Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-25
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 5.0)
Introduction: In now time technology is very advanced and in this era lot of people like pay by phone pay instead of cash. In future it can be happen but some people will not happy I will discuss about it in next paragraphs with example.
I can say in future it can be happen because the technology is going advance day by day and the government is also want to people should use online payment. it is also for government for example, when people are paying cash for things they do not have to give tax but online payment is getting taxes so it is indirectly helping for government. There is one more reason, the cash is hard to carry and sometime it can lost that is why people preferer to use phone pay. They do not need to keep wallet.
on the other hand, the some people will not happy with online payment for things because they want save their money and they do not want to pay taxes. Here is one more benefit of cash using and it can reason for some people to keep using cash. If they are paying by phone pay so they need to fill their all bank details and the phone can be hack and may be they will face scam and they can lost their money so, we can say they can not totally trust on online payment.
Conclusion, In future this can be happen half of people will use and depend on online payment but the cash payment can not be disappear.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the likelihood of a cashless future and the reasons for resistance. However, the development is limited. While you mention government tax collection and convenience as reasons for the shift, and security concerns as reasons for resistance, these points are explained in a very simplistic manner. To achieve a higher band, you should expand on your arguments with more depth and specific examples. For instance, instead of just mentioning 'scams', you could discuss the digital divide or the exclusion of elderly populations. The position is clear, but the overall development lacks the sophistication required for a higher score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is very basic and sometimes repetitive. Phrases like 'There is one more reason' and 'Here is one more benefit' are used mechanically. Additionally, the transitions between sentences are often abrupt, and the lack of complex linking words makes the flow feel disjointed. To improve, you should use a wider variety of cohesive devices such as 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'nevertheless', or 'in light of this' to connect your ideas more fluidly and logically.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is limited and repetitive, often relying on basic words like 'good', 'bad', 'thing', and 'use'. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and incorrect word choices, such as 'In now time' instead of 'Nowadays', and 'phone pay' instead of 'digital payment methods'. You also struggle with collocations, for example, 'the phone can be hack' should be 'phones can be hacked'. To improve, you need to move beyond basic vocabulary and attempt to use more precise, academic terminology related to the topic of finance and technology.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow of reading. There are consistent issues with subject-verb agreement ('some people will not happy'), article usage ('the government is also want to people'), and sentence structure. You rely heavily on simple sentence structures, and attempts at more complex sentences often result in errors, such as 'when people are paying cash for things they do not have to give tax but online payment is getting taxes'. You need to focus on mastering basic sentence construction and punctuation before attempting more complex grammatical structures.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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