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)
In recent times, due to advancements in technology, internet and smart phones cashless economic policy has been gaining popularity among various developed countries. It is believed that in near future it will completely substitute cash transactions. I firmly agree with this concept. However, some people who have personal benefits with cash economy oppose this essential policy. This essay will discuss the prospects of this development and reasons of resistance as well.
In the 21st century, internet has become increasingly popular among all kinds of users. It has made the whole world a global village. Moreover, smartphones have become a necessity rather than a luxury. With the advancement of technology people are able to buy anything online at the convenience of their homes. This has lead to online transactions and foundation of e-commerce. Moreover, keeping wealth in form of digital currency also prevents thefts and robberies. In addition the governments can also be benefitted from e-commerce as they can easily monitor flow of wealth and monitor money laundering as well.Keeping in view the benefits, cashless economy has become an inevitable necessity.
On the other hand, some people are against this modern day monetary system. Mostly, due to their personal benefits associated with the cash economy. Cash transactions can evade government taxes. Also, cash can be stored without a proper money trail. Almost all of the money laundering activities are done in currency notes. Some of them also involve in fake currency business as well. That’s why they oppose this seamless and transparent cashless economy.
In conclusion, the online transaction system is inevitable policy matter and will be implemented throughout the whole world without any discrimination as its benefits are long lasting than traditional currency transactions.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| 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 for resistance. The position is clear throughout, and the ideas are relevant. However, the development is somewhat uneven. While the benefits of a cashless society are well-covered, the second body paragraph regarding resistance focuses heavily on illegal activities like money laundering and tax evasion. It would have been more balanced to include other common concerns, such as the digital divide, privacy issues, or the vulnerability of elderly populations. The conclusion is a bit abrupt and could have better summarised the main points to provide a more comprehensive final thought.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is logically organised with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two main ideas. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'In addition', and 'On the other hand' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and there are minor issues with referencing, such as 'Some of them also involve in fake currency business', where the pronoun 'them' lacks a clear antecedent. Overall, the progression of ideas is easy to follow, but the flow could be improved with more sophisticated linking phrases.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task. You have used some topic-specific terms like 'cashless economic policy', 'e-commerce', and 'money laundering'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'personal benefits with cash economy' (should be 'personal benefits from a cash-based economy') and 'inevitable policy matter' (which sounds unnatural). The range is sufficient to convey your meaning, but to reach a higher band, you should aim for more precise collocations and a wider variety of academic vocabulary to avoid repetitive phrasing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'This has lead to' (should be 'led'), 'keeping wealth in form of' (missing article 'the'), and 'Some of them also involve in' (incorrect verb usage). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but there are missing spaces after some periods. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles, as well as ensuring consistent verb tense usage throughout your arguments.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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