Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-11-06

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In the future, people may no longer be able to pay for things in shops using cash. All payments may have to be made by card or using phones. Do you think this will happen one day? Why do you think some people might not be happy to give up using cash?

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

 

Student answer (Band 5.5)

In my opinion I think mostly people use the payment method by using credit card and by electrical or by using banking apps

body paragraph: 1

Nowadays , Mostly people make their payment by card and by banking so it is very common nowaday and it is a convinient way to make payment by electrical merhod u dont need to worry about carry payment with you and about the cash u have .they dont need to count the cash .

body paragraph :2

On the other hand the old people they dont know how to make payment by using the modern way the also bring mony with their .they think it is difficult to use ao for the old people it is not easy and good . they also use cash in shops and stores. also carry money with theirself . i think cash is inportant we also have need cash because some time we need urgently when the electricity is gone and network problem so we dont make any payment by using credit card or by any electric method. so the cash is always important .

Conclusion,

In conclusion , In fututre mostly people use electrical method of payment but for old people cash is always needed so i think both are used in future but electrical method is mostly used in future

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both parts of the question: you suggest that electronic payments will become more common, and explain why older people may resist giving up cash. You also give a relevant practical reason for retaining cash, noting that power cuts or network problems can prevent card or phone payments. However, your position is not fully clear: the opening says people mostly use electronic methods now, while the conclusion predicts both will remain in use, without directly stating whether cashless shops will eventually become the norm. The reasons are also brief and general, with little supporting detail or example. The response is below the required 250 words, which limits how fully you can develop your ideas. State your prediction clearly and expand each reason with a specific example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

There is a basic overall structure, with an opening, two body sections and a conclusion, and the contrast signalled by “On the other hand” helps distinguish the benefits of electronic payment from concerns about cashless systems. However, the progression within paragraphs is sometimes difficult to follow: the first body section repeats that payments by card or banking apps are common and convenient, while the second moves between older people, cash, and technical failures without clear links. Labels such as “body paragraph: 1” and “Conclusion,” are not needed in an essay. Use clear topic sentences and connect each supporting point to the paragraph’s main idea; vary linking expressions and avoid repeating the same point.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

Your vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the main topic, including relevant terms such as “credit card,” “banking apps,” “network problem,” and “electricity.” However, the range is limited and several phrases are repeated, particularly “payment,” “cash,” and “use.” Some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unclear, such as “payment method by using credit card,” “by electrical method,” and “carry money with theirself.” Spelling errors, including “convinient,” “mony,” and “inportant,” also make the writing less clear and polished. Build a more precise set of expressions for payment methods and people’s concerns, and check spelling carefully. For example, use “electronic payments” rather than “electrical method” and “carry cash” rather than “carry money with theirself.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt to express reasons and contrast, and some basic sentence patterns communicate your meaning. However, the range is limited, and errors occur frequently enough to make parts of the response difficult to read. For example, “the old people they dont know” has an unnecessary repeated subject, while “they think it is difficult to use” does not clearly identify what “it” refers to. Sentence boundaries and punctuation are also poorly controlled: the first body paragraph runs several ideas together, and the opening is an incomplete sentence. Practise forming complete sentences with a clear subject and verb, and use full stops to separate distinct points. Then add a few accurate complex sentences, such as a clause explaining what may happen when the network fails.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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