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 and the businesses.

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, contactless card technology 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 the digital footprints can be tracked by authorities, shopkeepers cannot hide the digital money and 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 improved tax collection in the retail sector in 2025.

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 lacks digital literacy and this technology is too advanced; and for the latter lacks the infrastructure 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 transparency it offers are far more significant and therefore in my opinion this change is certain.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position on the future of cashless payments and providing reasons for why some groups might struggle with this transition. The ideas are relevant and generally well-developed. For instance, the explanation regarding the 'ageing population' and 'poor economic backgrounds' provides a clear rationale for resistance to the change. The argument is consistent throughout, and the inclusion of a specific example regarding digital payments in India adds depth to the discussion. To reach a higher band, the student could further elaborate on the 'transparency' aspect, perhaps by contrasting it more sharply with the privacy concerns that often drive the reluctance to abandon cash.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'On the contrary', and 'As a result' are used effectively to link sentences and ideas. However, there are minor issues with referencing and flow; for example, the phrase 'for the former lacks digital literacy' is grammatically awkward and disrupts the cohesion slightly. Overall, the paragraphing is appropriate, and the logical flow is maintained throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with some precision. Phrases like 'primary catalyst', 'digital footprints', and 'mitigated effectively' show a good command of topic-specific language. There are some minor inaccuracies, such as 'the revolution which this breakthrough innovation has brought is preventing fraud', which is slightly wordy. Additionally, the phrasing 'for the former lacks digital literacy' is a lexical error where a noun phrase is expected. Despite these minor slips, the vocabulary is varied enough to convey complex ideas clearly and effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While many sentences are clear and accurate, there are recurring grammatical errors that affect the flow. For example, the sentence 'This is because for the former lacks digital literacy' is grammatically incorrect; it should be 'This is because the former lacks...'. Similarly, 'the revolution which this breakthrough innovation has brought is preventing' is slightly clunky. However, these errors do not impede communication. The student demonstrates an ability to use complex structures, but more consistent control over subject-verb agreement and clause construction is needed to reach a higher band.

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

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