Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-03

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 5.5)

I this contemporary world technology is changing our traditional way of living .I am partially agree with this statement that in upcoming future people will stop using cash and make payments possibly using cards .

Primary reason of this it is easy to use, you don't need to carry wallets, different cards or coins with you any more.you can scan your phone and then u are good to go .

Secondly there is no fear of loosing your wallet or cards anymore, as u have your card stored in your mobile phone. You don't worry about theft or something. moreover,I think in this technological era only 10 percent of the population barely use cash.

However every coin has two sides ,it also has some drawbacks sometimes you phones battery is dead at that time you might face struggles paying .

Also , you also face network issues while taking payments that would also be really frustrating.

Last but not least the biggest drawback of using technology is cyberattack. It is not 100 percent safe to use online banking anything bad might happen . some one might break into your system breach your a privacy and leak your confidential info any thing can. happen .

According to what I experienced mostly older people of backward areas don't have enough know ow to use mobile banking and so . so I think they might be unhappy with this option.they prefer old traditional ways more rather then trying something they don't know about.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the likelihood of a cashless society and the reasons for resistance. However, the development is somewhat uneven. While you provide clear arguments for the shift (convenience, security) and against it (technical failures, cyberattacks, lack of digital literacy), the ideas are presented in a list-like fashion rather than being fully extended. The introduction is a bit weak, as the position is not clearly stated or developed. To reach a higher band, ensure that your arguments are supported by more detailed explanations or specific examples, rather than just stating them briefly. The conclusion is also missing, which is a significant omission for a balanced essay.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow your points. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite basic and sometimes repetitive. For example, you use 'also' and 'some' frequently, and the transitions between paragraphs are somewhat mechanical. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the phrase 'some one might break into your system breach your a privacy'. Improving the variety of linking words (e.g., 'consequently', 'furthermore', 'nevertheless') and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence would significantly improve the flow and logical progression of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You rely on simple, everyday language (e.g., 'good to go', 'something', 'bad might happen'). There are also some spelling and word-choice errors, such as 'loosing' instead of 'losing', 'know ow' instead of 'know-how', and 'rather then' instead of 'rather than'. To improve, try to incorporate more academic or topic-specific vocabulary related to finance and technology, and pay closer attention to spelling and collocations to ensure your meaning is conveyed more professionally.

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 impede readability. Issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'you phones battery is dead'), missing articles, and punctuation errors (e.g., 'I this contemporary world', 'I am partially agree'). The use of informal abbreviations like 'u' is inappropriate for an IELTS essay and should be avoided. While you attempt complex sentences, they are often marred by errors. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for common errors like missing articles and verb forms will help improve your accuracy.

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

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