Cashless Society – A PTE Writing Sample

In a cashless society, people use more credit cards. What are the advantages and
disadvantages of this phenomenon?


Sample Answers


People are heading toward a cashless society on a global scale. A cashless society is where all the transactions are carried out using bank-issued cards or an immediate real-time payment system that helps in instantly transferring the funds. There are a variety of advantages in using a cashless method, such as eliminating the risk of carrying cash. However, it does have several risks. Though this approach has many disadvantages, I feel the advantages outweigh them. In the forthcoming paragraphs, I will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the issue and
explain why I believe in the latter.


The primary advantage of digital transactions is that they eradicate the danger of carrying cash.
Since several industries entail high-volume transactions, carrying large amounts of cash is necessary. People are usually afraid of being plundered. Large amounts of cash transactions are less perilous with credit cards and digital transactions. Additionally, people can easily purchase goods and services sitting at home with just a click of a button. Another advantage of electronic transactions is that consumers can use credit cards to buy expensive items like automobiles, homes, and refrigerators and then pay the bank back in monthly instalments
(EMIs).


However, electronic transactions have various drawbacks, including that consumers frequently spend vast sums of money without first examining their monthly purchasing budget. Moreover, if a debit or credit card of a person is misplaced, the money can easily be stolen from the bank. Besides that, customers who fail to settle their due payments to banks are subjected to high-interest charges. Simultaneously, individuals and businesses can quickly become victims of cyber hacking, resulting in significant financial loss.


Overall, while a cashless society has a number of drawbacks, individuals can learn to spend their money wisely and minimize the quantity of cash in circulation by encouraging the use of credit cards.

The teacher response:

The sample answer provided discusses the advantages and disadvantages of a cashless society. Here is my evaluation and scoring of the answer:

Content and Structure:
The answer provides a clear introduction that states the topic and the author’s viewpoint. It then proceeds to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using credit cards in a cashless society. The advantages mentioned include the elimination of the risk of carrying cash, convenience in making purchases, and the ability to make large purchases and pay in installments. The disadvantages highlighted are overspending, the risk of theft or loss, high-interest charges for late payments, and the potential for cyber hacking. The conclusion reiterates the author’s belief that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. The content is relevant and covers both sides of the argument effectively.

Language and Expression:
The answer is generally well-written with coherent sentences and appropriate vocabulary. However, there are a few areas where sentence structure and word choice could be improved for better clarity and precision. For example, the phrase “I feel the advantages outweigh them” could be revised to “I believe that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.” Additionally, the use of the phrase “In the forthcoming paragraphs” is unnecessary since the paragraphs have already begun.

Grammar and Mechanics:
Overall, the answer demonstrates good grammar and mechanics. There are a few minor errors, such as missing articles (“the danger of carrying cash” instead of “the danger of carrying cash”), incorrect prepositions (“the money can easily be stolen from the bank” instead of “the money can easily be stolen by the bank”), and a missing comma before “resulting in significant financial loss.” These errors do not significantly detract from the overall clarity of the answer.

Scoring:
Based on the content, language, expression, grammar, and mechanics, I would assign this answer a score of 7 out of 10. The answer effectively discusses the advantages and disadvantages of using credit cards in a cashless society, but there is room for improvement in sentence structure and word choice to enhance clarity and precision.


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