Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

In this modern world, due to the digitalization, methods of payment have changed frequently as people find more convenient ways of paying bills. Some people believe that payment methods in the future with totally move to cash-free. However, some people might find difficulties in paying through card or using applications as it requires a significant amount of knowledge in the technology. This essay will explain why these changes may happen and how they may impact the current generations.

A major advantage of using card or phones for payments is that vendors and customers do not have to worry about keeping their valets safe from thieves. This is because chances of robbery increase at places where people store a great amount of cash in their store tills such as grocery marts and cafes. Hence, this method would significantly decreases such harmful incidents. For instance, while travelling to foreign countries, individuals won't have to carry different currencies when they have these advanced features available.

Retired people are often disconnected with latest advancements. As a result, getting comfortable with these changes make their life harder. This is because they believe there are more chances of getting scammed by hackers by adapting these payment methods. For example, cybercriminals can easily blackmail uneducated people through accessing their financial applications by acting as their bank advisors. Therefore, some citizens think this approach might not be appropriate as it contains a significant amount of risks.

In my opinion, although payments made by cards and phones would considerably reduce violent acts such as theft and heist, dealing with cash would provide a huge relief to some individuals.

To conclude, using online payment methods along with cash would be an ideal strategy, as it can benefits both generations and provide an alternative option.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have addressed both parts of the prompt: the likelihood of a cashless future and the reasons why some people might be reluctant to adopt it. Your position is clear throughout the essay. However, the development of your ideas is somewhat limited. For example, while you mention that elderly people find technology difficult, you could have expanded on the 'why'—perhaps by discussing the digital divide or the loss of tangible control over one's finances. The conclusion is a bit brief and introduces a new idea (a hybrid system) that was not fully explored in the body paragraphs. To reach a higher band, ensure each point is supported with more detailed explanation or nuanced examples.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a central theme. You use some cohesive devices effectively, such as 'For instance,' 'As a result,' and 'Therefore,' which help the reader follow your argument. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical or repetitive. The progression of ideas is generally smooth, but the link between the introduction and the body paragraphs could be tighter. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and the overall structure is sound, though the final paragraph is quite short and feels slightly disconnected from the main body of the argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'digitalization,' 'cybercriminals,' and 'financial applications' appropriately. There are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'disconnected with' (should be 'disconnected from') and 'can benefits' (should be 'can benefit'). While you attempt to use some less common vocabulary, the range is somewhat limited, and you rely on fairly standard phrasing. To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations and a wider variety of synonyms to avoid repeating basic words like 'people' or 'methods.'

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors throughout the text, such as 'payment methods in the future with totally move' (should be 'will totally move') and 'getting comfortable with these changes make their life harder' (should be 'makes'). Additionally, there are minor issues with article usage and verb agreement. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and ensure that your complex sentences are punctuated correctly.

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