Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-20

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 this modern era, every day a normal person use their cards or phones for buying lot of things and it is increasing day by day but some people do not want to pay with them instead they still rely on cash. In my opinion one day cash becomes only a decoration or a piece in wallets which no one wants to use because of their un acceptance. In this essay i will express my opinion as well as some experience for my life with some example.

Firstly, I personally think using cards and phones for purchasing any things is a best choise over cash because of it is give you far more convenience as well as flexibilty. If you using phone you do not need to count money before giving to others for example, I you see an item cost five dollar then you can pay just tap your card or insert it and pay the amount. It also helps you in odd figures which lot of time we stuck with our coins like, 7 dollar 66 cents.

Moreover, If we constantly using cards like credit cards it give cash back facility or sometime points which we can use in future for buying things like flight tickets or simply we can use for statement credit. For example spending 100 dollars in day by card gives us all most 3 dollars back but in cash it is zero.

On the other hand, people who still likes paying by cash are those who do not have a good credit cards because of bad history in banks and some who do not access to this knowledge of cashback. Majority of the people are from old age groups who are hesitating use of this kind of features with their cards or phone.

Overall, introduction of technology is only helping us when it is use precisely and safely and this is only possible by learning new things. I totally belive by going in this speed towards future, we can imagine one day physical notes will vanished from everywhere except from collection centres.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address both parts of the question: you predict that cash may disappear and give reasons some people prefer to keep using it. Your position is clear in the introduction and conclusion, and the examples about convenience and cashback make your view relevant. However, the reasons for resistance are less fully developed than the benefits of cashless payment. You mainly mention older people’s hesitation and those with poor credit histories, but do not explain other practical concerns, such as privacy, access to banking or phone technology, or difficulty using digital systems. The claim that cash will become “a decoration” is also stronger than the supporting discussion establishes. Develop the opposing perspective with a specific explanation or example to make the response more balanced and complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, two paragraphs supporting cashless payment, a contrasting paragraph, and a conclusion. Sequencing words such as “Firstly,” “Moreover,” and “On the other hand” help readers follow the main stages. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical, and the two supporting paragraphs repeat the same general case for cards and phones rather than building a more varied argument. Some links between ideas are unclear; for example, the sentence about “odd figures” does not explain precisely how digital payment solves the problem. The introduction also promises personal experience, but the body gives hypothetical examples instead. Use clearer references and develop each paragraph around one distinct point, with a direct explanation connecting its example to the argument.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of vocabulary for the topic, including “cash back facility,” “statement credit,” “physical notes,” and “collection centres.” These terms help communicate ideas about digital payments and the future of cash. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “a decoration,” “un acceptance,” “odd figures,” and “access to this knowledge of cashback.” Spelling errors, including “choise,” “flexibilty,” and “belive,” also reduce accuracy. The meaning is generally understandable, but these issues make some phrases less precise and fluent. Aim to learn common word partnerships for finance and technology, and check spelling and word forms during revision. More precise phrasing would make your argument sound clearer and more natural.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a conditional example (“If you see an item…”) and a contrast introduced by “On the other hand.” The overall meaning can usually be followed, but errors in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence construction occur in several places. For instance, “a normal person use” needs subject–verb agreement, while “If you using phone” lacks a correctly formed verb phrase. In “it give cash back facility,” the verb and article also need correction. Some long sentences combine several ideas without clear punctuation, which makes them harder to process. Practise accurate present-tense patterns and conditional sentences, then proofread each sentence for a clear subject and verb. Greater control of these structures would improve readability.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.