Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-13

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 5.0)

There is ongoing debate regarding the fact that in the upcoming time people will use cards as well as their phones in order to pay for items instead of cash. I presume that this trend will be popular due to advancement in technology. However, there are some individuals who will not like this era. Both perspectives will be elaborated in the forthcoming paragraphs with relevant examples.

Examining the former view, technology is growing day by day, which causes numerous drawbacks and profits. It became a basic necessity of everyone as it is helpful and time saving. In this contemporary era, everyone carry smartphones in which they save their cards like debit card or credit card . Also,

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response is significantly under the required word count of 250 words, reaching only 117 words. This failure to meet the length requirement severely limits the development of ideas. While the introduction attempts to address both parts of the prompt—the future of cashless payments and the reasons for resistance—the body paragraph is cut off mid-sentence. Consequently, the response is incomplete, and the arguments are not developed or supported as required by the task. To improve, you must ensure you provide a full, structured essay that explores all aspects of the prompt with sufficient detail and examples.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay shows an attempt at logical organization with an introduction and the start of a body paragraph. However, because the text is incomplete, the overall progression is interrupted. Cohesive devices such as 'However' and 'Also' are used, but the abrupt ending prevents the establishment of a coherent flow. Paragraphing is present, but the lack of completion makes it difficult to assess the full organizational structure. To achieve a higher band, focus on completing your thoughts and using a wider range of linking words to connect your ideas more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, with phrases like 'ongoing debate', 'basic necessity', and 'contemporary era'. However, the range is limited, and there are some awkward phrasings, such as 'causes numerous drawbacks and profits' (profits is not the correct antonym for drawbacks in this context; 'challenges' or 'disadvantages' would be better). The vocabulary is sufficient to convey basic meaning but lacks the precision and variety required for higher bands. Expanding your range of topic-specific vocabulary related to digital finance would be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. There are grammatical errors, such as 'everyone carry smartphones' (should be 'everyone carries') and 'in the upcoming time' (which is unnatural phrasing). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the incomplete nature of the text makes it difficult to judge the full range of your grammatical control. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and using more natural, idiomatic expressions. Ensure that your complex sentences are constructed accurately to avoid errors that might impede clarity.

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

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