Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-07
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)
It is predicted that in near future, cash payment will be replaced by different alternative of online payments using smart devices and cards, whereas some people still prefer cash over online transactions. I believe, there are higher chances of happening this situation. In the forthcoming paragraphs, I have discussed the reasons behind this situation with suitable justification and I have also shared my opinion at the end.
Taking into account major reason behind this trend is that to provide easy and safe transaction. Due to rapid growth in advanced technological field, the form of payments altered into their digital form like Gpay, BhimUPI, PayTM, making every transaction more accessible, quick and convenient. Thus, people do not have to worry about carrying physical wallets along with them, which mitigates robbery chances and pocket cutting.
On the contrary, a group of people still prefer physical money over digital one, showing distrust towards using such applications. In my perspactive, they had experienced fraud and became victim of online scam. As every transaction leaves an digital footprint on the internet, by tracking those data professional hackers can access both sender's and reciever's banking details easily.
I believe, certainly online applications share more ease to people's lives, however, benefits of online payments will not outweigh the perks of cash payments. Thus, moderate use of both will create a better option in future.
To recapitulate, as per the advanced technolgy, all payments may transfered through online applications and credit/debit cards. Yet there will be some people will not trust this alternates blindly, still will follow tradisional method of cash payments.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0
You address both parts of the question: you predict that digital payments may replace cash and explain why some people resist this change, particularly through distrust and fear of online fraud. Your position is also stated, especially in the conclusion that people may continue using cash. However, the prediction is not fully consistent: you first say replacement is likely, then argue that cash will retain advantages and that both methods should be used. Clarify whether you think cash will disappear entirely or remain alongside digital payments. The reasons are relevant, but some need fuller explanation—for example, explain why particular groups may be especially reluctant to use payment apps, and support the security concern with a specific example.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5
The response has a clear overall structure, moving from an introduction to reasons for digital payments, concerns about them, your view, and a conclusion. Paragraphing helps the reader follow these stages, and links such as “On the contrary” and “To recapitulate” signal transitions. This meets the lower-band expectation of coherent arrangement and shows some of the flexibility associated with stronger cohesion. However, some transitions do not express the relationship precisely: “On the contrary” introduces a contrasting group rather than directly opposing the preceding point, while the final paragraph largely repeats earlier claims. The introduction also promises an opinion “at the end,” although your view appears earlier. Use more precise links and make each paragraph advance the argument rather than restate it.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.0
You use an adequate range of topic vocabulary, including “digital footprint,” “online scam,” “banking details,” and “physical wallets,” and these choices make the subject clear. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “rapid growth” and “mitigates.” However, several word-choice and collocation errors reduce naturalness: “different alternative of online payments,” “higher chances of happening this situation,” and “share more ease” are awkward or unclear. Spelling errors such as “perspactive,” “reciever’s,” “technolgy,” and “tradisional” also affect accuracy. Aim for familiar, precise collocations rather than overly formal phrasing, and proofread spelling. For example, “digital payment methods” and “the likelihood of this happening” would express your ideas more naturally.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
You attempt a mix of simple and complex forms, including a cause clause beginning “Due to rapid growth…” and a conditional-style explanation of how hackers might access banking details. Meaning is generally recoverable, but some grammatical errors recur across the response. Examples include “in near future” (missing an article), “a digital footprint” (article agreement), “they had experienced fraud” (tense choice), and “there will be some people will not trust” (faulty clause structure). The final sentence also needs a clearer construction, such as “some people will still follow traditional cash-based methods.” Work on articles, verb forms, and combining clauses accurately. Greater control of these patterns would make your complex sentences clearer while preserving your range.
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