Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

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

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)

In the modern era, digital payment methods are increasingly popular. I believe that in the future, individuals will prefer to pay with their phones and will no longer be able to pay for purchases with cash. However, some people will follow the traditional method of payment - cash. I will discuss why society will adopt cashless payments and why some people might not be happy to give up using cash.

To begin with, online transactions are convenient and fast. In other words, people can do shopping without carrying cash everywhere. Also, Apple Pay or just scanning a QR code can make the payment faster without worrying about having a significant amount of money in the wallet. Moreover, digital payments are safe and secure because there is no risk of losing money or theft, and individuals can monitor their transactions through an online banking system. For example, in Canada, the majority of individuals prefer to pay by mobile tap in supermarkets, restaurants, and cafes to save time. Hence, a fast and convenient approach makes people use online methods.

On the other hand, people may be reluctant to abandon cash for several reasons. Firstly, older people may find it challenging to use the modern payment choices and carrying cash would be more manageable. Secondly, not everyone can afford smartphones and reliable access to online banking. For instance, people living in rural and underdeveloped areas may have difficulty using digital payments. Moreover, although there is tighter security, the likelihood of online scams is high due to technological advancements that encourage people to rely on traditional payment methods. Thus, security issues, inaccessibility, and difficulty for older people in operating modern payment options keep cash a priority for the majority of the population.

To recapitulate, digital payments have become the primary mode of payment as they offer secure, convenient and fastest transactions. Nevertheless, individuals still rely on cash due to internet scams, inaccessibility in rural areas, and challenges for older people.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You address both parts of the question and state a clear view that cashless payments will become more common, while explaining why some people may resist giving up cash. The points about convenience, older users, affordability and rural access are relevant, and the Canada example supports the convenience argument. However, the prediction that people will “no longer be able to pay” is not fully distinguished from simply preferring digital methods, and the essay does not explain how likely cash’s complete disappearance is. Some supporting ideas are also brief: for example, the concern about online scams is mentioned but not illustrated or developed. Clarifying your position on whether cash will disappear entirely and extending one or two reasons would make the response more fully developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the advantages of digital payment and reasons to retain cash, and a conclusion. The progression is easy to follow, and signposts such as “To begin with,” “On the other hand” and “To recapitulate” help readers identify the stages of the argument. At times, however, linking is somewhat mechanical, with several sentences beginning “Moreover,” “Firstly” or “Thus.” The conclusion also repeats the main points rather than drawing them together or resolving whether cash will eventually disappear. Some references, such as “a fast and convenient approach,” are broad. Use a wider range of natural links and make the relationship between each example and its claim more explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use an adequate range of topic vocabulary, including “digital payment methods,” “online transactions,” “reliable access” and “online scams,” and the meaning remains clear throughout. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “reluctant to abandon cash.” Some choices are imprecise or unnatural, however: “do shopping” would be more naturally expressed as “shop,” and “pay by mobile tap” is unclear. “The likelihood of online scams is high” is understandable but could be expressed more precisely in this context. The phrase “secure, convenient and fastest transactions” also mixes forms and sounds awkward. Aim for accurate collocations and avoid repeating general terms such as “modern payment options” when a more specific phrase is available.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including subordinate clauses such as “because there is no risk of losing money or theft” and “although there is tighter security.” Most sentences communicate their meaning clearly, and punctuation generally supports the argument. Some grammatical inaccuracies remain. In “the majority of individuals prefer to pay by mobile tap,” the construction is not well formed; revise the sentence structure as well as the wording. In the conclusion, “secure, convenient and fastest transactions” has inconsistent grammatical forms; use parallel adjectives. The opening also shifts from “I believe” to “will prefer” and “will no longer be able,” making the exact claim less controlled. Check parallel structure and ensure that each sentence expresses the intended degree of certainty.

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