Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)
Nowadays, many cities around the world are facing heavy traffic, because more people own and use private vehicles. This causes many problems in daily life. However, both the government and individuals can take steps to reduce traffic congestion.
One of the biggest problems is that people spend a lot of time stuck in traffic. As a result, they reach work, school, or other places late, which can reduce productivity and increase stress. Another major issue is air pollution. A large number of vehicles release harmful gases into the air, which affects the environment and people’s health. In addition, traffic jams waste fuel and make cities noisy and uncomfortable to live in.
There are several ways to solve this problem. The government should improve public transport by providing more buses, trains, and metro services that are affordable, reliable, and comfortable. It should also build better roads, cycling lanes, and pedestrian paths. Charging higher parking fees or introducing congestion charges in busy areas can also encourage people to use public transport instead of private cars.
Individuals also have an important role to play. People can use buses or trains whenever possible, share rides with others, or cycle and walk for short distances. Some employees can also work from home if their jobs allow it, which can reduce the number of vehicles on the roads.
In conclusion, the increasing number of private vehicles has created serious problems such as traffic delays and pollution. However, with better government policies and responsible choices by individuals, traffic congestion can be reduced and cities can become cleaner and more pleasant to live in.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 7.5 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response is completely off-topic. The prompt asks about the future of cash payments and why some people might be reluctant to abandon cash. However, the student has written an essay about traffic congestion and private vehicles. Because the response does not address the task instructions at all, it fails to meet the requirements for Task Achievement. While the writing itself is coherent and grammatically sound, it is a response to a completely different prompt. Consequently, it cannot be awarded a passing score for task response.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The essay is well-structured with clear paragraphing and logical progression. The student uses cohesive devices effectively, such as 'As a result', 'In addition', and 'In conclusion', to link ideas within and between paragraphs. The flow of the argument regarding traffic management is logical and easy to follow. Despite the essay being off-topic, the internal coherence and the use of paragraphing demonstrate a level of skill that would typically be associated with a higher band score in a relevant response.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.5
The vocabulary is adequate and appropriate for the topic of traffic management. The student uses a range of relevant terms such as 'traffic congestion', 'productivity', 'harmful gases', 'public transport', and 'congestion charges'. The word choice is generally precise and natural, showing a good command of language. There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors, and the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended meaning clearly throughout the text.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5
The student demonstrates a good command of grammatical structures. There is a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as 'The government should improve public transport by providing more buses, trains, and metro services that are affordable, reliable, and comfortable.' Punctuation is used correctly, and the majority of sentences are error-free. The control over complex structures is consistent, and the grammar does not impede communication at any point in the text.
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