# Mobile phones: advantages and disadvantages: IELTS Writing Task 2 samples

Writing Task 2 - Technology

Mobile phones have become an essential part of daily life for people of all ages. Do the advantages of this development outweigh the disadvantages?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Source: Sample answers and examiner notes are written by Testmigo.

## Band 6 sample

Nowadays, almost everyone has a mobile phone, from young children to old people. Mobile phones have many advantages, but they also have some disadvantages. In my opinion, the advantages are more important than disadvantages.

Firstly, mobile phone makes communication very easy. In the past, people had to write letters or use the telephone at home, but now we can call or send message to anyone in any time. For example, my uncle works in Dubai and our family talks with him by video call every weekend. This is very good for families who live far from each other.

Secondly, mobile phones are useful for many other things. People can use it for online banking, shopping and to find the way with maps. For instance, I use a map app every time I visit a new part of my city, so I never get lost. Students can also search information for their homework very quickly. Because of this, mobile phones save a lot of time for people.

However, there are also some disadvantages. Many people, especially teenagers, use their phones for too long time and they become addicted. They spend hours on games and social media instead of studying or doing exercise. Also, using a phone while driving is very dangerous and it causes many accidents. Some people also think that mobile phones are bad for health because of the radiation, but this is not clear.

In conclusion, I think mobile phones have more advantages than disadvantages because they help people to communicate and to do many things in their daily life. But people should use them carefully, and parents should control how much time their children spend on their phones.

**Examiner notes.** This Band 6 essay states a position early and keeps it, and the weekly video call with an uncle in Dubai is a relevant example. However, the second body paragraph mostly lists uses ("online banking, shopping and to find the way with maps") with little explanation, and the essay never weighs the two sides against each other. Slips such as "send message to anyone in any time" and "too long time" are noticeable but do not block meaning. For Band 7, the writer would develop fewer ideas in more depth and show why the advantages are greater.

## Band 7 sample

Over the last two decades, the mobile phone has changed from a luxury item into something most people carry everywhere. Although this development has brought some serious problems, I believe its benefits are considerably greater.

One major advantage is safety. A person who is lost, injured or in danger can now contact help within seconds, wherever they are. Parents also feel more relaxed when their teenage children go out, because they know they can reach them at any time. Before mobile phones were common, a breakdown on a quiet road or an accident while hiking could leave someone without help for hours.

Mobile phones have also given millions of people access to services they never had before. In many developing countries, people in rural areas who live far from the nearest bank can now send and receive money through their phones. Similarly, farmers can check weather forecasts and market prices, which helps them decide when to plant and where to sell their crops. For these people, a phone is not a toy but a tool for earning a living.

Nevertheless, the disadvantages should not be ignored. The constant flow of notifications makes it difficult to concentrate, and many people check their phones dozens of times an hour without even noticing. This habit can reduce productivity at work and harm students' learning. In addition, using a phone late at night is known to disrupt sleep, which affects both physical and mental health.

In conclusion, although mobile phones can be distracting and may disturb people's sleep, I believe their advantages, particularly in terms of safety and access to essential services, outweigh these drawbacks. However, individuals need to set limits on their own phone use if they want to enjoy the benefits without the costs.

**Examiner notes.** This Band 7 essay takes a clear position and supports it with well-chosen examples, such as farmers checking "weather forecasts and market prices" and the idea that a phone is "not a toy but a tool for earning a living". Paragraphs move logically, and linking such as "Nevertheless" and "Similarly" sounds natural. The disadvantages paragraph is thinner than the two advantages paragraphs, though, and the conclusion asserts that the benefits win without arguing why. A Band 8 response would weigh the two sides explicitly and express the position with more precise, carefully qualified language.

The Band 8 sample is free with an account on the [topic page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/writing/topics/task-2/mobile-phones-advantages-disadvantages).

## Common questions

### How many words should I write?

At least 150 words for Task 1 and 250 for Task 2. Writing a little more is fine; an answer under the minimum loses marks.

### Can I use these sample answers in my test?

No. Memorised material is marked down and you will not get this exact question. Use the samples to see what each band does with the same task.