Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-22

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)

Nowadays, digitalization is head over heels among the new generation. Talking the transactions, nobody seems to be using cash at all. It is all a digital world now. People are making transactions digitally and this is not only for domestic purpose but also for the international payments as well.

Utilizing money digitally has started since the start of the year 2023. I believe it is one or the other factors among each other which has influenced the online payment. At first, it was started by the employers to issue the wages or the paychecks online directly into the respective accounts. Then after, making transactions online by keeping those money in the bank account makes an another one. As years passes by, people are finding comfort in performing online transactions somewhere.

I believe it is a really good concept of money being used digitally which automatically mitigates the risk of cash being lost or snatched by thieves. Additionally, features like e-wallet in the banking apps helps people with saving money and spending as much it is needed. Contradictory, in any event of having money or cash people will end up spending much more than needed. The changes are greatly adapted by most of the people. But the only people not quiet happy with this concept are seem to be the ones who are in the age bracket of 65 years old or more. Generation gap being a big reason among many.

In few years or may be after a decade, people may no longer be able to pay with cash to shop for things which is good thing and can be really helpful in this digitalized and developing world.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the likelihood of a cashless future and the reasons why some people might be reluctant to adopt it. However, the development is somewhat superficial. The explanation for why people might be unhappy is limited to a brief mention of the 'generation gap' and age, lacking depth or specific examples of privacy concerns or technological exclusion. The introduction is a bit vague, and the second paragraph contains some confusing logic regarding the origins of digital payments. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your arguments with more detailed reasoning and clearer examples, ensuring each point is fully explored rather than just stated.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the logical flow between sentences is often disjointed. For example, the transition between the history of digital payments and the benefits of e-wallets is abrupt. While you use some cohesive devices like 'Additionally' and 'Contradictory' (which is used incorrectly here), the overall progression of ideas feels mechanical. Referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the phrase 'makes an another one,' which lacks a clear antecedent. Improving the use of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus would significantly enhance the readability and coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but there are several instances of awkward phrasing and incorrect word choice. Phrases like 'digitalization is head over heels' and 'talking the transactions' are unnatural and do not convey the intended meaning. You attempt to use some topic-specific vocabulary, such as 'transactions' and 'e-wallet,' but the overall range is limited. There are also errors in collocation, such as 'making transactions online by keeping those money.' To improve, focus on learning common collocations and using more precise academic vocabulary rather than informal or idiomatic expressions that do not fit the context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Issues include subject-verb agreement ('features... helps'), incorrect article usage, and awkward sentence construction ('The changes are greatly adapted by most of the people'). Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence structure often feels repetitive or fragmented. To achieve a higher score, you need to demonstrate better control over complex sentence forms and reduce the frequency of basic grammatical errors. Proofreading for subject-verb agreement and ensuring correct preposition usage would be a good starting point.

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

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