Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-02

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)

It is argued that consumers will be unable to make payments by cash in shops in the coming future. Cards and phone pay would be used for all kinds of payments. This essay agrees with this statement because individuals find this method convenient and safe. However, mainly senior citizens may be unsatisfied due to having a lack of knowledge of using cards and smartphones to make the payments.

Undoubtedly, these days the majority of customers prefer to do digital payments for the products they purchase from the shops. This development will continue in the future and all the transactions will be made through this method instead of using cash because this will significantly assists people as they will no longer need to carry huge amounts of cash in their pockets. This would not only be convenient but also safe. For example, in India, there was one scheme launched by the prime minister Narendra Modi in 2020 to make digital India. After that most Indian people started using Google pay and phone pay rather than making payments via cash. As a result, now not only educated people but also illiterate shopkeepers accept digital payments as this exceptionally helps them to maintain the records.

There are some factors which are unavoidable. Mostly elderly people who are unfamiler with the gadgets and unable to use the cards to make payments. They may not be happier with this advancement because making payments by cash would be more easier for them as they are use too with them.

In conclusion, although all the transactions at shops would be made by cards and phone pay which leads to make people life more convinenient and safer. Older masses

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the likelihood of a cashless future and the reasons for resistance. The position is clear throughout. However, the development is uneven. The first body paragraph provides a relevant example regarding India, which supports the argument well. Conversely, the final paragraph is incomplete, ending abruptly with 'Older masses', which leaves the conclusion underdeveloped and fails to fully synthesize the arguments. While the main ideas are relevant, the lack of a proper conclusion prevents the essay from reaching a higher band, as the task requirements for a full response are not entirely met.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into paragraphs, and there is a logical progression of ideas from the introduction to the body paragraphs. Cohesive devices such as 'Undoubtedly', 'For example', and 'As a result' are used to link sentences. However, the cohesion is sometimes mechanical, and the abrupt ending of the essay significantly disrupts the overall flow. The referencing is generally clear, but the lack of a concluding sentence or paragraph makes the structure feel unfinished. To improve, ensure that all paragraphs are fully developed and that the essay concludes with a coherent summary of the main points.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the student to convey their meaning clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'exceptionally' and 'unavoidable'. However, there are several spelling errors ('unfamiler', 'convinenient') and awkward collocations ('making payments by cash would be more easier', 'use too with them'). These errors do not generally impede communication, but they do highlight a need for more precise word choice and better attention to spelling. Expanding the range of synonyms for 'payments' and 'cash' would also enhance the lexical quality.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'this will significantly assists' (subject-verb agreement), 'make people life' (possessive error), and 'leads to make people life' (incorrect verb pattern). Additionally, there are fragments and incomplete sentences, particularly in the final paragraph. While the meaning is usually clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from being considered highly accurate. To reach a higher band, the student should focus on subject-verb agreement, correct preposition usage, and ensuring that all sentences are complete and grammatically sound.

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

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