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)

It is often argued that in the future people will use cards and phones to buying goods instead of using cash. In my opinion, it is completely right. Whereas, some people might not be happy with this development.

One of the major reasons of this development is that cashless payments are faster and more convenient. Because of this people can complete transactions with in a few second without carrying cash. For example, many people use their cards and mobile phones to pay for groceries, transportation, and online shopping. As a result, cashless payments are becoming more common. Moreover, electronic payments are safer than carrying cash. If a card is lost or stolen, one can immediately block it by calling in the bank. Whereas, the lost cash is hard to recover.

However, there are several reasons why some people may not be happy to give up using cash. One reason is that elderly people are not much familiar with advanced technology. They may find it difficult to use mobile phones and cards. As a result, they prefer cash. In addition, cash helps people to buy things in limit. People can easily see how much money they have left, which encourages them to spend more carefully. Consequently, many individuals may continue to use cash whenever possible.

In conclusion, I believe that cashless payments will become more and more common because they are convenient and secure. However, I do not think cash will disappear completely, as many people still give more preference to cash.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing a clear opinion on the future of cashless payments and explaining why some individuals might resist this shift. The ideas are relevant and logically developed, such as the mention of elderly users and the psychological benefit of cash for budgeting. To reach a higher band, the development of these points could be more nuanced; for example, exploring the security risks of digital payments or the socio-economic implications of a cashless society would add depth. Overall, the position is consistent and the response is well-focused on the task requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'However', and 'Consequently' are used effectively to link sentences and ideas. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the referencing is clear throughout the text. The structure supports the overall argument well, ensuring that the reader can follow the writer's train of thought without difficulty.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended meaning clearly. The student uses topic-specific terms like 'cashless payments', 'transactions', and 'advanced technology'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are minor issues with collocation, such as 'not much familiar' instead of 'not very familiar' or 'give more preference to' instead of 'prefer'. To improve, the student should aim to incorporate more sophisticated synonyms and idiomatic expressions to demonstrate a wider lexical range. Despite these minor inaccuracies, the vocabulary is adequate for the task and does not impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as 'to buying goods' (should be 'to buy goods'), 'with in a few second' (should be 'within a few seconds'), and 'the lost cash' (should be 'lost cash'). While these errors are noticeable, they do not significantly hinder the reader's understanding. The student shows an attempt at using complex structures, but control over these is inconsistent. Increasing the frequency of error-free complex sentences and focusing on subject-verb agreement and preposition usage would help elevate the score in this criterion.

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