Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

It is widely accepted that the economy is progressing to become fully digital in the future, which suggests that the public might 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 shop, paying through phone or card 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 anytime, 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 when compared to cash-only payments in 2015.

On the contrary, despite the merits there are some demographics for whom giving up cash is not easy, especially the ageing population or those belonging to poor economic backgrounds. This is because for the former technology is too advanced and for the latter its too 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 transparency it offers are far more valuable for society and therefore in my opinion this change is certain.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt. You clearly state your position that a cashless society is inevitable and provide two distinct reasons for why some people might resist this change (the elderly and those from lower economic backgrounds). The ideas are well-developed, particularly the discussion on transparency and tax collection. The example regarding India is relevant and adds depth to your argument. To reach a higher band, you could further expand on the potential social consequences of a total shift away from cash, perhaps discussing privacy concerns or the risk of systemic technical failures, which would provide a more balanced and comprehensive exploration of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is smooth. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Furthermore', 'On the contrary', and 'As a result', which help guide the reader through your argument. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall clarity of the text. To improve, ensure that the transition between the benefits of digital payments and the challenges faced by specific demographics is slightly more nuanced to avoid a sudden shift in tone.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, using terms like 'catalyst', 'transparency', 'mitigated', and 'demographics' appropriately. The language is generally precise and fits the formal tone required for an IELTS essay. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation that impede meaning. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic expressions that sound natural in a formal context, such as 'financial inclusion' or 'digital divide', which would elevate the sophistication of your lexical range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is generally strong. There are minor slips, such as 'its too expensive' (should be 'it is' or 'it's') and 'the ageing population' (which is correct, but ensure consistency in formal tone). The grammatical structures are varied enough to support your arguments clearly. To reach a higher band, aim for more complex sentence patterns, such as using inversion or more varied conditional clauses, while maintaining the high level of accuracy you have already achieved.

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

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