Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-01

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 6.5)

It is predictable that in the near future, the use of cash to pay for things will be replaced by cards and mobile phones. The rapid advancement in technology will be the driving force behind this change. However, some people who do not own cards or mobile phones may not be very happy with this change. This essay will substantiate this assertion.

Technology is advancing at an unprecedented pace. The world is moving towards digitaization, and the concept of liquid money is increasingly becoming popular. The Government tends to promote the mode of digital payments by providing special discounts, if consumers pay through cards. For instance, I visited a restaurant where Goods and Services Tax was reduced by 8% if someone pays through a card. It was meant to encourage the use of cards and discourage cash. So, there is an increasing possibility that mode of payment through cash will be obsolete in the future.

While the the trend of paying through cards and mobile phones is increasing, some people may not be very happy to give up using cash. This is because many elderly people are not aware of using mobile phones and prefer to adhere to their traditional methods of payment. For example, my father always prefers to make his payments by cash, as he does not know how to do it via a mobile phone. Moreover, certain low-income groups such as daily wage workers do not have bank accounts. They even struggle to own a mobile phone. So, making payments through cards or mobile phones are impossible for them.

In conclusion, the growing technological development will inevitably replace the mode of payment from cash to cards or mobile phones. However, elderly and low-income groups will be reluctant to adopt this trend.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response successfully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both whether a cashless future will happen and why some individuals might be reluctant to adopt it, such as elderly people and low-income groups. The position is clear throughout the essay. However, some ideas remain slightly under-developed; for instance, the point regarding low-income groups could have been extended by exploring alternative solutions or societal impacts. The evidence provided, such as the personal example of the restaurant tax reduction, helps support the argument, though a more balanced depth across all points keeps the response at this current level. To reach the next level, the writer needs to ensure that every main idea is fully extended and supported with robust, detailed explanations or wider societal examples rather than relying solely on personal anecdotes.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a clear overall progression and logical organisation. Information and ideas are arranged coherently, with each paragraph having a distinct focus—the first introduces the trend, the second discusses technological drivers with an example, and the third explores the challenges faced by specific demographic groups. Cohesive devices are used adequately, such as 'However', 'For instance', and 'Moreover', though referencing is occasionally mechanical. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately to separate distinct ideas. To move to a higher band, the writer should aim for more sophisticated and seamless transitions between paragraphs and sentences, ensuring that cohesive links never feel formulaic or repetitive.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common lexical items such as 'unprecedented pace', 'substantiate this assertion', and 'obsolete'. There are some minor spelling and word-choice inaccuracies, such as 'digitaization' (a typographical error for digitalization) and 'liquid money' (which is less natural than physical cash or paper money), but these do not impede communication. The writer demonstrates a satisfactory awareness of style and collocation overall. To achieve a higher band, the vocabulary range needs to be wider and more flexible, incorporating sophisticated uncommon phrases with greater precision and avoiding minor slips in spelling or terminology.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The response employs a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating a reasonable command of grammar. Examples of complex structures include 'While the trend of paying through cards and mobile phones is increasing, some people may not be very happy...' and 'The rapid advancement in technology will be the driving force behind this change.' There are some errors in grammar and punctuation, such as a missing article ('the trend of paying') and a subject-verb agreement slip in 'making payments through cards or mobile phones are impossible', but these errors rarely impede communication. To progress further, the writer should increase the frequency of error-free complex sentences and maintain tighter control over prepositions, agreement, and articles throughout the entire text.

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