Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

Nowadays, e-transfer by phone or card payment is significantly increasing day by day. There is no restriction on pay by cash though, but it is observed that people are convenient in paying digital modes. I strongly believe that in near future, it will definitely become normal and socially accepted by the people. However, there are still some people who feel uncomfortable paying for their purchases through any digital medium or card.

First and foremost reason of obsoleting cash transaction is the security. As the strong internet infrastructure and secure digital banking take place in the market, it would be safe for user and banks to transact money with convenience and high speed. Additionally, shops are also revolutionized for accepting digital payments in last few years, so now shopkeeper and shopper both are on same page. Moreover, transactions will be transparent and government agencies can easily identify any financial fraud, tax invasion, and money laundering which not only does improve the financial strength but also the security of the nation.

Although, there are several benefits such as easy transaction, restriction on bill counterfeits, and fast payment of using digital payment gateways but still some people rely on conventional methods of paying cash. In contrast, it has been observed that some people feels insecure while paying through online or cards. These people are those who are overwhelmed with the complexity of using smart phones and not friendly with other payment gateway.

Recently, China and India develop an easy payment gateway for their people through which they can quickly pay online for any kind of purchases. After implementing, digital platforms for the sellers and buyers, government immediately impose restriction of using cash up to a certain limit only. This transformation reflects in their tax revenues too where they noticed significant year-on-year growth of 19%.

In summary, online payment either through card or phone would be accepted by all people. Because accepting this system not only convenient for individuals who are using it but also in favor of government.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing a clear opinion on the future of cash and explaining why some people are reluctant to abandon it. The ideas are relevant and supported by examples, such as the mention of China and India. However, the development of the second part of the prompt—why people might not be happy to give up cash—is somewhat brief. While you mention complexity and insecurity, this could be expanded with more depth regarding privacy concerns or the digital divide. Overall, the position is consistent and the task requirements are met.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. You use cohesive devices such as 'First and foremost', 'Additionally', 'Moreover', and 'In summary' to guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical or awkward, such as 'Although, there are several benefits... but still some people rely'. The use of 'In contrast' is also slightly misused as it does not perfectly bridge the preceding point about benefits with the following point about insecurity. Improving the flow between sentences would elevate this score.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic, including terms like 'obsoleting', 'counterfeits', 'gateways', and 'money laundering'. There are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'people are convenient in paying' (should be 'find it convenient to pay') and 'tax invasion' (the correct term is 'tax evasion'). Additionally, 'not friendly with other payment gateway' is slightly unnatural. While you attempt to use less common vocabulary, these minor errors prevent a higher score. Focusing on precise collocations will help improve your lexical accuracy.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors throughout, such as 'There is no restriction on pay by cash' (should be 'paying by cash'), 'shopkeeper and shopper both are on same page' (missing articles), and 'some people feels' (subject-verb agreement). You also have some punctuation issues, such as the comma after 'Although' at the start of a sentence. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher band score. You should focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and article usage.

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

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