Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-07-28
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 5.5)
Some people think that in the future cash will be completely dissapears. Because people nowadays is totally depend on contactless payments. In this essay I will discuss why cards and mobile pays are convientent but cash still plays significant role in some peoples life.
To commence with, paying by card is easy and it makes a person look stylish. To explain, youngsters believe that carrying a cash while shopping is old method. They believe the person who find difficulty in using cell phone or card for paying is kind of boring and not educated. For example; more people try to look educated, just for showing their status they like to use modern technology for paying their bills.
On the other hand, Many people including old generation still feel comfortable and safe while using cash.
It is not easy for elder people to remember their pins or sometimes they feel that cash is crucial as best for paying. For example, older people or some new generation also likes to carry enough cash for emergency situation, like if cell phones battery is low, they prefer to have some cash.
In conclusion, Although modern paying methods are fast and easy, disappearing of cash is not acceptable for society.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the future of cash and reasons for resistance. However, the essay is significantly under the 250-word minimum, which severely limits the development of ideas. The arguments are presented in a very simplistic manner; for example, the claim that using cards makes one 'look stylish' is a weak, underdeveloped point. To reach a higher band, you must expand on your ideas with more depth and provide more substantial evidence or logical reasoning. Because the response is 45 words short, it fails to fully develop the required content, resulting in a lower score for task achievement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the progression of ideas is quite basic. While you use some linking words like 'To commence with' and 'On the other hand', the transitions between sentences are often mechanical. The paragraphing is logical, but the internal cohesion within paragraphs is weak due to the brevity of the points. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of cohesive devices to connect your ideas more fluidly and ensure that each paragraph has a clear, well-supported topic sentence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for basic communication but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You rely on simple, repetitive words like 'easy', 'good', and 'paying'. There are also noticeable errors in word formation and spelling, such as 'dissapears' instead of 'disappear' and 'mobile pays' instead of 'mobile payments'. To achieve a higher score, you should aim to use more sophisticated vocabulary and collocations related to the topic of finance and technology, while ensuring your spelling is accurate.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and some attempted complex sentences, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow. Examples include 'people nowadays is totally depend' (subject-verb agreement and word form errors) and 'the person who find difficulty' (missing 's'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of semicolons and commas. To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and sentence structure. Increasing the variety of complex structures while reducing the frequency of basic errors will significantly improve your score.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.