Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

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

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)

Online payments using credit cards and mobile apps have become increasingly common. This is the reason, people may not be able to use cash for their purchases in the future. I believe that this can be possible because of convenience such online methods provide and also many people may refuse the idea because of their habits.

It might be possible to replace the cash payments with card ones using the phones in future because this method is convenient and fast. Unlike cash payments, credit or debit card payments can be made by using mobile banking apps in few seconds without going outside. In this fast-pace life people are busy with their everyday routines. They do not have enough time to grab bills from banks and pay for groceries, utilities and shopping. Instead, they prefer to stay home and order online by making payments online. Therefore, it saves their time and efforts. Additionally, keeping record of online transactions is another benefit which allows people to maintain their budget and avoid unnecessary spending.

However, some people might be satisfied with cash payments because they are using cash for a long time and gradually it has become their habit. Cash users also find it satisfying to feel the notes. It is also might be challenging for them to use mobile applications for payments as some people can not use the technology efficiently. In this case, it is simple way to pay for their items or services by using cash because it is not a complex. They do not need to add their cards in mobiles and remember the

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the likelihood of a cashless future and the reasons why some people might resist this change. The position is clear from the introduction. However, the essay is incomplete, ending abruptly mid-sentence in the final paragraph. This prevents the full development of the second point and leaves the conclusion missing. While the ideas presented are relevant, the lack of a finished argument limits the depth of the response. To reach a higher band, ensure that all points are fully explored and that the essay has a clear, finished structure.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into paragraphs, and there is a logical progression of ideas. Cohesive devices such as 'Therefore', 'Additionally', and 'However' are used to link sentences and ideas. However, because the text ends abruptly, the overall coherence is disrupted. The referencing is generally clear, but the mechanical nature of some transitions could be improved for better flow. The paragraphing is appropriate for the task, but the sudden termination of the final paragraph significantly impacts the overall cohesion of the piece.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the student to express ideas clearly. There are some attempts at less common collocations, such as 'fast-pace life' (though this should be 'fast-paced') and 'unnecessary spending'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'grab bills from banks' and 'it is not a complex'. The range is sufficient to convey meaning, but it lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. Expanding the range of synonyms and refining collocations would improve the score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'This is the reason, people may...' (should be 'This is the reason why...'), 'in few seconds' (should be 'in a few seconds'), and 'it is not a complex' (should be 'it is not complex'). Punctuation is generally functional, but the incomplete final sentence makes it difficult to assess the full range of grammatical control. While the errors do not usually impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score.

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

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