Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-05

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 5.0)

In recent years, technology has changed people's lives so with the help of technology people do anything. In my opinion, today's time People are more happy by pay with phone and card instead of cash. This essay I will be discuss with in upcoming paragraphs.

First and foremost reason, save time and money. To explain, with the help of technology people use different types of applications like Flipkart, Amazon, and so on. With the uses of this apps people life is so easy because they can do buy anything order from their home and they pay also online. For example, in Ludhiana some people are not like to go outside to buy anything so then they can easily choose any product online and buy it. Secondly, some people like to go outside and buy new clothes, shoes according their choice because there have a lot of options to select any color and also do try it. But they like pay buy card instead of cash. For instance, in Canada and other countries people like to go outside and see all the places and views. They also enjoy every moment with their friends avlick pics and eat different type of food according to their choice. In this countries students also do not use cash.

On the other hand, this is not happen only one day. People are not happy using cash they also pay like with their phone and cards because they feel relax and they easily carry out in their pocket.

To conclude, people are not happy to use cash because it's difficult to pay. So in recent years, people use cards and phones because they easily pick up and save their time also.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt, but the development of ideas is inconsistent and often lacks clarity. While you mention the convenience of digital payments, the explanation is repetitive and lacks depth. The second part of the prompt—why some people might not be happy to give up cash—is not clearly addressed; instead, the essay focuses on why people prefer digital methods. To improve, ensure you explicitly answer both questions with distinct, well-supported arguments. The conclusion is also somewhat contradictory, as it repeats the preference for digital payments rather than addressing the potential reluctance to abandon cash.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the logical progression is weak. Transitions such as 'First and foremost' and 'Secondly' are used, but the ideas within the paragraphs do not always flow logically. For example, the transition from online shopping to physical shopping in Canada feels abrupt and disconnected. Furthermore, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate, such as the phrase 'this is not happen only one day,' which disrupts the flow of the argument. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring each paragraph has a clear, singular focus would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, relying on basic structures to convey meaning. Phrases like 'people life is so easy' and 'do anything' are imprecise. There is an attempt to use topic-related vocabulary (e.g., 'applications', 'online'), but the range is insufficient to express complex ideas. Additionally, there are frequent errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'avlick pics' (likely meant 'clicking pics') and 'pay buy card'. To reach a higher band, you should focus on using more precise terminology and avoiding informal or non-standard phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains a high frequency of grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are consistent issues with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'people is', 'this is not happen'), article usage, and sentence structure. Many sentences are fragmented or lack necessary auxiliary verbs, such as 'people do anything' or 'they also pay like with their phone'. While there is an attempt at complex sentence structures, they are often faulty. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, specifically ensuring that every sentence has a clear subject, verb, and correct tense usage before attempting more complex forms.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.