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)

The world is changing at a rapid pace where everyone wants to do things quickly and it is not possible to pay using phone or card. I believe some people find it easy to use phone or card to pay while others still wants to use cash to save on taxes and afraid of losing card or phone. We are going discuss this together in the following paragraphs.

To begin, some people think using mobile phone and credit/debit cards are more convenient way of purchasing something as it is hard to keep cash all the time and going to ATM every day or so to withdraw it and using card will increase the credit history that would be helpful for further big purchases. Some cards will give you points after every spend and we can use those points for movies and shopping.

On the other hand, some people use cash for purchases as it not only reduce the taxes on the purchased amount but also to keep the purchase hidden cash is the best option. Moreover, some people have traditional mindset so they feel uncomfortable and scared to use the technology because of scams and fraudulent activities happening around the world. For example, using cards on website may have virus and popup links which can get them hacked and arise the security issues.

To conclude, it has both positive and negative sides. One side it is time saving and hassle free to use cards and mobile which eliminates the stress of carrying cash as it may attract robbers at some point. While on the other hand, hackers may misuse the card information for various purposes. In believe both are important at some point and will be used based on the circumstances.

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 for resistance. However, the development is somewhat superficial. The introduction contains a contradictory statement ('it is not possible to pay using phone or card'), which confuses the reader. While the arguments regarding convenience and security are relevant, they are not fully extended. The conclusion is a bit repetitive and lacks a strong final summary of the writer's position. To reach a higher band, the ideas need to be explored with more depth and clarity, ensuring that the opening statement accurately reflects the essay's stance.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin', 'On the other hand', and 'Moreover' are used to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally interrupted by awkward phrasing and some mechanical transitions. Referencing is generally clear, but the connection between sentences within paragraphs could be smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the overall progression of ideas feels a bit formulaic. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence builds logically upon the previous one would enhance the coherence of the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks sophistication. There is some repetition of basic terms like 'people', 'use', and 'cards'. While the student attempts to use topic-specific vocabulary such as 'credit history', 'fraudulent activities', and 'circumstances', there are errors in collocation and word choice, such as 'arise the security issues' instead of 'raise security concerns'. The range is sufficient to convey meaning, but the lack of precision and the presence of minor errors prevent a higher score. Expanding the range of synonyms and focusing on accurate collocations would be beneficial.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow, such as 'others still wants to use cash' (subject-verb agreement) and 'We are going discuss' (missing preposition). Punctuation is generally functional, but some sentences are run-on or lack necessary articles. While the meaning is usually clear, the frequency of these errors suggests a lack of control over more complex structures. To improve, the student should focus on subject-verb agreement, correct preposition usage, and proofreading for basic grammatical slips.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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