Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-11

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)

Today technological advancements supersedes any previous trends. Previously people preferred traveling by walking around, which evolved into riding animals and today motor cars. These change in human functions have evolved to address convenience over time. This change is reflected in the way human society functions as well, one of the biggest ones being forms of payment. Where it was previously a barter system, then modern currency and today may even turn completely electronic.

With the invention of smart chips, came electronic bank cards, which people can use to withdraw cash from their respective bank accounts. This has been a reliable method of the financial system to function in. With electronic payments, funds would now automatically be subtracted from your account, removing the need for hard cash. This method has been in practice for more than a decade now and has only seen rising trends, as people have adopted this newfound convenience to be able to pay for their purchases without virtually today having to carry their wallet. And so this form of shopping may become the absolute method of purchasing as well.

This has had beneficial outcomes, where the need to paper has gone down and so deforestation due to requirement of paper for cash has reduced. But a large section of people are also very skeptical, especially the older population. This is because with rise in the convenience of paying, so has the number of fraudulent attempts. Because all that requires is the card for the payment, pickpockets and criminals have made it their mission to get those cards off of an individual. Other forms of fraud are where impersonate sales officials in attempt to get the individuals card details.

Ultimately, the shift toward a cashless society highlights humanity's relentless pursuit of convenience. While this evolution promises environmental benefits and streamlined transactions, it requires navigating critical challenges regarding security. Balancing technological progress with robust consumer protection will be essential to ensure a safe, inclusive financial future for everyone.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the likelihood of a cashless society and the reasons for public skepticism. The position is clear throughout. The ideas are relevant, such as the mention of environmental benefits and security concerns like pickpocketing and fraud. However, some points could be developed further; for instance, the discussion on the older population is a good start but could be expanded with more specific examples of digital exclusion. Overall, the response covers all requirements of the task well, providing a logical progression of ideas that supports the writer's stance.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the benefits from the drawbacks. Cohesive devices such as 'Ultimately', 'This has had beneficial outcomes', and 'However' are used to guide the reader. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions between sentences feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing in the second paragraph (e.g., 'this form of shopping') could be more precise. Nevertheless, the progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is generally appropriate and sufficient for the task. The writer uses some good topic-specific collocations like 'technological advancements', 'streamlined transactions', and 'robust consumer protection'. There are some minor issues with word choice and phrasing, such as 'supersedes any previous trends' (which is slightly awkward in this context) and 'need to paper' (which should be 'need for paper'). Despite these occasional inaccuracies, the range of vocabulary is adequate to convey the intended meaning clearly and with some precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('technological advancements supersedes') and awkward phrasing ('where it was previously a barter system'). Punctuation is generally functional, though some sentences are slightly clunky. While these errors are noticeable, they do not impede communication. To reach a higher band, the writer should focus on ensuring subject-verb agreement and refining the structure of complex sentences to improve overall fluency and accuracy.

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

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