Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-08-30

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 this digitalisation era, all the purchases which are being made by customers will be completely online transactions. Certainly it can be observed that the online payments are significantly burgeoning by the time. However, cash payment method also has some benefits so it could not be replaced by card or UPI payments.

To commence, the payments using cards have been proliferated at fast pace. The first and foremost reason is that it is easy to access. In other words, one can save their time to complete the transaction. Moreover, no need of cashier like self checkouts at Walmart which reduces the number of employee at each store. Apart from that, people can keep a record where they spend their wherewithal by just checking transaction history in phones. Therefore, there is no headache to maintain monthly expense diary. Last but not least, corruption would be lessen as the money always go through bank payments. For instance, salaries are deposited in bank accounts and expenses will be made from there.

On the other hand, the complete transition from cash payments to online payments will bring several disappointments too. Firstly, those who are not utilising the mobile phones which disable them to buy the goods. Secondly, users have concern of having online scam which restrict them to prefer online payments. Thirdly, cash payments give them opportunity to get relaxation in tax. For example, the tax on total bill is being deducted by vendors if it is paid by cash. Lastly, individual have control on their expense if they have physical notes.

In conclusion, it is impossible to replace the cash payments with online payments completely. Although, online payments should be encouraged as it saves time and it is efficient way of payment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the likelihood of a cashless future and the reasons why some people might resist this change. The position is clear throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. While the benefits of digital payments are well-supported, the arguments regarding the disadvantages—specifically the point about 'tax relaxation'—are not clearly explained or logically sound in a general context. To reach a higher band, ensure that all points are fully extended with clear, logical reasoning rather than relying on assertions that may be confusing to the reader.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a central theme. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'To commence', 'Moreover', and 'On the other hand', which help guide the reader through the argument. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and there are instances where referencing is a bit awkward, such as 'where they spend their wherewithal'. The progression of ideas is generally smooth, but the connection between sentences could be more sophisticated to achieve a higher band. Overall, the structure is effective and supports the central argument well.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with some attempts at more sophisticated language like 'burgeoning', 'proliferated', and 'wherewithal'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'no need of cashier' is grammatically incomplete, and 'corruption would be lessen' should be 'lessened'. The phrase 'where they spend their wherewithal' is an unusual use of the word 'wherewithal', which typically refers to the money or means needed for a purpose. Improving precision and ensuring collocations are natural will help elevate the lexical score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include 'all the purchases which are being made... will be' (tense inconsistency), 'no need of cashier' (missing article/structure), and 'individual have control' (subject-verb agreement). Additionally, 'those who are not utilising the mobile phones which disable them to buy the goods' is a clunky construction. Increasing the accuracy of complex structures and proofreading for basic agreement and article usage would significantly improve this score.

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

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