This got posted as an exemplar band 5/6 mod C response on the NESA website. They have used "&" repeatedly. Probably still not gonna use ampersands myself, but just a bit perplexed by this.
You probably won't get marked down for it most of the time (and it is obviously possible to get a band 5/6 with them) but that doesn't mean you should, since it leaves a bad impression and depending on ur marker if ur like borderline on a mark it could push you down.
