Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-07-27

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 7.5)

Nowadays, due to the advancement in technology, everything is getting digital, and many of the facilities such as bank transactions and payments are being done online through mobile and cards. It has been said that in the near future, masses would not be able to pay using cash in shops, and payments would be completed only through cards and mobiles. In my opinion, it would not be possible to make the payments fully cashless due to the drawbacks of online payments such as cybercrime and network issues. This essay will explain reasons for my thinking, and will explain why few people would be unwilling to give up using cash.

To commence with, it would not be possible to make payments cashless completely, because of the cybercrime and network issues. For instance, when the server in the area is down, masses will not be able to complete the payments, and therefore, at that particular moment, cash will be the only option to make payment. Apart from this, online payments are always risky, particularly for young children and elderly people, as they often become prey to frauds which ask for OTP for payment confirmation and other personal information. Hence, it would not be possible to make payments fully digital.

I believe some people would not be ready to give up cash because they are unfamiliar with the technology, and they are reluctant about learning and find it to complicated. For instance, most of the elderly people do not want to step out of their comfort zone, and they are rather happy using cash, as they feel using the technology is too challenging to learn in this stage of life. Apart from this, there are many remote locations, where the cash is the only option, and therefore, people are unwilling to give up cash.

To conclude, it has been said that in future, the populace might not be able to use cash in shops, and all payments would be made using cards and phone only. However, I argue that it would not be possible to be completely cashless due to the negatives of cashless payments such as frauds and network connectivity. Moreover, some people would not be happy to give up cash because of the complicated technology, and owing to the cash being more convenient in some locations

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing a clear position on the future of cash and explaining why some people are reluctant to abandon it. The ideas are relevant and supported by examples, such as the mention of cybercrime, network issues, and the challenges faced by the elderly. While the development is logical, the arguments could be further extended with more depth to reach a higher band. For example, the discussion on 'remote locations' is brief and could benefit from a more specific illustration. Overall, the response is well-focused and maintains a consistent position throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the two main points of the prompt. Cohesive devices such as 'To commence with', 'Apart from this', and 'To conclude' are used to guide the reader through the argument. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical or repetitive. The progression of ideas is clear, and the referencing is generally accurate, though the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to create a more natural, sophisticated connection between thoughts.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended meaning clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'cybercrime', 'digital', and 'transactions'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on simpler phrasing. Phrases like 'everything is getting digital' or 'masses will not be able to' are functional but lack the precision and sophistication expected at higher bands. There are also minor issues with word choice, such as 'too complicated' instead of 'too complex' or 'at this stage of life'. Expanding your range of collocations and idiomatic expressions would enhance your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are recurring grammatical errors. For instance, 'everything is getting digital' is slightly unnatural, and there are issues with article usage, such as 'the cash is the only option' (should be 'cash is the only option'). Additionally, there are minor punctuation and phrasing errors, such as 'find it to complicated' (should be 'too complicated'). Despite these errors, the grammar does not impede communication, and you show a reasonable level of control over sentence construction.

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