Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-13

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)

In recent years, many individuals prefer to pay for the things by using electronic payment methods instead of cash. Many people believe that cash will disappear completely and alll the payments will be made through digital platforms. I believe that the world is moving towards the cashless culture, however; few people will not happy to pay for the things by using electronic payment methods.

To begin with, there are numerous reasons why cash is becoming dominant in nearly future. Firstly, online payments are more convenient and secure. You do not need to be physically present to pay for the things. With the advancemnet in the technology sector, electronnic payment are accepted globally. There are several applications which offer safe payment methods to the user from every corner of the world. For instance, people may do online shopping and pay for the things by using digital online payment gateways. Futhermore, online payment offers a security to the buyer as it is hard to keep the cash for the huge payment.

On the other hand, the reason why some section of society might not ready to accept the cashless future is the real value of money. When we pay through cash, we have more control over our spending habbits. Moreover,some people prefer to pay for the services through cash as it avoids the problem of power outages and the record of online transaction. Another major reason is that older people are not aware of digital payment platforms. Thus, it becomes difficult for them to use the online platforms.

In conclusion, cashless transactions offers a security and convenience to the buyer. It also allows the flexibility to pay for the goods from any part of the world although cash will not vanish entirely. People may use cash for minor transactions.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

Your response addresses both parts of the question: you predict a move towards cashless payments while explaining why some people may resist, including older people, spending control, and power outages. Your position is clear in the introduction and conclusion, and examples such as online shopping help make the benefits relevant. However, the prediction is not fully developed: the essay does not explain how widespread cashless payments might become or why cash may remain available. Some concerns are also stated briefly; for example, the point about transaction records could be clarified by explaining the privacy concern. This covers the task well overall, but fuller explanation and support for these ideas would make the response more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay has a clear overall structure, moving from an introduction to benefits, reasons for resistance, and a conclusion. Paragraphing helps distinguish the two sides, and signposts such as “To begin with,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” make the progression easy to follow. Some linking is mechanical, however, and the first body paragraph begins with “cash is becoming dominant,” which conflicts with the intended point that cashless payment is growing. The conclusion also repeats benefits already given rather than drawing the discussion together. Use more precise transitions and clearer references between ideas, and ensure each paragraph’s opening sentence accurately signals its main point.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “electronic payment methods,” “digital platforms,” “power outages,” and “cashless transactions.” There are also attempts at more specific expressions, such as “payment gateways,” though some combinations are unnatural or imprecise: “cash is becoming dominant” appears to mean that cashless payment is becoming more common, and “offers a security” is not idiomatic. Spelling errors such as “advancemnet,” “electronnic,” and “Futhermore” are noticeable, while repeated use of “pay for the things” limits variety. The meaning is generally recoverable, but more accurate collocations, careful proofreading, and a broader set of natural topic-related phrases would improve precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including clauses introduced by “as,” “although,” and “which,” and most ideas remain understandable. However, some grammatical errors recur. For example, “few people will not happy” needs a verb (“will not be happy”), and “some section of society might not ready” needs “might not be ready.” There are also agreement and article problems in “online payment offers” and “cashless transactions offers,” while “the record of online transaction” has an unclear singular/plural construction. Punctuation around “however” is also faulty in the opening. Review verb forms, subject–verb agreement, articles, and punctuation, while continuing to practise complex sentences with accurate clause structure.

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