Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-09-24

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)

In this era, people prefer to use online modes of transction instead of cash. All payments they to do by cards or their phones. I agree with this statement that people in future will be use more online modes of payment instead of carring cash with them. While some of them will be using cash.

To begin with, there are many reasons why would people use cards and online transctions. The main reason is that by using cards their time will be save and they do not having any kind of strees of robbery and love to go with flow. People want to change their lifestyle according to the modern time. For example in these days their are many useful apps to make online payments such as paypal remitly flywire and so on either domestic or international payments by cards or phones. The other main reason is when people make online payments then they get discounts and money back. They also collect points for more discount and shopping. This is how it is useful and safe to use cards and cellphones.

On the other hand, there are few individuals who wants to keep using cash. Firstly, they are used to use and feel comfortable and do not change their behavior. secondly, when they use cards they have to pay taxes in some store they do not charge taxes when people use cash. For example, we have to pay extra money when we use online platforms for payment because they charge to people to make payment. Some times 5% to 20% charges according to amount as it leads downward. Hence, people wants to stay safe from online frouds and feel safe to use cash money.

Conclusion, as everthing have its own pross and cons and same online payment or cards and cash have its own. I belive that using cards and online payment is much more easy than cash. Cards are time saving and keep data where cards are used.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: whether a cashless society will happen and why some people might be unhappy to give it up. The writer clearly takes a stance agreeing with the transition to digital payments while acknowledging counter-arguments. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited and repetitive. For instance, the reasons provided for using cards focus heavily on time-saving, safety, and discounts, but these points are expressed with simple supporting details. The counter-argument touches upon fees and fraud, which is relevant, but the explanations lack depth and precision. While all parts of the prompt are addressed, the ideas would benefit from further extension and more precise examples to reach a higher band. Overall, the response meets the core requirements of Task Achievement at a competent level.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with a clear introduction, body paragraphs addressing both sides, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different facets of the argument. However, cohesion at the sentence level is occasionally mechanical and faulty, with abrupt transitions and some awkward phrasing. For example, expressions like 'To begin with, there are many reasons why would people use cards' and 'Conclusion, as everthing have its own pross and cons' reveal weaknesses in transitional phrasing and structural signposting. Referencing is sometimes unclear, and cohesive devices are over-used in a repetitive manner. Despite these flaws, the progression of ideas is generally easy to follow, supporting a solid band 5.5 to 6.0 placement.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating terms related to digital payments, such as 'online modes of payment', 'discounts', 'money back', and 'online frouds'. However, there are numerous spelling errors throughout the text, including 'transction', 'carring', 'strees', 'frouds', 'everthing', 'belive', and 'pross'. Furthermore, word choices are sometimes imprecise or unnatural, such as 'love to go with flow' and 'charge to people to make payment'. While attempts are made to use less common vocabulary, the persistent spelling and lexical inaccuracies occasionally strain the reader, aligning closely with the descriptors for Band 5.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, though attempts at complex structures frequently contain errors. Examples of structural and grammatical inaccuracies include 'All payments they to do by cards or their phones', 'people in future will be use more', and 'they do not having any kind of strees'. Subject-verb agreement and auxiliary verb usage are recurring issues (e.g., 'there are few individuals who wants', 'people wants'). Punctuation is basic, and sentence boundaries are sometimes blurred. Although the communication is not entirely impeded and the general meaning remains clear, the frequency of errors across basic and complex sentences places this performance firmly in the Band 5.0 category.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.