Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

It is widely accepted that the economy is progressing to become fully digital in the future, which suggests that the public would not be able to use cash anymore for payments and likely all the transactions will be done by either cards or phone apps. I agree that this is most certain to happen in the future owing to the convenience and transparency it provides for the consumers.

The primary catalyst for the trend to go paperless is convenience. Since people do not need to carry large amounts of cash with them in order to do shopping, using cards or paying through phones gives them comfort and flexibility to shop without the worry of the money being stolen. Furthermore, the revolution which this breakthrough innovation has brought is preventing fraud at many levels. Since shopkeepers cannot hide the digital money, they need to pay tax on every penny. As a result, the society as a whole strives towards honesty and integrity. For instance, in India, paying through apps like Google pay has significantly resulted in almost double of the tax collection in the retail sector in 2025 when compared to all cash payments in 2015.

On the contrary, despite the merits there are some demographics for whom giving up cash is not easy, especially ageing population or those belonging to poor economic backgrounds. This is because for the former this technology is too advanced and for the latter it is expensive to equip themselves with the latest technology. However, I believe with formal training and better access to technology these challenges can be mitigated effectively.

In conclusion, while it is undeniable that cashless payment technology is complex and expensive for some sectors, the convenience and flexibility it offers are far more considerable and therefore in my opinion this change is certain.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have addressed all parts of the prompt, providing a clear position on the future of cashless payments and explaining why some groups might struggle with this transition. Your ideas are relevant and supported by a specific example regarding tax collection in India. To reach a higher band, ensure that your arguments are fully developed; for instance, the point about 'transparency' could be expanded further to explain how digital footprints deter corruption. Overall, your response is well-focused and directly answers the two-part question posed in the task instructions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Furthermore', 'On the contrary', and 'In conclusion', which help guide the reader through your arguments. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the benefits of digital payments from the challenges faced by certain demographics. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the relationship between sentences is generally clear. To improve, ensure that referencing is always precise; for example, 'the former' and 'the latter' are used correctly, but ensure the antecedents are always unambiguous.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, using terms like 'catalyst', 'paperless', 'mitigated', and 'demographics' appropriately. There is an attempt to use less common lexical items, which adds precision to your writing. However, there are minor issues with collocation and word choice, such as 'almost double of the tax collection' (should be 'almost double the tax collection') and 'strives towards honesty' (which is slightly awkward in this context). Despite these minor slips, your vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly and with some flexibility.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the conditional 'if' or relative clauses, which shows a good command of grammar. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your punctuation is generally accurate. There are occasional minor errors, such as 'the public would not be able to use cash anymore' (where 'will' might be more appropriate given your stance) and 'almost double of the tax collection'. These errors are non-systematic and do not impede communication. To reach a higher band, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex structures with even greater precision.

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

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