Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-07-29

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)

Cashless payments are being incredibly popular and it is claimed that individuals will not be able to pay through cash for their shopping in coming days. Although, I believe that societies will move towards cashless, I do think that cash will completely disappear. Elderly people would not probably favour this because they are not properly aware of technology.

There are certain reasons for this shift. One significant reason is the convenience of using digital applications and cards. People can take cards or apps while doing shopping and pay instantly. Additionally, there is no fear of being robbed. When individuals took cash with them in past, they were always scared of pick-pocketing or robbery. Cashless payments have removed this threat. For instance, I once lost my purse along with cash during shopping in market, now I prefer to use card instead of cash.

While, payments through cards or app are convenient, fast and safe, however, some people will be reluctant to adopt it for personal reasons. Elderly individuals are not aware of new technology and do not know how to operate the system and prefer to take cash along with them. Moreover, cash provide control on spending whereas during payments through cards you do not even realise how much amount has been spent.

In conclusion, although, cashless payments are convenient, safe and fast they are able to vanish the cash from societies in future. Some people will not prefer using cashless payments because cash provides controlled spending and many senior citizens do not know to operate cards and mobile applications.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt: it discusses the likelihood of a cashless future and provides reasons why some people may be reluctant to adopt it. The position is clear throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For example, the point about elderly people is repeated in both the introduction and the body paragraph, and the argument regarding 'control on spending' could have been expanded with more depth. To reach a higher band, ensure that each paragraph introduces a distinct, well-supported idea rather than repeating points, and aim for a more nuanced exploration of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different ideas. Cohesive devices such as 'Additionally', 'For instance', and 'Moreover' are used to link sentences and ideas. However, there are some minor issues with the flow; for example, the use of 'Although' at the start of the second sentence is grammatically awkward, and the transition between the convenience of cards and the reluctance of some users could be smoother. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task. You use some relevant terms like 'digital applications', 'pick-pocketing', and 'senior citizens'. However, there are some inaccuracies in collocation and word choice, such as 'cashless payments are being incredibly popular' (should be 'becoming') and 'able to vanish the cash' (should be 'eliminate' or 'replace'). The range is sufficient to convey meaning, but more precise and sophisticated vocabulary would be needed for a higher band score. Focus on learning collocations to improve the naturalness of your expression.

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 'pay through cash' (should be 'pay with cash'), 'take cards or apps' (should be 'use'), and 'cash provide control' (subject-verb agreement error: 'cash provides'). Additionally, the sentence 'Although, I believe that societies will move towards cashless, I do think that cash will completely disappear' contains a logical contradiction based on your intended meaning. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on subject-verb agreement and correct preposition usage.

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