Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-14

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)

All payments in future might be cashless using only cards or cells. In my opinion, this will definitely happen as it is the most convenient and safe way for the transaction. There might me some who will not be happy with this as they rely heavily on cash so that they can track their expenses well.

On the one hand, the use of technology is increasing rapidly due to which the everyday transaction has become cashless. This is because of ease of payment and convenience of using phones and cards rather than carrying a large sum of money. For instance, people can go to shopping for buying some expensive item without even carrying a single penny, they will just swipe their card or use their mobile wallet to pay for the goods. It is not only conveinent but also safe because these alternative mode of payment have ample safety features to protect from fraud and thieft.

On the other hand, there are few individuals who prefer the tradional way of using cash for every transaction. They think that it is easy for them to keep track of their spending if they put a certain amount of money in their pocket. Furthermore, they do not believe in technology and are not able to use them properly. For example, some elderly people tend to use cash a lot as they are not able to use the cards or phones as they forget the pin often and are not able to use the mobile apps for tracking their expenditure. This is why they only perfer cash as it is easier for them to go through.

In conclusion, the use of phones and cards will surely replace the cash transaction in future, yet some people may not be able to take this chage easily as they are not able to cope with the changes.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

Your position is clear throughout: you predict that cash will eventually be replaced and explain why some people may resist. Both parts of the question are addressed, with relevant support such as paying for expensive goods by card and older people struggling with PINs or mobile apps. The explanation that cash helps people monitor spending is also directly relevant. These ideas are extended with examples, although the prediction that cashless payment will “definitely happen” is asserted more than explored, and the benefits of cashless systems could be explained in greater depth. To strengthen the response further, qualify broad claims and develop the reasons with more precise explanation or a specific example of how cashless payments may become widespread.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response has a clear overall progression: an introduction states your view, two body paragraphs present contrasting perspectives, and the conclusion restates the prediction and acknowledges resistance. The signposts “On the one hand” and “On the other hand” make the contrast easy to follow, while examples are generally placed beside the ideas they support. This logical organisation is effective. Some linking is a little mechanical, however, particularly the repeated use of “This is because” and “This is why.” The final sentence also repeats the conclusion’s main point rather than adding a final implication. For a more flexible progression, vary how you connect explanations and examples, and use clearer references when moving from a general claim to a particular group.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough topic vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “cashless,” “mobile wallet,” “safety features,” and “track their spending.” However, the range is uneven, and several word-choice, collocation, and spelling problems reduce precision. Examples include “cells” for mobile phones, “the tradional way,” “thieft,” and “perfer.” Phrases such as “go through” do not clearly express the intended meaning, and “ample safety features” sounds unnatural in this context. These errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your argument, but they limit the accuracy and flexibility of your vocabulary. Build a bank of natural payment-related collocations and proofread spelling and word forms before submitting.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including a reason clause (“as they rely heavily on cash”) and a conditional example (“if they put a certain amount of money in their pocket”). Most sentences communicate the intended meaning, and the paragraph structure helps the reader follow the argument. Some grammatical errors remain, such as “There might me some,” “the everyday transaction has become,” and “these alternative mode … have,” where verb forms or agreement are not controlled. In “they are not able to use them properly,” the pronoun reference is also unclear. Review subject–verb agreement, singular and plural forms, and pronoun references, then check each sentence for a complete and accurate structure.

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