Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

Digital payment methods are increasing significantly in today's world. E-payments methods are more preferable nowadays, however it won't obsolete cash usage. I strongly believe card payments will become inevitable part of everyone's life, but few individuals would still prefer cash as a payment method.

To start with, electronic payments offers great convenience. For example, humans can pay for their meals with one click on their phone. They also don't need to worry about the change. Digital payment helps to pay the exact amount of the bill. Another advantage of card payments is security. Banks requires authentication to process the payments, usually one-time password is sent to the users mobile phone to securely approve the transaction. To cite an example, OTP is sent on the registered phone number which cannot be accessed by others. To add more, 2 step verification is required for large amount transaction adding an extra layer of security.

Furthermore, phone payment methods help to track transaction easily and helps to construct a monthly expenditure budget. For instance, parents can track their children's expenses online and can educate them on managing their expenses. Although cash-less payments has numerous benefits, some people still prefers cash to pay for their daily transactions. Usage of phone payments require a basic knowledge and an active bank account. All people may not have appropriate education to effectively use e-payment methods. For example, in a large country like India, not everyone is preveliged to basic schools and do not have accurate information to use phone payments methods.

To conclude, online payments method has seen increasing trend and will be the most preferred method of payment in future. However, it won't demolise the usage of cash in the market. I believe government should promote and educate citizens to adapt the electronic methods of payment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have addressed all parts of the prompt, providing a clear position on the future of digital payments and explaining why some individuals might resist this shift. Your ideas are relevant and supported by examples, such as the mention of OTP security and the digital divide in countries like India. To reach a higher band, ensure your introduction clearly outlines your position on both parts of the question. While your points are logical, some arguments could be further extended with more depth to fully explore the implications of a cashless society, rather than just listing benefits and drawbacks.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. You use paragraphing effectively to separate the advantages of digital payments from the reasons for resistance. Cohesive devices such as 'To start with', 'Furthermore', and 'To conclude' are used appropriately to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and there are minor issues with referencing, such as the use of 'they' in the second paragraph, which could be more clearly linked to the antecedent. Overall, the flow is smooth and the structure supports the development of your argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'authentication', 'transaction', and 'expenditure'. There are some instances of imprecise word choice or minor errors, such as 'won't obsolete' (should be 'won't make cash obsolete'), 'preveliged' (spelling error: 'privileged'), and 'demolise' (incorrect word choice: 'demolish' or 'eliminate'). While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the essay from reaching a higher band. Incorporating more sophisticated collocations and ensuring accurate word forms would enhance your lexical score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('electronic payments offers', 'Banks requires', 'some people still prefers') and article usage ('in a large country'). While these errors are noticeable, they do not cause difficulty for the reader. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and proofreading for minor slips. Your use of complex sentences is generally successful, but increasing the variety of your sentence structures would help demonstrate better control and flexibility.

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