Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-19

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 5.5)

In upcoming decades mostly individuals will use cards and phones to pay their bills and cash will not be accepted in shops. I believe this thing becomes reality in future. I think some people feel more comfortable and secure by using cash. That is the main reason they want to use cash for transaction.

To begin with, In this contemporary era everything becomes digital and same thing apply in the field of receiving money or making payment. In future where people need to make payment that will be made through cards rather then cash. because it will not be convenient to public but also for shopkeepers. In addition to this, people will feel more security. Since carry cash is not secure to move from one place to other in those condition when its amount is more.

On the other hand, many individuals will not be happy to giving up using cash because they feel this way more convenient for them. Especially old generation who are not familiar with internet and technology they will find it difficult to use electronic method of payments. Furthermore, some people do not have accounts in banks who those live in country side areas. so it they will find it hard to use electronic methods.

In conclusion, in future mostly card will use to pay bills because it is instant and secure method. and elderly people find more easy to do transection in cash .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the future of cash and reasons for resistance. However, the development is limited by the word count, which falls below the 250-word requirement. The ideas are relevant but lack depth; for instance, the point about the 'old generation' is a good start but could have been expanded with more specific examples of how digital exclusion impacts daily life. Because the response is under-length, it fails to fully develop the arguments, which impacts the overall task achievement score. To improve, ensure you provide more detailed explanations and illustrative examples for each main point to meet the minimum length requirement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. There is a basic attempt at using cohesive devices such as 'To begin with,' 'In addition to this,' and 'On the other hand.' However, the flow is sometimes mechanical, and the transition between sentences can be abrupt. Referencing is occasionally unclear, such as the phrase 'this thing becomes reality,' which lacks a specific antecedent. Paragraphing is present, but the concluding paragraph is quite brief and does not effectively summarize the main points. Improving the variety and precision of linking words would help the essay flow more naturally.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'make payment' and 'use cash' are used frequently. There are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'transection' (transaction) and 'in those condition' (in those conditions). The range of vocabulary is limited, and there is little evidence of less common lexical items or idiomatic expressions. To reach a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more precise terminology related to finance and technology, such as 'digital infrastructure,' 'financial inclusion,' or 'cashless society,' while ensuring correct spelling and collocation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'mostly individuals will use'), missing articles, and awkward phrasing (e.g., 'since carry cash is not secure'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some sentences starting with lowercase letters after a period. While the meaning is generally clear despite these errors, the lack of control over complex structures prevents a higher score. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for subject-verb agreement and article usage would significantly improve the clarity of your writing.

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