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)
In the future, people may no longer be able to use cash in shops. Instead, they may have to pay by card or mobile phones. In think this could happen one day because digital payments are becoming more common. However, some people may not be happy about giving up cash.
They are saveral reasons why cashless payments may become popular. First paying by card or phone is quick and easy. People do not need coins or notes with them. Secondly, many shops already accept digital payments. For example, customers can buy clothes or shoes by using a bank card or mobile phone. Digital payments can also make it easier for people to keep a record of their spending.
However, some may prefer cash. Older people in particular time, may find new technology difficult to use. Some also feel that cash is safer because they do not need to share their bank details. In addition, digital payments may not work when there is no internet or when a phone battery is dead. For instance, a person may not be able to buy something if there phone has no battery.
In my opinion, I think most shops may become cashless in the future, but cash should still be available for people who need or prefer it. Both payment method can be useful.
Overall, digital payments are convenient and may become the main way to pay. However, cash is still important for many people.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
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 essay is 241 words long, failing to meet the 250-word minimum requirement. This under-length significantly impacts the development of ideas, which remain somewhat superficial. While the position is clear, the arguments could be extended with more detailed examples or deeper analysis to fully satisfy the requirements of the task. The conclusion is also quite brief.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'First', 'Secondly', 'However', and 'In addition' are used to link ideas, although some transitions feel slightly mechanical. The progression of ideas is generally logical, moving from the benefits of digital payments to the drawbacks of abandoning cash. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct themes, which helps the reader follow the argument despite the brevity of the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the student to convey their meaning clearly. There is some repetition of basic terms like 'digital payments' and 'cash'. While the student attempts to use topic-specific vocabulary, there is a lack of less common or idiomatic language that would be required for a higher band. There are also minor errors, such as 'time' being used incorrectly in 'Older people in particular time', which slightly affects precision. Overall, the range is sufficient but limited.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While many sentences are clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'In think' (instead of 'I think'), 'saveral' (spelling), 'if there phone' (incorrect homophone 'their'), and 'Both payment method' (missing pluralization). These errors do not impede communication, but they demonstrate a lack of consistent control over complex structures. To improve, the student should focus on subject-verb agreement and proofreading for basic mechanical errors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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