TechnologyAdvantages–Disadvantages
IELTS Essay: Children and Smartphones (Band 9 vs 6.5)
In short
Below is a full Band 9 model answer to this IELTS Writing Task 2 question, the same question written at Band 6.5, and a criterion-by-criterion breakdown of exactly what separates them — so you can see what to change in your own writing. Then check your essay with the free tool.
The question
These days, many children spend a large amount of their free time using smartphones. Do the advantages of this trend outweigh the disadvantages?
How to approach a Advantages–Disadvantages question
For an advantages/disadvantages question, first check exactly what is asked: 'discuss the advantages and disadvantages' wants a balanced account, whereas 'do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?' demands a clear verdict. If a verdict is required, state it in the introduction and return to it in the conclusion — listing pros and cons without deciding is a Task Response failure.
The plan
- 01Introduction: paraphrase the trend and give a clear verdict — the disadvantages outweigh the advantages.
- 02Body 1: acknowledge the real advantages — educational apps, staying connected, and building digital skills.
- 03Body 2: the greater disadvantages — harm to physical health, addictive design and attention, and exposure to unsafe content.
- 04Conclusion: restate that the risks are too serious to dismiss and that parents should set firm limits.
Band 9 model answer
Smartphones have become a fixture of childhood, with many youngsters devoting hours each day to their screens. This shift has prompted a lively debate about whether the trend is beneficial or damaging. Although these devices offer genuine educational and social rewards, I believe the developmental drawbacks of such heavy use ultimately outweigh them.
The benefits are certainly worth acknowledging. A well-chosen app can turn an idle afternoon into a chance to practise a language or grasp a scientific concept through interactive games that hold a child's attention far better than a textbook. Smartphones also keep children connected to friends and relatives, and they cultivate the digital fluency that modern schooling and future careers increasingly demand. For a curious child, the device is effectively a library that fits in a pocket.
These advantages, however, are outweighed by the cost to a child's health and development. Hours spent hunched over a screen displace the physical play and face-to-face interaction on which growing bodies and social skills depend, contributing to rising rates of obesity and anxiety. More worrying still is the addictive design of many applications, which trains young minds to crave constant stimulation and erodes their capacity for sustained concentration. Exposure to unsuitable content and online strangers compounds these risks, leaving children vulnerable in ways they cannot yet understand.
In summary, while smartphones can undoubtedly educate and entertain, the threats they pose to children's bodies, attention spans and safety are too serious to dismiss. Parents would therefore be wise to set firm limits and encourage other activities rather than allow unrestricted access to a device whose pull is hard to resist.
The same question at Band 6.5
These days, a lot of children spend many hours on their smartphone every day. Some people say this is good thing, but other people think it is bad. In this essay I will talk about the advantages and disadvantages, and I think the disadvantages is more.
On one hand, smartphone have some advantages for children. For example, children can learn many things from the internet, like watching educational video and playing games that teach them new word. Also, they can talk with their friend and family easily. In addition, nowadays technology is everywhere, so it is good if children learn how to use the phone and computer from young age, because in the future they will need this skill for their job. And when parents are busy, the phone can keep the children quiet, so it is helpful for parents also.
On the other hand, there is many disadvantages too. Firstly, if children look at the screen for long time, it is bad for their eyes and health, and they don't do exercise. Secondly, some children become addicted to the phone and they cannot concentrate on their study. Also, there is many bad content on the internet, and children maybe see something not suitable for their age. This can be very dangerous for them.
In conclusion, smartphone have both good and bad points for children. But I think the bad points is more than the good points, because it affect their health and study. So parents should control how much time their children use the phone.
What separates them, criterion by criterion
| Criterion | Band 9 | Band 6.5 |
|---|---|---|
| Task Response | Gives a clear verdict — 'the developmental drawbacks of such heavy use ultimately outweigh them' — and develops both sides with concrete consequences before judging. | Answers the question ('the disadvantages is more') and covers both sides, but the ideas remain general and only lightly developed. |
| Coherence & Cohesion | Guides the reader with flexible connections such as 'These advantages, however, are outweighed by' and 'More worrying still'. | Leans on mechanical markers ('On one hand', 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'Also') and lists points side by side. |
| Lexical Resource | Uses precise, topic-specific phrasing: 'digital fluency', 'crave constant stimulation' and 'sustained concentration'. | Repeats basic vocabulary ('good and bad points', 'helpful', 'many things') with little variety. |
| Grammatical Range & Accuracy | Controls varied complex structures, e.g. 'the physical play and face-to-face interaction on which growing bodies and social skills depend'. | Uses simple sentences with recurrent errors ('smartphone have', 'there is many disadvantages', 'it affect their health'). |
Examiner's note
The Band 9 response answers the exact question — it weighs both sides and delivers an unambiguous verdict — while the 6.5 reaches a verdict but supports it with only general statements. The decisive difference is in language: the 9 controls precise collocation and a range of complex sentences accurately, whereas the 6.5 recycles simple vocabulary and repeats errors such as 'smartphone have' and 'there is many', which mark it as competent but not yet high-level.
Vocabulary from the Band 9 answer
| Word / phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| a fixture of childhood | a normal, permanent part of growing up |
| digital fluency | the ability to use technology confidently and easily |
| an idle afternoon | free time with nothing particular planned |
| hunched over a screen | sitting bent forward while staring at a screen |
| displace | push out or take the place of something |
| crave constant stimulation | feel a strong need for non-stop excitement |
| sustained concentration | the ability to stay focused for a long time |
| set firm limits | put clear, strict rules in place |
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between 'do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages' and 'discuss advantages and disadvantages'?
The 'outweigh' version demands a clear verdict: you must decide which side is stronger and defend it. The 'discuss' version only asks you to explain both sides, though giving a view still helps.
Do I need to give equal space to both sides?
No. You can devote more of your answer to the side you judge stronger, but the weaker side must still be explained clearly. Ignoring one side entirely hurts your Task Response score.
Should I state my own opinion in this essay type?
Yes, whenever the task asks whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Make your verdict explicit in the introduction and confirm it in the conclusion so the examiner is never in doubt.