Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-21

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)

Whether payments method should be changed is controversial issue. A lot of people would like to pay through cards in upcoming time according to me. There are multiple reason why some individuals will prefer cash payment mode.

To commence with, since technology has become more affordable, the majority of individuals can assess online payment option. This is say, due to invention of this people can pay bills by digital applications and cards as it will be more convenient for them. Additionally, it could be not only consume less time, but also will provided secure mode of payment. People do not have to vary about counting thousands f cash. For instance, Foreign countries like Canada and the USA there many companies or shopping applications only accept card and online payment because of security and speed up the process.

Furthermore, still numbers of citizens like pay through cash as they are troubling while using credit cards and digitally. Although, online payment is easy to use, it can create confusion among uneducated and older people. Consequently, lack of awareness about online payment systems can lead to erroneous transactions, such as transferring money to the wrong recipient. For instance, a survey conducted by the BBC news suggested that thousands of people become bankrupt effortlessly and drawing into phishing scam.

In conclusion, after few years more and more people will prefer to online payment system rather than using paper money as per my opinion. While, older or even uneducated person would avoid it due to payment fraud.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the likelihood of a cashless future and the reasons for resistance. However, the development is somewhat uneven. The first body paragraph provides clear reasons for the shift, such as convenience and security. The second paragraph touches on the concerns of older or uneducated individuals, but the supporting example regarding 'bankrupt' and 'phishing scams' is slightly disconnected from the main point about the difficulty of using technology. To reach a higher band, ensure that all examples directly support the specific argument being made. The position is clear throughout, but the depth of analysis could be improved by exploring the social implications of a cashless society more thoroughly.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, each with a clear central topic. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'To commence with', 'Additionally', and 'Furthermore', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical or awkward, such as 'This is say' and 'Although, online payment is easy to use'. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the phrase 'due to invention of this', where the antecedent is ambiguous. Improving the variety and natural flow of linking words would enhance the overall coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There are attempts to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'erroneous transactions', 'phishing scam', and 'digital applications'. However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors, such as 'assess online payment option' (instead of 'access'), 'vary about' (instead of 'worry about'), and 'troubling while using' (instead of 'struggling'). These errors do not impede communication, but they do limit the precision of the writing. Expanding the range of vocabulary and focusing on correct collocations would improve the score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text. Examples include 'Whether payments method should be changed is controversial issue' (missing articles), 'will provided' (incorrect verb tense), and 'thousands f cash' (typo). Furthermore, the sentence 'This is say, due to invention of this people can pay...' is grammatically fragmented. While the writer attempts complex structures, the frequency of errors in basic grammar and punctuation prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and article usage would be beneficial.

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