Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-28
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)
Some people think cash will not be required to purchase things in near future. Instead of cash cards and mobile applications will be used to pay for the goods. I think there is a possibility of this becoming true but many are against the idea. It has both its advantages and disadvantages.
It will be beneficial while doing large amount of payments because people do not need to carry a cash. Carrying cash for such payments is risky as it increases the chances of robbery. So tranfering amount online would make the process smooth and less chances of any mishap. Another benefit is; it would be easier to do shopping online and in store also because payment will be made through one click. No stress of counting or losing a cash while shopping. As internet is becoming more common in todays world the trend towards online tranfer of cash for different things is also increased.
The disadvantage of payments through mobile applications is ongoing scam around the world. The money from accounts is tranfered from your account through hacking or getting transfer codes from you by manipulating you. Online websites are also doing such scams by taking the payment and not delivering the items bought. In developing counteries where internet is not available commonly this transfer of money becomes difficult, so this development can not take place in such countries. People also beleive that if they spend cash by hands they will spend less on unnecassary things, they will keep count on their spendings.
This change of payment method is expected soon either people are going to like it or not. But they will adapt to this change.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5
You address both parts of the question: you give a qualified view that cashless payment may become common, and explain why some people may resist it, especially because of scams, limited internet access and concern about overspending. The examples about hacked accounts and online sellers taking payment without delivering goods make the disadvantages relevant. Your position is present, but it is not fully consistent: the opening says there is a possibility, while the conclusion predicts the change will happen soon without explaining why. Some points, such as the benefits of one-click shopping and the effect of cash on spending habits, are asserted rather than developed. To strengthen the response, explain how these concerns affect particular groups and support your prediction with a clearer reason.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0
The response has a clear overall shape: an introduction, a paragraph on benefits, one on disadvantages, and a conclusion. This makes the main line of discussion easy to follow. Within paragraphs, however, ideas are sometimes joined mechanically with repeated forms such as “Another benefit” and “So,” and the benefits paragraph moves quickly from large payments to shopping convenience and then to a general trend. The conclusion is also brief and introduces the prediction that the change is expected soon without linking it clearly to the earlier discussion. Use more deliberate transitions to show cause, contrast and consequence, and group related points so each paragraph develops one central idea.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
You use enough topic vocabulary to discuss payment methods and their risks, including “mobile applications,” “hacking,” “transfer codes” and “developing countries.” These choices help communicate the main ideas, but the range is limited by repeated general words such as “cash,” “payment” and “things,” and some combinations are unnatural or imprecise, for example “large amount of payments” and “transfer of cash for different things.” Spelling errors such as “tranfering,” “counteries” and “unnecassary” are noticeable and reduce accuracy. Aim for more precise collocations and check spelling carefully; this would make the argument sound more natural and controlled.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a reason clause in “because people do not need to carry a cash” and a conditional idea about internet access. Most of the meaning remains understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. Examples include missing or incorrect articles (“in near future,” “a cash”), an awkward comparative construction (“less chances”), and the sentence fragment “No stress of counting or losing a cash.” The final sentence, “either people are going to like it or not,” also has an incorrect structure. Practise article use, complete sentence formation and accurate clause patterns, then proofread punctuation and sentence boundaries. Greater control of these forms would make your varied attempts clearer.
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