Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-10-31

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)

Cashless payments are very popular now. Even small shops have UPI paymet system. A vast majority of people are using this method now a days. However, I do not believe that all the transaction will completely go cashless in the near future. As senior people might not be happy with this.

Consider someone travelling to a foreign country, they probably tend to carry cash rather than taking risk by a opening a bank account there. Another thing is the tax benefits of using cash payments. Also people keep cash in hand as to set control on over spending. The traditional way is still followed by many countries eventhough they have established technologies. Especially senior people not yet processed the idea of payment through phone or card.

Irrespective of that, metropolitian cities has been replaced traditional method with cashless technologies all around the world. This saves a lot of time and make purchase, returns and exchange of money more easier. For the convinience of both business and the customer almost all online stores are accepting and encouraging people to use card as a primary way to pay. The reason why people moved to card payment perhaps because of the easy to handle. Carrying cash is not a safe and comfortable way anymore. Meanwhile, a card or phone can do all your shopping and purchases even from your home.

However, people still like to use cash payments for some occassions. Some shops still stick to old way payments. For example, most of the cultural fest events only accept cash. So in the foreseeable future I do not believe people would be happy to give up cash payments.

To conclude, card and phones have replaced the traditional payment methods because of its comfortability. But still some people are reluctant to use cashless payment. So, I think in the future cashless payments would be the most popular way but cash payments would be still in use.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

Your response addresses both parts of the question and gives a clear, consistent view: cashless payments will become more popular, but cash is unlikely to disappear completely. You offer relevant reasons for reluctance, including older people’s preferences, spending control, travel, and cash-only cultural events. The examples make the discussion specific, and your conclusion restates your position. The response also shows some of the development expected at a stronger level, particularly in the contrast between convenience and continued cash use. However, several points are asserted rather than explained: for example, the reference to tax benefits is not clarified, and the travel example could explain why cash is more practical. Develop these ideas with clearer reasoning and support to make the argument more consistently convincing.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay has a recognisable overall structure, with an introduction, paragraphs presenting reasons and counterpoints, and a conclusion. The progression from reasons to prefer cash, to the advantages of cashless payments, and then to occasions when cash remains useful is generally understandable. Linking expressions such as “However,” “For example,” and “To conclude” help guide the reader. At times, though, connections between ideas are mechanical or unclear. The paragraph beginning “Consider someone travelling” moves quickly from travel to tax benefits and spending control without showing how these points relate. “Irrespective of that” also introduces a contrast whose reference is not fully clear. Group related reasons more deliberately and use clearer references and transitions to strengthen the flow.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for the topic, including terms such as “cashless technologies,” “traditional payment methods,” “over spending,” and “foreseeable future.” These choices allow you to discuss convenience, safety, and reluctance to change, and most meaning remains clear. You also attempt more specific expressions, but some word choices, collocations, and spelling errors reduce precision: “comfortability” is unnatural in this context, “set control on over spending” is awkward, and “metropolitian” and “convinience” are misspelled. “Easy to handle” is also vague when describing card payments. Aim for more natural collocations and check spelling carefully; this would make your vocabulary more precise and fluent without changing the ideas.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, including a conditional example (“Consider someone travelling…”) and a contrast introduced by “Although” in the broader argument. Most sentences communicate the intended meaning, but some grammatical errors remain. For example, “all the transaction will” needs plural agreement, “a opening” has an incorrect article, and “metropolitian cities has been replaced” has problems with agreement and sentence construction. In “This saves a lot of time and make purchase,” the verbs do not agree, and the final sentence shifts awkwardly between singular and plural forms. Review subject–verb agreement, articles, and sentence patterns, then proofread each sentence. Greater accuracy across these structures would make the argument easier to follow.

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