Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-28

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 the recent era of hustle , it is often debated that cashless payments will dominate in the upcoming decades. This probability creates confusion amongst individuals regarding which mode of payment one should learn about. My thoughts inclines towardsthe fact that although the new technology will prevail, yet the old traditional method will remain.

To commence, card transactions undoubtedly favour convenience to each age group. One can peacefully leave the house without any apprehension about carrying physical money. Additionally, cashiers in several grocery stores, gas stations and much more places will be significantly delighted as they might not have to return any change to customers for bills paid with extra capital. For instance, during the incident of theft or robbery , staff members at workplaces can safely escape due to zero chances of existing cash in the till box to be threatened for.

Conversely, card purchases require network connection upto some extend. Many corners in different countries are devoid of internet and that is when cash plays vital role. This method not only assist you in any emergency situation, but also adds confidence and contendment to your mind when planning long road trips accross nation. Moreover, cellphone battries are prone to die if not charged accordingly. In comparision, the paper bills stay intact for several years if not used. Therefore, some folks and especially the seniors may find it daunting to completely give up on cash .

To conclude, these methods for transaction leads to a certain hypothetical answer as their compelling advantages doesnot exist without potential drawbacks.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The essay addresses both parts of the prompt: the likelihood of a cashless society and the reasons why some people might be reluctant to abandon cash. The position is clear from the introduction. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While the benefits of digital payments are mentioned, the explanation regarding 'theft' is slightly tangential to the core argument of convenience. Similarly, the discussion on why people might not be happy to give up cash is relevant, but the points could be expanded with more depth. The conclusion is quite brief and does not fully synthesize the arguments presented, making the overall response feel slightly underdeveloped for a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'To commence', 'Additionally', 'Conversely', and 'Moreover' are used to link ideas. However, the flow is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing, such as 'these methods for transaction leads to a certain hypothetical answer'. Furthermore, the referencing is sometimes mechanical, and the transition between the benefits of digital payments and the drawbacks of cash could be smoother. Despite these minor issues, the progression of ideas is generally easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with some attempts at less common items like 'apprehension', 'daunting', and 'contendment' (though 'contentment' is the correct spelling). There are several instances of imprecise word choice and collocation errors, such as 'hustle' used in an unnatural context, 'much more places', 'extra capital' (instead of 'change'), and 'cellphone battries are prone to die'. These errors do not impede communication, but they demonstrate a lack of precision that prevents a higher score. The range is sufficient to convey the intended meaning but lacks the flexibility and sophistication required for Band 7.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors throughout the text, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('My thoughts inclines', 'these methods... leads', 'advantages doesnot exist') and minor punctuation or spelling errors ('upto', 'accross', 'battries'). While the meaning remains clear, these frequent errors indicate a lack of control over complex structures. The use of 'although... yet' is a redundant construction. To improve, focus on ensuring that subjects and verbs agree and refining the use of complex sentence connectors to avoid repetitive or incorrect patterns.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.