Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-14

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)

In the upcoming years, many individuals may use other methods of payment instead of using cash. In my opinion, this phenomenon may become a reality one day, as technological advancement is becoming significant part of our lives. However, many people may not prefer using credit cards due to fear of fraud and high credit card charges. This essay will discuss the causes behind this.

To commence with, using paper money in shops may become a less common practice in the near future. The primary reason for this is the growing use of mobile phones in our daily lives. Due to the advancement in technology , folks are using their mobile phones for their daily transactions. Firstly customers are switching to cashless ways of making payments like credit and debit cards Moreover, there are lot of tourists coming to visit local museums and shops, consequently they always pay by their phones or gadgets because they find it difficult to keep cash money. To cite an epitome, in Singapore, every local shops have barcode scanners to make payment easier.

On the other hand, many individuals might not be happy with this change. This is because credit and debit card have the risk of cyber fraud and many people may be sceptical of using these methods. Moreover, many people prefer cash as the yearly charges on these digital cards may be high. Furthermore, many older adults may not be comfortable using digital tools to make payments. For instance, older adults who are new to technology, do not know how to use online banking applications. Consequently, they may be more happy using traditional method of using cash instead of digital devices in the shops.

To wrap it up, cash may be used less frequently in the near future, but many customers such as older generation may not be happy with this change as they are more comfortable with handling paper money.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing a clear opinion on the future of cash and explaining reasons for potential public resistance. The ideas are relevant and logically developed. For example, you discuss both the convenience of digital payments and the concerns regarding cyber fraud and the digital divide for older generations. To reach a higher band, ensure that your supporting examples are more fully elaborated; for instance, while mentioning Singapore is a good start, explaining how the transition specifically impacted the local economy or social behavior would strengthen the argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices such as 'To commence with', 'Moreover', and 'On the other hand' to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical or repetitive. Additionally, there are minor issues with referencing and punctuation, such as the missing space before the comma in 'technology , folks' and the lack of a comma after 'Moreover'. Improving the flow between sentences would help achieve a higher score.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'phenomenon', 'technological advancement', and 'sceptical'. There are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'cash money' (redundant) and 'more happy' (should be 'happier'). You also use 'epitome' incorrectly in the context of 'To cite an epitome'; a more natural phrase would be 'To illustrate this'. Expanding your range to include more precise academic collocations would improve your score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical slips, such as 'every local shops have' (subject-verb agreement error) and 'credit and debit card have' (missing pluralization). Punctuation is inconsistent, particularly with comma placement. To improve, focus on ensuring subject-verb agreement and refining the use of articles. The majority of your sentences are understandable, but the frequency of these minor errors prevents a higher band score.

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