Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-07-30

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 6.0)

In this contemporary era, technology is increasing day by day. Some people think that cards and digital payments will replace cash in shops. I think that digital payments can increase, but it cannot replace cash. People have some reasons why they prefer to pay by card instead of cash.

The main reason why people like to use digital methods is time-saving. Nowadays, we can see most of people have smartphones, and they can pay anywhere anytime on digital applications and e-transfer as well as it is the easiest way. Moreover, People do not nee

On the other hand, it cannot happen that people will not pay by cash. Some older people do not know how to use cards and digital payment apps, and it is hard for them to use it without proper knowledge. Moreover, some people face technical issues on those apps, like payments can be delayed or declined, so they choose to pay by cash rather than cards.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the likelihood of a cashless society and the reasons for resistance. However, the essay is significantly under the 250-word minimum requirement, which severely limits the development of ideas. The arguments regarding time-saving and technical issues are relevant but remain superficial and lack sufficient supporting examples or depth. Because the response is incomplete and fails to meet the length requirement, it cannot be awarded a higher band. To improve, you must expand your points with specific examples and ensure you reach the word count to fully explore the implications of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, and there is a basic logical progression from the introduction to the body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover' and 'On the other hand' are used to connect ideas, though the transitions are somewhat mechanical. The abrupt ending of the second paragraph suggests a lack of planning or time management. To achieve a higher score, you should focus on creating a more cohesive flow between sentences and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear concluding thought before moving to the next point.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and sophistication. You use basic terms like 'time-saving', 'digital applications', and 'technical issues'. While these are accurate, they do not demonstrate a wide range of vocabulary. There is some repetition of simple words. To improve, try to incorporate more precise or academic collocations related to finance and technology. For instance, instead of 'digital methods', you could use 'electronic payment systems' or 'cashless transactions' to show a better command of the topic-specific lexicon.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. There are a few grammatical errors, such as 'most of people' (should be 'most people') and 'it cannot happen that people will not pay by cash' (which is slightly awkward phrasing). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the incomplete sentence at the end of the second paragraph is a significant issue. To reach a higher band, you need to demonstrate more consistent control over complex sentence structures and ensure that your grammar is accurate throughout the entire piece.

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