Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 17 · 2026-11-01

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)

Due to the advancement in technology, people rely more on new techniques than the traditional ones. Payments by cash will going to be limited; however, the mode of payment will be shifted to cards or by using phones. This essay will discuss the reasons behind this idea. Also several notions why opponents are against this idea along with my viewpoint.

To begin with, In the modern times everything has changed. People are more workholic in order to save their time standing in queue to withdraw money from banks for their necessities they will more likely to pay by cards. Hence this is the more convenient and efficient method. Another key factor is that to prevent themselves and their loved ones from theft individuals do not prefer to keep substantial amount of money at home as there are chances that there will be robbery in future which may result into harm to loved ones. Therefore paying by phone is the safest option.

However opponents of this idea believes that still there are masses who prefer to pay by cash due to several factors. The first and foremost factor is that using cash is less complicated. and easier than paying by cards . For instance, individuals who are less educated and older generation they still find easier to pay by cash as some of them do not know how to use smart phones and do not even have smart phones to pay by phone. Hence using cash is the only ootion they are left with. Also paying by cards increase their spending power. A relevant example of this is that teenagers if they do not have access to cards or smart pay they have to carry cash with themselves and they will spend according to the money they have; whereas, if having phone all the times it is much easier to tap wherever you want which leads to enhance purchasing power.

To sum up, there is no doubt that most of the things are taken up by technolgy but there are masses who still choose oldest ways because they have been using them for years and are more familia with this. I also firmly believe that it is highly impossible to replace oldest methids by new ones because of security concerns and fear of change.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses both parts of the question: it predicts a move towards card and phone payments and explains why some people may prefer cash. Your position is also clear in the conclusion, where you argue that fully replacing cash is “highly impossible.” The points about convenience, theft, older people’s familiarity with cash, and controlling spending are relevant. However, the prediction is not developed consistently: the opening suggests cash payments will be limited, while the conclusion argues replacement is highly unlikely. Explain whether you expect cash to disappear entirely or simply become less common. Some supporting points also need clearer explanation, particularly the claim that cash is safer and the example about teenagers’ spending. Developing these ideas more fully would make the response more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, separate paragraphs for the shift to digital payments and objections to it, and a conclusion. Sequencing phrases such as “To begin with,” “However,” and “To sum up” help readers follow the main stages. However, some connections are mechanical or unclear. The introduction promises to discuss “reasons behind this idea” and opponents’ views, but does not clearly state your own position until the conclusion. Within paragraphs, several ideas are joined without a clear relationship, and the sentence beginning “Also paying by cards increase their spending power” is difficult to connect to the preceding point about older users. Use clearer topic sentences and explain how each example supports its paragraph’s main idea. More precise referencing would also help readers track who “they” refers to.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of topic-related vocabulary, including “convenient,” “efficient,” “theft,” “spending power,” and “security concerns.” These choices allow you to discuss both practical benefits and reasons for retaining cash. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “the mode of payment” and “a relevant example.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, including “workholic,” “oldest ways,” and “enhance purchasing power.” Spelling errors such as “technolgy,” “familia,” and “ootion” also reduce precision. Aim for natural combinations and accurate forms—for example, “busy” rather than “workholic,” and “increase spending” rather than “enhance purchasing power.” This would make your vocabulary more precise and fluent.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response includes both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a contrast introduced by “whereas” and a reason clause beginning “because.” Most of the argument remains understandable, but some grammatical errors recur. For example, “Payments by cash will going to be limited” has an incorrect verb construction; “opponents of this idea believes” has subject–verb disagreement; and “using cash is less complicated. and easier” has faulty sentence punctuation. There are also problems with articles and sentence structure, as in “if having phone all the times.” Work on accurate verb forms, agreement, and complete sentence boundaries, then check longer sentences for clear clause structure. Greater control of these patterns would make your varied sentences easier to read.

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