Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-29

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)

In this modern era, technology has become a vital part of every individual's life. It has been predicted that due the advancements in technology cash will no longer be used as a mode of payment. People will give preference to accept payments which are made by card or cell phones only. However, I believe that it is impossible to completely halt the usage of cash since it would be unpleasant for some members of the society and they might oppose this idea.

On the one hand, number of people who prefer to use cards and other online payments is increasing tremendously. One of the most important reasons is that nowadays, majority of the workplaces pay their employees through direct deposits. Money is directly transferred to their bank accounts, therefore if they want to use cash, it would require a special visit to the band branch or ATM machines and it can be time consuming for individuals. Thus, the cards provided by the banks allow them to make purchases without requiring them to specially visit the branch. Apart from this, the increasing crime incidents like robbery, theft are making people anxious about carrying cash whenever they visit outdoors. The criminals can even kill people to rob them. Consequently, to ensure their safety, people prefer to carry cash and pay only using their cards or mobile phones. Moreover, shopkeepers are also avoiding to accept cash payments due to risk of counterfeit currency. The criminals can print forged money to deceive general public and it becomes really difficult to differentiate between real and fake money. At the end, the shopkeepers will be the one who will suffer the loss.

On the other hand, the complete replacement of money with cards or phones will not be appreciated by all members of the society. The older generation of the society gives more preference to usage of cash since they are not completely familiar with the usage of phones and cards. For instance, in India, the major proportion of the old generation is not fully educated therefore they are more comfortable with the process of using cash as payment method rather than mobile phones. Furthermore, the cyber crimes are increasing day by day. The cyber attackers can easily hack the mobile phones and use the banking information to withdraw money or do frauds. In such scenarios, cash payments seems more secure rather than keeping money information in phones.

In conclusion, although the trend of using card and mobile phones for payments is increasing at an alarming rate, it cannot completely replace the usage of cash from society.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt. You clearly state your position that cash will likely persist, and you provide relevant reasons for why some people might oppose a cashless society, such as the older generation's lack of digital literacy and concerns regarding cybercrime. The ideas are well-developed and supported with examples, such as the mention of India to illustrate the digital divide. The response is balanced and maintains a clear focus throughout. To reach a higher band, ensure that the conclusion does not simply repeat the introduction but synthesizes the main points discussed in the body paragraphs.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the two sides of the argument. You use a variety of cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'Apart from this', 'Consequently', and 'Furthermore' to guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and there are minor issues with referencing, such as 'At the end' (which should be 'In the end' or 'Ultimately'). Overall, the progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with some precision. Phrases like 'tremendously', 'counterfeit currency', and 'alarming rate' show a good command of language. There are some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'give preference to accept' (should be 'prefer to use') and 'visit the band branch' (typo for 'bank'). While you attempt some less common vocabulary, there is room for more sophisticated collocations to reach the higher bands. The vocabulary is generally appropriate and does not impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several error-free sentences, which is positive. However, there are persistent minor errors, such as missing articles ('the' older generation, 'the' society) and occasional subject-verb agreement issues ('cash payments seems' should be 'seem'). Punctuation is generally accurate, though some sentences could be refined for better flow. The errors present do not impede communication, but they prevent the essay from reaching the higher bands where the majority of sentences would be error-free.

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