Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-07-25

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 6.5)

The rapid advancement of technology may render the traditional method of paying by cash obsolete, replacing it with transactions made by credit cards or mobile phones in the future. This trend has seen as increasing number of individuals exclusively resorting to card based payments with some establishments declining cash transactions altogether. According to my opinion, this shift may detrimentally impact individuals who prefer cash as it limits their ability to monitor financial outflow.

A growing population has embraced the use of credit cards for shopping , resulting in decline the use of physical cash in wallets or homes. Society is undergoing a significant transformation by reducing the use of cash.<Major retailers and even owners of small convenience stores have begun rejecting cash payments. For instance, some merchants have adopted alternative methods like digital wallet or cryptocurrencies to upgrade cashless future.

On the other hand, people find it challenging to control over transactions occurred with their bank accounts. The proliferation of cybercrime has increased the unauthorized access and fraudulent activities going on undetected until its too late. One personal incident serves to clarify this point is during a transaction through my visa card, an unexpected and unauthorized withdrawal occurred at the final stage leading to arduous process to rectify the situation.

In conclusion, the evolution of technology has precipitated the diminishing prevalence of cash transactions. Consequently, the cybercriminals have left the consumers feeling more vulnerable for asking the security and familiarity with cash transactions.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the likelihood of a cashless future and the reasons for resistance. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited, and the essay falls short of the 250-word minimum requirement, which negatively impacts the overall task completion. While the position is clear, the arguments—particularly regarding cybercrime—could have been expanded with more depth or specific examples to fully satisfy the requirements of a Band 7. The conclusion is a bit abrupt and does not fully synthesize the points made in the body paragraphs.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'On the other hand' and 'In conclusion,' though some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The referencing is generally clear, but there are instances where the flow between sentences could be smoother. For example, the transition between the second and third paragraphs is a bit abrupt. Overall, the structure is sufficient to follow the writer's argument, but it lacks the sophisticated management of cohesion required for higher bands.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with some attempts at more sophisticated language like 'precipitated,' 'diminishing prevalence,' and 'arduous process.' However, there are some awkward collocations and word choice errors, such as 'asking the security' (likely meant 'questioning') and 'control over transactions occurred.' These errors do not impede communication, but they highlight a need for more precise usage. The range is sufficient to convey the intended meaning, but it lacks the flexibility and precision of a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'This trend has seen as increasing number' (should be 'has seen an increasing number') and 'resulting in decline the use' (should be 'resulting in a decline in the use'). Additionally, there are issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. While these errors are noticeable, they rarely impede the reader's understanding. To improve, the writer should focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles and prepositions.

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