Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-02

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)

The unrealistic thought that whether cash payments would be completely out of trend or not, and would people have to make digital payments only out of no more option left, has garnered a significant debate. I, however, contemplate that this phenomenon would be impossible to implement. This essay will explore my opinion as well as the factors behind individuals' unhappiness about discarding cash.

I am of the opinion that the mentioned notion is vividly a case of imaginative world, hence cannot be true. Making payments is broadly a giant umbrella which has to be present at every corner of the globe. Out of it, a considerable portion is in-hand payments, without which even the mini scene of market seems opaque. No matter how many new methods of transactions would be there in the future, cash payments will never eliminate completely, albeit the ratios of digital to cash ones can be changed.

On the question of global populace's reluctance on complete transformation towards online mode, the perspective not only relies on the sudden technical glitches technology may offer, but the inability of some vendors not having digital access is also concerned. Moreover, this shift will rapidly disappear a more traditional method significant to the history of how money comes into account at first hand. The preservation of historical figures and ,more importantly, possessions like money is crucial to bear in one's mind. When people will see it fleeting, it would definitely be disheartening for them.

To encapsulate, although the newer technological payment modes are paramount , the older methods also serve an imperative role which cannot be overlooked at any cost. Therefore, rather than making a paradigm shift, a balance of both modes ought to be maintained in order to attain maximum values.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the likelihood of a cashless future and the reasons for public reluctance. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. The argument that a cashless society is an 'imaginative world' is asserted rather than deeply explored with concrete evidence. While the points regarding technical glitches and the exclusion of small vendors are relevant, they are expressed in a slightly abstract manner. To reach a higher band, you should provide more specific examples, such as the impact on elderly populations or the security concerns regarding cyber-attacks, to better support your position.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct focus. There is a clear introduction and conclusion. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Moreover', 'To encapsulate', and 'Therefore', which help guide the reader through the argument. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the flow between sentences is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing, such as the opening sentence. The referencing is generally clear, but the progression of ideas could be smoother if the links between the 'historical significance' of money and the 'disheartening' nature of its disappearance were more explicitly connected.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary, attempting some less common items like 'paradigm shift', 'populace', and 'imperative'. However, there are several instances of unnatural collocation and word choice that impede precision. For example, 'mini scene of market seems opaque' and 'disappear a more traditional method' are non-standard. The phrase 'out of trend' is also not the most appropriate choice for this context. While the meaning is generally clear, the lack of precision in word choice prevents the response from reaching a higher band. Focusing on collocations will significantly improve your lexical score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with word order and verb usage, such as 'the unrealistic thought that whether cash payments would be...' and 'the inability of some vendors not having digital access is also concerned'. Punctuation is generally acceptable, though there is a spacing error before a comma in the third paragraph. The errors do not prevent communication, but they are frequent enough to suggest a lack of full control over complex structures.

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