Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-27

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)

Technological advancements over the years have bought about new methods of payment. While some might find these convenient and practical, others might be less comfortable to transition to these methods. Either way, there is a high possibility that cash as a method of payment will become obselete in the future.

Technology is the future. This inevitable truth strongly suggests that cash payments might seize to exist in the future. Many people prefer to use their phones or cards for payments instead of cash because they find it more convenient than carry and counting cash. It is easier to just tap a phone or insert a card than give out cash and get change in return which often just leads to more coins to carry around. It is more common for people to loose cash than it would be to loose their phone or card. Fake bills are also problematic, for example a person that mistakenly accepts a fake bill would be in a loss for that much money since they wouldn't be able to use it anywhere.

While the world advances to these newer methods, there are several people that might not be happy to give up cash. For example, the older generation might not be as tech savy as the younger generation and they might face difficulties adapting to newer forms of payment. Some might prefer to use cash because they are concerned about hackers who might steal sensitive data or even transfer funds illegally.

In conclusion, while all forms of payment have advantages and disadvantages, the future is rapidly leaning towards technology and therefore it is possible that cash might become obselete.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You address both parts of the question and state a clear view: cash is likely to become obsolete, while some people may resist the change. The convenience of tapping a phone or card and concerns about older people adapting and hackers are relevant reasons. However, the case for cash disappearing is supported mainly by convenience and the problems of carrying cash or receiving counterfeit notes; the prediction that this is “inevitable” is asserted rather than fully explained. The reasons some people may oppose cashless payments are also less developed than the argument for them. To strengthen the response, explain these concerns further—for example, how limited digital access or privacy risks could affect particular groups—and support the prediction with a more specific example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response has a clear overall progression: an introduction presents your position, the body paragraphs discuss the likely shift to digital payments and possible objections, and the conclusion restates your view. Paragraphing is appropriate, and transitions such as “While” and “In conclusion” help signal the direction of the argument. Within the first body paragraph, the examples follow a sensible sequence from convenience to lost cash and counterfeit bills. Some links between ideas are more mechanical or broad, however: “Technology is the future” and “This inevitable truth” repeat the opening claim rather than developing a new step in the reasoning. More explicit links showing how each example supports your prediction, and clearer connections between the concerns about older people and security, would make the progression more flexible.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of topic vocabulary, including “methods of payment,” “sensitive data,” “fake bills,” and “adapting to newer forms of payment.” These choices make the main ideas clear, and phrases such as “tap a phone” are relevant to the topic. However, some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or informal, which limits precision: “seize to exist” should be “cease to exist,” “in a loss” is not the natural phrase here, and “tech savy” is better expressed as “technologically confident” or “digitally literate.” There are also spelling errors in “obselete” and “loose” where “lose” is intended. Aim for accurate, natural collocations and check spelling carefully, especially in repeated key terms.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including a concessive opening (“While some might find these convenient…”) and a conditional example about accepting a fake bill. Most sentences communicate the intended meaning, and the argument remains easy to follow. Some grammatical choices are less controlled, particularly in longer sentences: “more convenient than carry and counting cash” needs a parallel form, such as “more convenient than carrying and counting cash,” while “a person that mistakenly accepts” would be more naturally formed with “who.” The sentence beginning “It is more common for people to loose cash…” also has an unclear comparison structure. Continue using complex sentences, but check parallel constructions, relative clauses, and comparisons so that the range is matched by more consistent accuracy.

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