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)

Many people believe that in the next coming years, physical cash will no longer be available as mode of payment in any purchase and the settlement will be made through digital devices or cards instead. I believe is likely to happen in the future and this essay will discuss the factors related to this.

Nowadays, paying through mobile phones and cards has become popular among many individuals and it has already become the new method of paying in any stores even the local ones. This is driven by the advancements of the technology. For example, physical stores can now scan your online wallet through the quick response code to make the purchase successful and mobile phones are capable to scan as well the shop’s quick response code to directly send the exact payment from their online bank account.

In addition, the possibility to replace cash as payment is the benefit of preventing any fake paper bills to be paid by the consumers and the store could incurred a loss. Moreover, imitated bills are not acceptable by any banks when making an exchange and it could lead to a serious crime.

On the other hand, not all individuals are capable to use online mobile wallets as it requires learning and familiarization. This idea could affect more the elderly people as they are used to the traditional payment method.

Overall, I believe that the replacement of cash as payment would likely to change in the future due to its benefits and evolving techHowever, other people are not fully capable to do such method.

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 adopt it. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention the benefits of preventing counterfeit bills, the explanation is slightly repetitive. The second body paragraph regarding the elderly is relevant but could be expanded with more specific examples or deeper analysis to reach a higher band. The position is clear throughout, but the overall depth of the argument remains at a functional level rather than a fully developed one.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'Moreover', and 'On the other hand' to signal transitions between ideas. However, the flow between sentences is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions feel a bit abrupt. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct points. To improve, try to vary your cohesive devices and ensure that the relationship between sentences is more fluid, rather than relying on standard linking words at the start of every paragraph.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'settlement', 'advancements', and 'familiarization'. There are some instances of slightly unnatural phrasing, such as 'the store could incurred a loss' (should be 'incur') and 'imitated bills' (counterfeit bills is more precise). While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey your meaning clearly, there is a lack of less common or more sophisticated lexical items that would elevate the response to a higher band. Focus on learning collocations related to finance and technology to improve precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text, such as 'I believe is likely to happen' (missing 'it'), 'mobile phones are capable to scan' (should be 'capable of scanning'), and 'would likely to change' (should be 'is likely to change'). While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, pay closer attention to verb patterns (e.g., 'capable of + -ing') and ensure that all sentences have a clear subject and verb.

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

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