Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-12

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)

It is argued that individuals will adapt to cashless payment methods in the coming years. While virtual ways are more preferred by users, I believe that this would not be able to completely replace the cash transactions. There are numerous causes resist people to rely on the online apps.

The main reason why supporters opine that traditional ways will shift to cards or phones is that it is convenience and faster. In other words, when people make any payment through their phone apps, they can do it without going anywhere, which not only saves precious time but also transfers quicker. As a result, people feel comfortable and stress free choosing such methods. Moreover, people become literate and tech savvy which make easier to follow instructions and track their money in real time due to the advancement of technology.

On the other hand, a certain number of individuals still prefer to utilize cash, especially elders. Because they hesitate to use virtual payments, they are conservative about sharing personal information afraid about privacy. Besides this, many people have negative experience of losing a larger amount of money. Since they are targeted by scammers, owing to lack knowledge of the advanced technological gadgets. For example, one of my colleagues also got suck in similar problem, and he had to spend a huge amount of his saving to resolve it after that he does most of payment by cash. Therefore, some civilians always try to avoid using e-transfers and prioritize paper money.

In conclusion, although digital payment brings significant benefits, including time saving and fastest services, there are many individuals are not finding it trustworthy and complex to use the apps and cards.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the likelihood of a cashless future and the reasons for resistance to this change. The position is clear throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention convenience and security concerns, the arguments could be more thoroughly extended with deeper analysis or more specific examples. For instance, the example of the colleague is relevant but could be integrated more smoothly into a broader discussion about systemic security risks. To reach a higher band, ensure that each point is fully explored rather than just stated, providing a more comprehensive view of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, each with a clear central topic. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Moreover', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and there are instances where the flow is interrupted by awkward phrasing, such as 'There are numerous causes resist people to rely on the online apps'. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that referencing (e.g., 'it', 'such methods') is always precise will enhance the overall coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, including terms like 'tech savvy', 'conservative', and 'scammers'. However, there are several instances of imprecise word choice and collocation errors, such as 'got suck in similar problem' (should be 'got stuck in a similar problem') and 'it is convenience and faster' (should be 'it is convenient and faster'). While these errors do not impede communication, they limit the score. To improve, focus on using collocations accurately and expanding your range of academic vocabulary to express complex ideas with more precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb forms and sentence construction. Examples include 'there are many individuals are not finding it' (should be 'there are many individuals who do not find it') and 'after that he does most of payment' (should be 'after which he makes most of his payments'). These errors are noticeable but do not prevent the reader from understanding your meaning. Increasing your control over complex structures and proofreading for subject-verb agreement will help raise your score.

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