Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-13

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)

People believe that using cash is no longer important for them, that using cash in shops is no longer important, and that a card is a better option for paying bills. However, I believe that cards are a better option for paying bills in shops.

Some people believe that paying in cash is best because they know how much they spend, and, as a result, they can shop less as their money runs low. For example, about 5 years ago, people carried as much cash as they needed to buy goods; they shopped within that amount, resulting in less shopping and no money wasted.

However, I believe that using cards is better than having cash. Sometimes people forget where they put cash while shopping, or money gets stolen among a lot of people, which results in no shopping; they cannot buy anything because they are out of money. Another reason is that they can buy anything, or they never think about whether they have money. When they need things, they buy them. For example, people go to Costco and buy what they need without counting money; they just tap their card and get their groceries within 5 min. But if they pay in cash, it takes 10-15 min, and others have to wait for their turn.

In conclusion, I believe that paying by card is better than paying by cash, as you do not need to worry about anything while paying. It will save your time and space inside your bag.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both parts of the task, discussing whether cash will disappear and why some people might not be happy to give it up. The writer attempts a position throughout the essay, stating a preference for card payments. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited and repetitive. For instance, the discussion on why people like cash focuses primarily on budgeting, while the counter-argument regarding cards mentions convenience and speed at places like Costco. While the prompt asks why some people might be unhappy to give up cash, the student occasionally conflates this with their own personal preference rather than fully exploring the psychological or practical barriers faced by those attached to cash. Consequently, the task response aligns best with Band 6.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with clear paragraphing, separating the introduction, the opposing view on cash, the writer's perspective on cards, and a brief conclusion. Cohesive devices are used to signal shifts in argument, such as 'However' and 'For example'. However, referencing and cohesion are sometimes faulty or mechanical. For example, the opening sentence is repetitive ('using cash is no longer important for them, that using cash in shops is no longer important'), and the pronoun referencing in subsequent sentences can be slightly ambiguous. Paragraph transitions are somewhat abrupt, but the logical progression remains discernible, supporting a Band 6 score.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating terms such as 'groceries', 'budget', and 'convenience' implicitly through examples like Costco. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary, but some word choices and phrasing are repetitive or imprecise, such as 'resulting in no shopping' or 'counting money'. Spelling and word formation are generally accurate, and vocabulary errors do not impede communication. The lexical control sits firmly at Band 6, reflecting sufficient communicative capability without a wide or sophisticated range of uncommon lexical items.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including conditional-like clauses ('But if they pay in cash, it takes 10-15 min') and relative clauses. There are several grammatical errors and awkward phrasings throughout the text, such as 'money gets stolen among a lot of people' and 'they never think about whether they have money.' Punctuation is generally acceptable, and while errors occur, they rarely impede communication. The grammatical control reflects a standard typical of Band 6, where simple sentences are well controlled, but complex structures introduce frequent minor inaccuracies.

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