Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

People often argue that all the transactions in the future will be cashless and will be carried out using phones or cards, although some citizens may not like switching to digital transactions. I strongly adhere with this prediction as digital payments are convenient, effortless, and transparent.

First of all, online payments have substantial advantages. The money transferred is received instantly, deposited directly into the account, and is discrepancy free. Hence, shoppers will no longer need to carry cash in their wallet and would be able to pay directly to the seller. Moreover, these payments could be officially recorded and used in the future as a proof by both the parties for tax records. For example, both buyers and sellers can claim tax benefits for the purchases done through online mode. Therefore, it will reduce discrepancies in the trade market and encourage people to resort to digital payments over cash payments

While, some people may be unhappy with this mode of transaction, as they would need to learn using one -click payment system and tracking card payments. It is due to the fact that many elderly people might struggle learning operating mobile applications for daily use and find it hard to navigate. Additionally, they might find it less trustworthy because of the constant fear of being scammed by cyber hackers. Hence, opting to cashless payments totally for daily use might not be well-received by some folks.

In conclusion, cashless transactions offer numerous benefits over conventional mode of payments, while it might not be suitable for some people, digital and financial literacy campaigns could help in spreading awareness regarding it in the future.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

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. The position is clear from the introduction. The ideas are relevant and generally well-developed, such as the mention of tax transparency and the specific challenges faced by the elderly regarding digital literacy and security. However, the development could be slightly more nuanced; for instance, the discussion on why people might be unhappy could be expanded further to include privacy concerns beyond just cyber-security. Overall, the response fulfills the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the benefits of digital payments and the challenges faced by certain demographics is smooth. Cohesive devices such as 'First of all', 'Moreover', 'Hence', and 'In conclusion' are used appropriately to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the different aspects of the argument. The flow is natural, and the relationship between ideas is consistently clear throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is sufficient and generally precise, allowing for a clear expression of ideas. Phrases like 'discrepancy free', 'trade market', and 'financial literacy' demonstrate a good range. There are some minor collocation issues, such as 'adhere with' (should be 'adhere to') and 'resort to digital payments over cash payments' (which is slightly awkward). However, the range is adequate for the task, and the errors do not impede communication. The student attempts to use more sophisticated vocabulary, which is a positive sign for higher band scores.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay displays a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is good control over punctuation and sentence construction. However, there are some persistent minor errors, such as 'While, some people' (the comma after 'While' is unnecessary) and 'struggle learning operating' (should be 'struggle with learning to operate'). Additionally, 'as a proof by both the parties' contains a slight article error. Despite these occasional slips, the majority of the sentences are error-free, and the grammatical control is strong enough to ensure that the meaning is never obscured.

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