Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-16

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 era, people will be going cashless for payments in shops. They would rather be using their cards or contactless payment methods. In my opinion, as per the advancement in technology this could come to an existence and the reason for becoming people unhappy for going cashless can unfamiliarity with new technology and confidentiality are also there. This essay will spread light on these thoughts in the following paragraphs.

The main reason is that paying through cards or cell phones is easier than carrying cash. People do not need to waste their time in withdrawing money from banks or ATMs as online payments can be done in few seconds. Another reason can be for business units. Business persons do not need to keep bulk of notes in their cash registers and also they do not have to maintain any record for the transactions manually as online methods keep a record of all transactions resulting in making it more convenient and effective for them. This has enhanced the cashless transactions by shopkeepers in many countries.

Nevertheless, this development might make many people unpleasant. One important reason is that everyone is not comfortable with contactless payments. For example, older generation who are not familiar with such technological enhancements. So, they use their own method that is cash. Adding to this, there are many people those wants to keep their monetary records private which is impossible to keep in online payment methods. As a result, this can make people nervous to use mobile banking.

In conclusion, even though, the reasons supporting online payments such as lessen the burden of storing cash by the business owners and easier for the people for making payments by just one tap yet the concerns of older people regarding new innovations and privacy could make people upset.

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. The position is clear throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the point about 'confidentiality' is mentioned but not fully explained or supported with a concrete example. The argument regarding older generations is relevant but could be expanded to include more specific societal impacts. To reach a higher band, ensure that each main point is supported by a clear, illustrative example or a more detailed explanation of the underlying logic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a central theme. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Nevertheless', 'Adding to this', and 'In conclusion', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical or repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'Another reason can be'. Additionally, some referencing is slightly awkward, such as 'This has enhanced the cashless transactions', where the antecedent is unclear. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that pronouns clearly refer back to previous nouns would enhance the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'technological enhancements' and 'monetary records'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'spread light on these thoughts' (should be 'shed light on') and 'make many people unpleasant' (should be 'uncomfortable' or 'dissatisfied'). The range is sufficient to communicate, but more precise and varied vocabulary would elevate the response.

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 'the reason for becoming people unhappy' (should be 'the reason why people might become unhappy') and 'everyone is not comfortable' (should be 'not everyone is comfortable'). There are also issues with subject-verb agreement and article usage, such as 'those wants to keep' (should be 'those who want to keep'). These errors do not impede communication, but they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher band score.

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