Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-26
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)
The idea of people may not be able to pay with for things with cash in shops in the future. While some people believe that all payments may have to be digital, while others contend that they might be unhappy to give up using cash. Although I believe that, in the future the graph of use of electronic payments will keep on having an incline projection; while cash will still not completely disappear.
On the first side, going completely digital provides more convenient. For example, while going out the person may has to carry one less thing; as all the payment cards can be stored in the phone wallet, unlike cash, leaving no point of carrying a physical wallet with your phone. Secondly, It will be easier to keep a record of expenses as transactions will be saved automatically and can help in monthly budgeting and planning, while with cash, people generally tend to forget to record some petty cash expenses.
On the other side, somewhat being depending on cash may provide benefits like privacy and less dependency on technology. For instance, some people might not be comfortable sharing their card details with small payments. Carrying some cash on moments where
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, as it is only 201 words long. This significantly impacts the development of ideas, leaving the conclusion and the second half of the argument incomplete. While the response addresses both parts of the prompt—the likelihood of a cashless future and the reasons for resistance—the ideas are under-developed. The introduction is also grammatically fragmented, making the initial position difficult to follow. To improve, you must ensure you provide a full, well-supported argument for each part of the prompt and reach the required word count to allow for sufficient depth.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay uses basic cohesive devices such as 'On the first side' and 'Secondly' to organize ideas, which provides a logical structure. However, the paragraphing is incomplete, and the final paragraph is cut off mid-sentence, which disrupts the overall flow. Referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the opening sentence, which lacks a main verb and fails to establish a clear topic. While the progression of ideas is generally logical, the lack of a proper conclusion and the abrupt ending hinder the coherence of the piece. Using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring each paragraph is fully developed would improve the score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and variety required for a higher band. You use some relevant terms like 'digital,' 'transactions,' and 'budgeting,' but there are instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'incline projection' and 'somewhat being depending on.' The range is limited, and the repetition of basic words prevents a more sophisticated tone. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and academic vocabulary. For example, instead of 'having an incline projection,' you could use 'a steady upward trend.' Expanding your vocabulary to include more nuanced expressions will help convey your ideas more effectively.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede communication. There are issues with sentence structure, such as the opening sentence which is a fragment, and errors in verb forms, such as 'the person may has to carry.' Additionally, there are mistakes with prepositions and word order, for example, 'pay with for things' and 'on moments where.' While you attempt some complex structures, they are often inaccurate. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, ensuring subject-verb agreement, and proofreading for common errors. Increasing the variety of error-free complex sentences will also help raise your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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