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)

The topic of cashless transactions has always been controversial because it has been argued by people that in upcoming time shopkeepers will replace bills with cashless transaction, and people will use their cards or phones for payments. I believe that this trend will surge in future, however others might not comply with this because of scams and frauds.

With the advent of technology the method of transaction has changed significantly from using cash to phones and cards recently. To be more precise, because of technology people have started to rely more on cashless transactions, not only this eliminates the need to carry cash all time but also reduces possibility of theft, since payments are proceeded on a secure channel. Apart from this, for some people using card and phone is feasible option, as this reduces the headache for them whether it is in terms of asking for change from shopper or they have to give change to shopkeeper. For instance, recently it has been observed in developing countries like India that shoppers uses cashless transactions instead of cash.

In contrary, some people would still prefer to use cash. The first and foremost reason might be the increase in fraudulent activities. To explain this, people might not appreciate this because either they are a victim of scam or might have heard regarding this from a victim. This results mainly due to inability to cope with recent technology. Moreover, they might not be aware or might not have enough knowledge how to operate device; therefore, the chances of criminal activities relating to this could surge rapidly. For example, with the new changes in Scotiabank's banking system countless frauds have been reported to the authorities and are seeking for justice for the same.

I believe that the trend of cashless transaction might not be able to replace cash transaction system, despite of its disadvantages. Specially, the elderly population might not comply with this trend due to technological advancement.

To conclude, although there numerous benefits of using cash such as it reduces the reliability of carrying cash and asking for change, the fact that it also invites scammers can not be unseen, especially for the elderly population.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the likelihood of a cashless future and the reasons for resistance. The position is clear throughout. The ideas are relevant, such as the mention of security and the elderly population's struggle with technology. However, some points are slightly under-developed; for instance, the example regarding Scotiabank is specific but could be better integrated to explain the broader societal reluctance. The conclusion contradicts the body paragraphs slightly by suggesting cash might not be replaced, which is a valid opinion but could have been more consistently argued throughout the essay. Overall, the task is addressed well.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, each with a clear focus. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'To be more precise', 'Apart from this', and 'In contrary' (though 'In contrast' would be more accurate). However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical, and there are minor issues with referencing, such as in the final paragraph where 'it' is used ambiguously. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, body, and conclusion. The progression of ideas is generally clear, though the flow between sentences could be smoother to achieve a higher band.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task. You use some good topic-specific terms like 'cashless transactions', 'fraudulent activities', and 'technological advancement'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'payments are proceeded' (should be 'processed'), 'headache for them' (too informal), and 'can not be unseen' (awkward phrasing). While these errors do not impede communication, they limit the score. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and avoiding informal idioms in an academic context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'it has been argued by people that in upcoming time shopkeepers will replace bills' (awkward syntax), 'shoppers uses' (subject-verb agreement error), and 'despite of its disadvantages' (incorrect preposition usage). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are missing commas in complex sentences. While you attempt complex structures, the frequency of errors in basic grammar prevents a higher score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and refining the use of prepositions to improve accuracy.

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