Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 4.0 · 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 4.0)
In upcoming years, payment using cards or phones instead of cash will become increasingly common in many part of the world. This development can be attributed to several important factors, and it has generated considerable debate about its overall impact. This essay will discuss main reasons behind this trend and explain why I think this is a negative development for some people.
One major reason behind the eliminating cash payment method would be technology. Nowadays, people are using
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 3.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 4.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 4.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 4.5 |
| Overall | 4.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 3.0
The response is significantly under the required word count of 250 words, reaching only 78 words. Because the essay is incomplete, it fails to address all parts of the task. The introduction sets up the topic, but the body paragraph is cut off mid-sentence, meaning the arguments regarding why people might be unhappy about losing cash are not developed or even presented. Consequently, the response is severely underdeveloped and fails to meet the basic requirements of the task.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.0
The response is too short to demonstrate a coherent structure or the effective use of cohesive devices. While there is a clear introduction and the beginning of a body paragraph, the abrupt termination of the text makes it impossible to evaluate the logical progression of ideas or the use of paragraphing. The transition between the introduction and the body paragraph is logical, but there is insufficient text to assess the overall flow or the use of linking words.
Lexical Resource — Band 4.5
The vocabulary used is generally appropriate for the topic, such as 'attributed to', 'considerable debate', and 'increasingly common'. However, the range is limited due to the brevity of the text. There is a minor error in 'many part of the world', which should be 'many parts of the world'. Given the limited output, it is difficult to demonstrate a wide range of vocabulary or the ability to use less common lexical items with precision.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 4.5
The sentences produced are grammatically sound, such as 'This development can be attributed to several important factors'. However, the range of structures is limited to simple and compound sentences. There is a minor grammatical error in the phrase 'many part of the world' (missing plural). Because the text is incomplete and lacks a variety of complex structures, it is difficult to award a higher score. The grammar is accurate in the small amount of text provided, but the range is insufficient.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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