Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-01

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 6.5)

In the modern era, with the help of technology, everything is developing so rapidly. Digital payments are replacing cash. But a few individuals are not satisfied with this change. I will discuss both sides, good and bad and reasons in the following paragraphs.

To commence with, the replacement of cash with online payments is so beneficial for some people. Because, according to them, there is no stress carrying cash and losing or having it stolen. Moreover, people can make large payments without any tension. For example, businessmen, while making any deals with other companies, can pay in full without any kind of installments, as sometimes they have big-amount deals that they can't pay at once because they can't carry this much cash, so it would be easy for them to pay on the spot.

On the other hand, some people don't like this change. They believe that for small amounts, they have to use their phone, and in case if their transaction doesn't go through, they consider it shameful for them. Furthermore, individuals who are uneducated it would be difficult for them to understand how to use it in the correct way. This could increase the rate of scams as well. For example, if any scammer call to someone who is not educated so they put that person in trap easily can transfer all money to his own account.

I believe, cards and payments through phones would take place one day. As nowadays, most people prefer cards rather than cash, their are few persons who carry cash with them.

In conclusion, Digital payments and cash should be used in future because both have their own advantages and disadvantages.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, including the prediction about the future of cash and the reasons why some people might be reluctant to abandon it. The ideas are relevant, such as the convenience for large transactions and the concerns regarding digital literacy and security. However, the development is somewhat limited; the arguments are presented in a fairly basic manner. The conclusion is slightly contradictory, as it suggests both methods should be used, which deviates from the earlier prediction that digital payments will take over. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your points with more detailed examples and ensure your position remains consistent throughout the essay.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, and there is a logical progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'To commence with', 'Moreover', and 'On the other hand', to link your points. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the phrase 'in case if their transaction doesn't go through' which lacks a clear subject. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph focuses on a single, well-developed theme.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to express your ideas clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'digital payments', 'transactions', and 'scams'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on simpler vocabulary. There are also some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'put that person in trap' instead of 'trap that person'. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary and idiomatic expressions related to technology and finance to demonstrate a wider range of lexical control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'their are few persons' (should be 'there are'), 'if any scammer call to someone' (should be 'calls'), and 'they put that person in trap easily can transfer' (which is a run-on/fragmented structure). Punctuation is generally functional, but some sentences are clunky. To achieve a higher score, focus on improving subject-verb agreement and refining your use of complex sentence structures to ensure they are error-free.

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