Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-01
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)
Nowadays, it is technological era, everyone has electronic gadgets and they like to use online payment methods rather than cash when they buy something. Some people believe that all payments may have to be made by card or using cellphones one day, but there are some people who not happy to give up using cash. I will discuss why this happens in upcoming paragraphs.
To begin with, there are number of reasons behind it why people think one day all payments made by cards and phones. First and foremost, it is easiest way to do payment with the help of card and phones, so that's why most of the individuals prefer to use it. For example, with the help of apple pay people make payments with single click. Secondly, people don't need to carry a lot of cash with them, and it is also safe them from thief. Moreover, they also get number of offers when they pay with the help of card which are useful for them.
On the other hand, there are some people who still might not be happy to give up using cash, they have their own reasons. Firstly, they are not much familiar with this new technology, so they don't know how to use it. For example, most of the elderly people who like to use cash because they don't know how to use online payment methods. Apart from this, there are sometime when online payment is not working and individuals feel embarrassed.
In conclusion, no doubt online payment methods replace the cash, and it is very useful and helpful, but people also need to carry some cash with them for emergency.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the likelihood of a cashless future and the reasons why some people resist this change. However, the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. For instance, the point about 'offers' when using cards is mentioned but not explained, and the discussion on elderly people is a good start but lacks depth. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your arguments with more detailed examples or logical reasoning. The position is clear throughout, but the overall development remains at a basic level, which is characteristic of a Band 5.5 or 6.0 response.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'First and foremost', 'Secondly', and 'On the other hand' to link your points. However, some transitions are mechanical, and there are instances where referencing is slightly unclear or repetitive. For example, the phrase 'there are number of reasons behind it why people think' is clunky and impacts the flow. Improving the variety of your linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would help elevate your score in this criterion.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You rely on common, repetitive phrases like 'use online payment methods' and 'make payments'. While the meaning is always clear, there is little evidence of less common lexical items or idiomatic expressions. There are also some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'safe them from thief' (should be 'protect them from theft'). To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated synonyms and topic-specific vocabulary related to digital finance and socioeconomic trends.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Common issues include missing articles ('it is technological era'), subject-verb agreement errors ('there are number of reasons'), and awkward phrasing ('there are sometime when online payment is not working'). While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your message, they indicate a lack of control over more complex structures. Focusing on basic accuracy—specifically articles, pluralization, and verb forms—will significantly improve your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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