Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

In the contemporary era, it has been claimed that in the future stores will stop accepting cash as a method of payment. All the financial transactions will be made either through plastic cards or digitally through digital devices. Even though individuals prefer to pay digitally due to convenience, and fast payment process, I believe that payment through cash can never totally vanish from society because some older generation still prefer to use cash while paying.

To commence with, there are several reasons why cash payments will still exist in the digital era. One major reason is that digital payments depend on a reliable internet source for making the payments. If for any reason that the internet fails or stops working, the shops will automatically switch to the cash payments. Additionally, some small businesses may continue accepting cash because it does not require electronic payment systems or transaction fees. For instance, a small local shop may prefer cash payments because they are simple and do not depend on a card machine or internet connection.

On the other hand, some generations such as elderly will not be happy with giving up cash for the daily transactions. The prominent one is that old people may not find it easy to learn about the process of how to make payments through phones or cards. Moreover, some people find it very difficult to learn about technology on how to pay for products online or in store while shopping. Secondly, there are risks involved in paying electronically. Scammers can easily access the bank accounts online using the debit card or account number which can wipe out all the money present in the account. As a result, some people who are not comfortable or do not have trust in technology may not give up cash for the financial transactions.

In conclusion, although most payments are likely to become digital because of their convenience, I do not believe cash will disappear completely. Its reliability during technical problems, along with the preferences of people who are less comfortable with technology, means that cash will probably remain an important payment method.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt. You clearly state your position that cash will not disappear and provide two distinct reasons for why people might be reluctant to abandon it: the reliability of technology and the concerns of the elderly. The ideas are relevant and supported by examples, such as the mention of small local shops and the risk of online scams. To reach a higher band, ensure that your arguments are fully developed; for instance, you could expand on the socio-economic implications of a cashless society beyond just the elderly, perhaps discussing financial exclusion or privacy concerns to add more depth to your analysis.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and you use cohesive devices such as 'To commence with', 'Additionally', and 'On the other hand' to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical or repetitive. For example, the use of 'The prominent one is that...' is a bit awkward. Improving the flow between sentences by using more varied referencing and linking words would enhance the overall coherence. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the different arguments.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'contemporary era', 'financial transactions', and 'digital devices'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'some generations such as elderly', which should be 'the elderly' or 'older generations'. You also repeat the word 'learn' and 'payments' frequently. To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations and synonyms to avoid repetition. For instance, instead of 'make payments', you could use 'conduct transactions' or 'settle accounts'. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly throughout the essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is always clear, there are several grammatical slips, such as 'If for any reason that the internet fails' (the 'that' is unnecessary) and 'some generations such as elderly' (missing article). There are also minor punctuation and phrasing issues, such as 'technology on how to pay'. You have good control over basic structures, but to achieve a higher band, you should aim for more error-free complex sentences and ensure that articles and prepositions are used consistently. The errors present do not impede communication.

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