively.
Maintain the analytical progression through the conclusion by linking the final claim directly to the comparison developed above.
Lexical Resource
Vocabulary is wide, precise, and often natural, with strong control of topic-specific and idiomatic expressions.
Refine rare imprecise choices such as a card being “refused” and avoid accidental capitalization that interrupts the polished register.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A wide range of sentence structures is handled flexibly and accurately, with errors extremely rare and meaning consistently clear.
Preserve this high control by checking punctuation and typographical slips during a final proofread.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
Nowadays it is easy to apply for and be given a credit card. However, some people experience problems when they are not be able to pay their debts back. In your opinion, do the advantages of credit cards outweigh the disadvantages?
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.