Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-08

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 upcoming Era,many individuals may not use their currency to buy some things in stores.Everyone use Digital way or bank card payment method.I think this will happen in future.because I can see in my surroundings many people uses this method for to pay. many people don't like to leave cash payment method.there are many reasons for it that I will discuss further.

according to AI based data,most individuals using online payment method or card payment.For them this is very convenient way to do payments while you are free of cash.Many of them carrying bank card for paying towards their expenses.Those who are using this method they know how to use it properly.Recently my grandfather told me about this and I told him that is very easy and efficient way to pay for your things.And he interested in this method to learn and I showed him how you can use it with your mobile and also with your bank card.He learnt it and now he is using digital payments everywhere.

However,other side some individuals don't want to go cashless as they are scared about scam.if they might not sure how to use this and they will lose their money. recently I come up across one scenario where one man who came to pharmacy for his medication and he looks very sad so I asked him is there everything is going well with him?and suddenly he cried infront of me and told me the that he lost is £1500 in online bank fraud.At that time he told that that cash is better then cashless facility.After this I gave him strength and told that if he can contact bank regarding this situation then they can help him to recover money from fraudsters.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You answer both parts of the question: you predict that cashless payments will become common and explain why some people may resist them, especially because of fraud and uncertainty about using digital services. Your examples, including your grandfather learning to pay by phone and the man losing money to bank fraud, make the response relevant and personal. However, the prediction is asserted rather than fully explained: seeing people around you use cards does not establish that cash will disappear from shops. The discussion of why people may prefer cash is more developed than the reasons cashless payment may become universal. Explain factors such as convenience for businesses or wider access to digital payment, and clarify that cash may remain useful for people who lack access or trust.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, a paragraph about digital payments, and a contrasting paragraph about concerns over cashless systems. The examples generally appear in the paragraphs where readers expect them, and transitions such as “However” signal a change in direction. At times, though, progression is weakened by abrupt shifts and unclear links. The opening moves quickly from your prediction to people’s reluctance, while the first body paragraph focuses mainly on your grandfather rather than developing the prediction. Some linking phrases, including “according to AI based data” and “other side,” do not clearly connect the evidence to the argument. Use topic sentences that state each paragraph’s main point, then explain how each example supports it.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “online payment method,” “bank card,” “cashless,” and “bank fraud.” The personal examples also help make the meaning clear. However, the range is limited and several phrases are inaccurate or unnatural, which sometimes makes the reader pause: “upcoming Era,” “for to pay,” “scared about scam,” and “cash is better then cashless facility.” Some words and phrases are repeated, particularly “method” and “payment.” Aim for more precise collocations and vary your wording—for example, use “make a payment,” “digital transactions,” and “concerned about fraud.” Check spelling and word forms as well, since errors such as “then” for “than” affect clarity and polish.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including conditional language in “if they might not sure how to use this” and a relative clause in “a man who came to pharmacy.” The main message is usually understandable, but errors in agreement, verb forms, articles, and sentence boundaries are noticeable. For example, “Everyone use” should be “Everyone uses,” and “many people uses” should be “many people use.” In “he told me the that he lost is £1500,” the sentence structure and pronouns make the meaning difficult to follow. Several sentences also run together without appropriate punctuation. Practise building accurate complex sentences with clear subjects and verbs, and proofread for articles, agreement, and full stops.

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