Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

In contemporary society, usage of digital payment methods are becoming prevalent because of its convenience and accessibility. It is assumed that, in future people will only rely on the online transactions rather than using a cash. From my perspective, there is a high chances that no one will use the cash in upcoming years. However, a particular segment of individuals may not find digital transactions completely replacing the cash. This essay will elucidate the reasons that why people may not feel comfortable with digital banking methods before explaining my perspective in the subsequent paragraphs.

To begin with, due to technological advancements the digital banking is tremendously increasing, as a younger generation find it extremely convenient and accessible to use. People do not need to carry a cash for shopping, because they can purchase any appliances by using online payment methods. Additionally, it allows monthly EMI options, other perks and good deals on the large amount. For instance, in this fast-paced world, the digital transactions save a significant amount of time as residents do not need to visit a bank for checking their balance sheet, numerous bills can be paid from online banking applications. Therefore, in the future, people will entirely adapt the digital payment applications.

Despite its several advantages, some people might not find this trend a better option or they want to keep cash transactions alive. For example, older generation is extremely comfortable with the cash payments as they are not fully trained in digital platforms, especially for online payment. Furthermore, another contributing factor in that people may not feel confident in using digital banking payment methods because of cyber crimes, there are large number of cases has registered for a fraud banks, loans applications. I believe that, using a cash and online transaction according to the individual's preference is a sagacious way, in addition proper training on digital platforms will help to reduce a fraud and it encourage people to use a online banking.

In conclusion, digital payment methods are increasing significantly as all the transactions are getting done by using the phones and card. In my opinion, it is imperative to train the people on digital payment methods and aware them regarding the cyber crime as this approach will facilitate the online payments benefits.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, including the prediction about the future of cash and the reasons why some people might be reluctant to abandon it. The position is clear throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. While the benefits of digital payments are explained, the discussion on why people might be unhappy to give up cash could be more deeply explored with more specific examples beyond just 'older generation' and 'cyber crime'. The essay maintains a relevant focus, but the depth of analysis is more characteristic of a Band 6.5 or 7.0 level, as some points are stated rather than fully extended.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the main ideas. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Additionally', 'Despite its several advantages', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader. However, there are instances where the flow is slightly mechanical, and some referencing is a bit repetitive. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the transition between the benefits of digital banking and the concerns of the older generation could be smoother to achieve a higher band score.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate and allows for clear communication. There is an attempt to use less common items such as 'contemporary society', 'elucidate', 'sagacious', and 'imperative'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'register for a fraud banks' and 'aware them regarding'. These errors do not impede communication but indicate a need for more precise usage. To reach a higher band, the student should focus on more natural collocations and ensure that academic vocabulary is used in the correct grammatical context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the student attempts complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('usage of digital payment methods are', 'there are large number of cases has registered') and article usage ('a cash', 'a fraud'). Punctuation is generally functional, but some sentences are slightly clunky. The errors are noticeable but do not prevent the reader from understanding the intended meaning. Increased attention to basic grammatical rules and proofreading for subject-verb agreement would significantly improve the accuracy of the writing.

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