Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

It has been argued by some individuals that using cash for payments may be obsolete and many people would prefer using digital methods such as phones or cards for all payments in the upcoming years. I believe that this can happen to some extent; however, it is really hard to remove cash completely from the world. I also think that some people, in particularly elderly people, may not be comfortable for using digital devices for payments.

On the one hand, with the help of digital transactions, buying things is convenient as people do not have to carry cash with them and they can complete transactions with the help of their phones or cards. Furthermore, nowadays people are more educated and encouraged towards saving nature, but banks have to use transportation to move cash from one place to another place, which increases pollution. Thus, people prefer to use digital devices instead of using cash.

On the other hand, some people would still use cash for payments in the future as they do not feel comfortable for using electronic devices such as phones. For example, elderly people like monotonous life and they do not want to change themselves for using new things and still prefer to use cash rather than using digital transactions. Moreover, due to the rising frauds in online banking, some individuals prevent themselves by using online payment methods.

In conclusion, although using electronic devices for payments has some benefits such as convenience and eco-friendly, it is not feasible to remove cash completely as some people would still use cash because they do not feel comfortable and afraid of using online payments because of increasing frauds.

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 to this change. The position is clear throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the argument regarding environmental benefits is mentioned but not fully explored, and the point about elderly people is repeated in the third paragraph. To reach a higher band, you should aim to provide more nuanced examples or deeper analysis of the implications of a cashless society, such as the impact on privacy or the digital divide, rather than repeating similar points.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'Furthermore', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader. However, the use of these devices can feel a bit mechanical at times. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally repetitive, such as the repeated use of 'using' and 'cash' within the same sentences. Improving the flow between sentences by using a wider variety of linking words and better pronoun referencing would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the message to be conveyed clearly. You use some relevant topic-specific terms like 'digital transactions' and 'online banking'. However, there is a lack of variety, and some collocations are slightly unnatural, such as 'prevent themselves by using' (should be 'avoid using') and 'change themselves for using new things'. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated synonyms and idiomatic expressions to demonstrate a wider range of lexical control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent minor grammatical errors, such as 'in particularly elderly people' (should be 'particularly elderly people') and 'comfortable for using' (should be 'comfortable using'). There are also issues with preposition usage and verb forms. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct prepositional phrases will help improve your accuracy.

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

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