Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · 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 8.0)

Technology is advancing daily as people look for easier ways to make payments, such as using cards and smartphones. While some predict that cash will completely disappear in the future, I disagree with this view. Although digital payments are growing, cash will remain essential because many people still rely on it for convenience and security, while others distrust digital systems.

First of all, digital payment systems are not completely reliable. Electronic transactions depend entirely on internet connections, electricity, and working bank servers. If there is a power outage or a system failure, card and phone payments instantly stop working. In these emergency situations, physical money is the only way people can buy essential goods like food and medicine. Furthermore, many small businesses and local street markets cannot afford expensive card machines, making cash necessary for everyday transactions.

In addition, many people would be unhappy to stop using cash because they care about privacy and saving money. Every time someone pays with a card or phone, banks and governments can see what they bought. Many people do not like this and want to keep their spending private. Furthermore, holding real money makes it easier to track daily spending. When people use cash, they can physically see their money going away, which stops them from spending too much.

In conclusion, I completely disagree that cash will go extinct in the future. Digital payments are convenient, but cash offers technical reliability, financial privacy, and better budgeting control that card and phone payments simply cannot replace.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt clearly. You have taken a firm position against the total disappearance of cash and provided two distinct, well-supported reasons: technical reliability and privacy/budgeting concerns. The ideas are extended with relevant examples, such as the mention of power outages and small businesses. The response is balanced and directly answers both the 'will it happen' and 'why people might not be happy' components of the task. The development is logical and consistent throughout the essay, meeting the requirements for a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a clear central topic, and the progression of ideas is smooth. You have used a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'First of all', 'Furthermore', 'In addition', and 'In conclusion'. These transitions help the reader follow your argument without difficulty. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct points. The flow of information is natural, and the relationship between sentences is clear, demonstrating a high level of control over the structure of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'digital payment systems', 'electronic transactions', 'financial privacy', and 'budgeting control' are used accurately and appropriately in context. While the vocabulary is functional and clear, it could be elevated further by incorporating more sophisticated or less common collocations to reach the highest band. However, the current usage is precise, and there are no errors in word choice or spelling that impede communication or cause confusion for the reader.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use conditional structures ('If there is a power outage...') and complex noun phrases effectively. The grammar is generally accurate, with very few errors. Punctuation is handled well, and the sentence construction is varied enough to maintain interest. While the range of structures is solid, there is room to incorporate more advanced grammatical forms, such as passive voice constructions or more varied subordinate clauses, to demonstrate even greater flexibility. Overall, the writing is clear, fluent, and error-free for the vast majority of the text.

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