Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-07-24

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)

Technology has become part of our daily lives and they are using them to manage personal and professional life. According to my opinion, people might prefer shopping by using cards but some people prefer to pay physically which will be described in below paragraphs.

Handling cash would be very difficult for individuals these days.it can be stolen or lost in crowded places. That why people are using online platforms to buy their goods and services. In addition, using online platforms is very easy to use people have to just tap their card on the barcode and payments would automatic cut from the bank account. For example, credit card is the safest option that most of the individuals

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, reaching only 117 words. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed. While the student introduces the topic of cashless payments, the development of ideas is severely limited. The second part of the prompt—why some people might not be happy to give up cash—is barely touched upon before the text abruptly ends. To improve, the student must expand on each point with specific examples and ensure the essay is fully developed to meet the length requirement, which is essential for a higher band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay shows some attempt at logical organization, with an introduction and a body paragraph. However, the progression is hindered by the incomplete nature of the text. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'In addition' and 'For example', but they are somewhat mechanical. The paragraphing is insufficient, and the abrupt ending makes the overall structure feel disjointed. To achieve a higher score, the student should focus on creating a clear, balanced structure with well-developed paragraphs that flow logically from one point to the next using a wider variety of linking words.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for basic communication but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. Phrases like 'manage personal and professional life' and 'pay physically' are somewhat simplistic or unnatural. There are also issues with word choice, such as 'payments would automatic cut', which should be 'payments would be automatically deducted'. The student relies on a limited set of words and struggles to incorporate more sophisticated or academic vocabulary. Expanding the range of synonyms and focusing on correct collocations would significantly improve this score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'they are using them' (referring back to technology, which is singular), 'That why people are using', and 'payments would automatic cut'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing spaces after periods and incomplete sentences. To improve, the student needs to focus on subject-verb agreement, correct verb forms, and ensuring that sentences are complete and punctuated correctly. A more consistent use of complex sentence structures with fewer errors is needed for a higher band.

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