Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-27

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)

In these days, digital payments have become increasingly common. There are many debates regarding cash or digital payments. Although, some people believe that cash might be replaced by cards or phones for paying in future, while other think that cash is important method of payment. In my opinion, cash is not completely replaced by cards. I will discuss both views in the upcoming essay.

To begin with, the one reason is that payment through cards and phone is easiest way. This is because it is very convenient to carry cards than cash. In this way individuals do not need to carry their wallets or cash in pockets. Moreover, it's very quick methos for paying in a rush such as in supermarkets. For instance, there are many countries where most of the public use mobile payments in shops. Hence, it becomes common among people in daily life.

On the other side, not all people agree with digital payments. Firstly, due to the security reasons. Some people are afraid to use cards and phone payment because due to the chances of hacking the personal data and financial information. Apart from this, older people are not aware from the modern technology. They feel uncomfortable while using mobiles or cards. As a result, these kinds of individual face obstacles if cash is not available.

In conclusion, while digital payment becoming a useful way to pay in shops such as for their convience, but cash is crucial for some public. In my opinion it is unlikely to replace by online payment.

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 why some people might be reluctant to adopt it. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention security concerns and the elderly, these points could be expanded with more specific examples or deeper analysis to reach a higher band. The introduction is a bit repetitive, and the conclusion does not fully synthesize the arguments presented. To improve, ensure that your position is clearly maintained throughout the essay and that each body paragraph provides a more thorough exploration of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Moreover', 'On the other side', and 'In conclusion' to link your points. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. For instance, the transition between the introduction and the first body paragraph is slightly abrupt. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that referencing (e.g., 'these kinds of individual') is grammatically accurate would enhance the overall coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'digital payments', 'financial information', and 'modern technology'. However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors, such as 'important method of payment' (should be 'an important method'), 'not aware from' (should be 'not aware of'), and 'these kinds of individual' (should be 'these kinds of individuals'). To achieve a higher score, focus on using more precise collocations and expanding your range of vocabulary to include less common lexical items that are used with greater accuracy.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors that affect the fluency of the text. Examples include 'In these days' (should be 'Nowadays'), 'it is very convenient to carry cards than cash' (should be 'more convenient to carry cards than cash'), and 'it is unlikely to replace by online payment' (should be 'it is unlikely to be replaced by online payment'). There are also issues with article usage and pluralization. Increasing your control over complex structures and proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement will help improve your score.

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