Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

Online payments using our physical card or contactless method with our phones have taken over todays society and may cause a complete stop in the use of cash for purchases in the future. This essay will discuss why some individuals may not adopt these new payment methods. However, it is my opinion that most societies will soon go cashless and depend more on other methods of payment.

As i stated earlier, I believe the use of cash in shops will soon become non existent. There are now various ways to make payment like use of Bitcoins, physical cards issued by banks and mobile transfer with phone. The present generation is addicted to technology and this will only get worse in the future. They would rather use other methods and not experience delays caused by waiting to count the money or change from the cashier when it is in excess. In addition, people now prefer to purchase goods online from their comfort zone. Consequently, paying through their banks with electronic money.

Although, some people may not be willing to discard physical money. This can be due to so many reasons. For example, many shops have a restriction on how much they are willing to allow you pay with a card due to tariff from the bank so when people buy things that are below this restrictions, they are still required to use cash. In addition, some travelers are money collectors. They like to hold on to the physical money from places to visit as evidence that they passed through the city.

Ultimately, I believe that even though the use of cash is declining with every generation, not everybody will adapt to this new way of life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the likelihood of a cashless society and the reasons why some people might resist this change. The position is clear throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the mention of 'Bitcoins' as a primary alternative to cash is slightly tangential, and the point about 'money collectors' is a weak argument compared to more significant concerns like privacy, security, or financial exclusion. To reach a higher band, the arguments should be more thoroughly supported with more realistic examples or deeper analysis of the societal implications.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'In addition', 'Consequently', and 'Although', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally imprecise, such as the use of 'this' to refer to broad concepts. The flow between sentences is generally smooth, but the overall progression could be more sophisticated. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and the essay maintains a consistent focus on the topic throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'non-existent' and 'discard', but the range is somewhat limited. Some word choices are slightly unnatural, such as 'money collectors' for people who keep physical currency or 'tariff from the bank' when referring to transaction fees. There are also minor errors in collocation, but these do not impede communication. To improve, the student should focus on using more precise terminology related to finance and technology.

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 frequent grammatical errors, such as 'todays society' (missing apostrophe), 'As i stated' (capitalization), and 'the use of Bitcoins' (article usage). There are also issues with subject-verb agreement and preposition usage, such as 'allow you pay' instead of 'allow you to pay'. While these errors do not prevent understanding, they occur frequently enough to limit the score. A greater focus on proofreading for basic punctuation and article usage would be beneficial.

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