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Target: 6.0-6.5 Unit: Cashless Payments & Digital Banking

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Module 1: Language Build-up & Quick Facts

Build confident spoken vocabulary and natural phrases before moving to IELTS Speaking Parts 2 and 3.

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How to use this lesson

👨‍🏫 For the Teacher

Manage this 30-minute lesson step by step to help students build core vocabulary before speaking.
Listen to and check students' recorded answers on the dashboard to assess fluency, vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.

🎯 For the Learner

Review the key words, collocations, and sentence patterns first to prepare your ideas.
Record your own spoken answers clearly in Modules 2 and 3, then compare them with the model answers.

1. Key Word Check

Match the correct term from our unit word list to each definition below.

Unit Word Bank

contactless • wallet • terminal • currency • transaction • withdraw • balance • fraud • encrypted • phishing

1. A electronic device in a retail store used to swipe or tap payment cards:

____ wallet ____ terminal ____ currency

2. The amount of money you have available in a bank account at a given moment:

____ balance ____ fraud ____ transaction

3. A wireless payment method where a card or smartphone is held near a reader without entering a PIN or swiping:

____ encrypted ____ contactless ____ withdraw

4. Digital information converted into a secure code so unauthorized users cannot read it:

____ phishing ____ encrypted ____ currency

5. An online scam using fraudulent emails or messages designed to steal sensitive account passwords:

____ fraud ____ terminal ____ phishing

2. Natural Word Combinations

Match each common phrase on the left to its definition on the right. Note: No definition contains words from its matching phrase.

Phrase 1: check your balance

____ Look at how much money is currently in an account ____ Touch an electronic reader with plastic to pay ____ Inform security staff about unauthorized theft

Phrase 2: tap the terminal

____ Take paper bills out of an automated machine ____ Hold a plastic card against a store device to settle a bill ____ Trade local notes for international funds

Phrase 3: complete a transaction

____ Get tricked by deceptive messages into sharing private keys ____ Report stolen credentials to local authorities ____ Finish an exchange of funds for goods or services

Phrase 4: withdraw cash

____ Take physical bills out of an automated dispenser ____ Protect personal files with scrambling software ____ Switch one country's legal tender for another

Phrase 5: fall for phishing

____ Open an electronic store application on a phone ____ Get deceived by deceptive links into revealing confidential logins ____ Check statements for unauthorized activity

Phrase 6: report fraud

____ Settle a small grocery bill using phone software ____ Count the coins remaining inside a leather holder ____ Inform bank officers about deceptive activity

3. Useful Sentence Patterns

Use these natural sentence starters in your IELTS Speaking test to express opinions and talk about trends.

1 Pattern 1

"It is a very user-friendly way to ..."

Classroom Example

"It is a very user-friendly way to pay for a quick morning coffee without needing to dig around for loose coins."

2 Pattern 2

"Many people are concerned about ..."

Classroom Example

"Many people are concerned about losing their financial details when buying things on public Wi-Fi."

3 Pattern 3

"I usually find it much easier to ..."

Classroom Example

"I usually find it much easier to split a restaurant bill on an app rather than figuring out change with friends."

4 Pattern 4

"One big drawback of doing this is that ..."

Classroom Example

"One big drawback of doing this is that you might spend extra without noticing because digital numbers feel less real."

FUN FACT 1 European Central Bank (2024)

Guess the number: The European Central Bank found that cash was used in what percentage of shop payments in the euro area in 2024?

____ 12 percent ____ 52 percent ____ 82 percent

FUN FACT 2 Riksbank (2025)

Guess the number: What percentage of people in Sweden said they paid cash for their last in-store purchase in 2025?

____ 5 percent ____ 25 percent ____ 45 percent

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Module 2: Long Turn (Part 2)

Take one minute to prepare your notes, then speak continuously for 90 to 120 seconds.

Candidate Task Card 1 min preparation • 90-120s speaking

Describe a time when you paid for something in an unusual way, for example by phone, by card abroad or with cash only.

You should say:

what you bought
how you paid
why you paid that way
and explain how you felt about it

Your Recording

Record your full response below. Speak clearly and explain your personal experience in your own words.

Assessment Criteria

Fluency and Coherence Lexical Resource Grammatical Range and Accuracy Pronunciation

[Bài tập luyện nói]

💡 Model Answer (Open after recording) ▼

Well, I'd like to talk about an occasion when I had to pay for something with cash only, which felt pretty strange because I almost always use my phone now. I was at a small outdoor flea market looking around the vintage stalls, and I spotted a lovely handmade ceramic mug with blue stripes. I really liked it, so I decided to get it. When I stepped up to the counter, I held out my smartphone ready to tap and go, but the seller pointed at a small handwritten sign saying they only accepted paper notes and coins. Their digital payment machine had completely broken down that morning. To be honest, I almost walked away because I rarely carry paper money these days, but, um, my friend lent me a few bills from her purse. It felt quite awkward counting out physical change after such a long time, but it also felt surprisingly nostalgic. In the end, I was really glad it wasn't a wasted trip.

Useful Phrases & Plain Notes

ready to tap and go

Prepared to pay instantly with a contactless card or phone.

completely broken down

Stopped functioning because of a machine or system problem.

rarely carry paper money

Hardly ever keep physical notes or cash in your wallet.

counting out physical change

Paying with coins and bills by checking each piece by hand.

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Module 3: In-Depth Discussion (Part 3)

Discuss broader trends, weigh up different viewpoints, and share your personal opinions naturally.

A customer paying at a modern cafe counter with a smartphone contactless tap while cash notes sit on a leather tray, cle

Why do some people still prefer to pay in cash?

Assessment Criteria

Fluency and Coherence Lexical Resource Grammatical Range and Accuracy Pronunciation

[Bài tập luyện nói]

💡 Model Answer (Open after recording) ▼

Well, to be honest, I think a lot of people stick with cash because it gives them peace of mind. When you hand over real paper money, like paying for a loaf of bread at a corner bakery, you know exactly what you've spent. You don't have to worry about tech glitches or internet outages either. Plus, some older folks are worried about security and prefer to keep track of their daily spending. So, yeah, holding physical notes just feels much safer and easier to manage for them.

Useful Phrases & Plain Notes

peace of mind

A calm feeling without worry or stress.

tech glitches

Small, sudden errors or failures in electronic systems.

keep track of

Know exactly how much you are spending.

easier to manage

Simpler to organize and keep under control.

Should shops be allowed to refuse cash?

Assessment Criteria

Fluency and Coherence Lexical Resource Grammatical Range and Accuracy Pronunciation

[Bài tập luyện nói]

💡 Model Answer (Open after recording) ▼

Personally, I don't think shops should be allowed to completely turn away cash customers. Sure, going cashless speeds up lines at busy coffee spots, and owners don't have to carry heavy bags of coins to a bank branch. But, um, what about tourists or people who simply don't own a credit card? If a grocery store refuses cash, it really leaves those people out in the cold. I think businesses ought to work something out and keep at least one regular register open for anyone who needs to settle up in cash.

Useful Phrases & Plain Notes

turn away cash customers

Decline to serve people who want to pay using paper notes.

out in the cold

Left excluded and without fair access to normal services.

work something out

Find a solution that suits everyone.

settle up in cash

Pay off what you owe with notes and coins.

Do you think children should learn about real money before they use cards and phones?

Assessment Criteria

Fluency and Coherence Lexical Resource Grammatical Range and Accuracy Pronunciation

[Bài tập luyện nói]

💡 Model Answer (Open after recording) ▼

Yes, absolutely. I strongly believe kids need to handle physical coins and notes first. If you only ever tap a plastic card or a smartphone to buy an ice cream, money just looks like an invisible game. It doesn't feel like you are losing anything. When children actually count out pennies from a piggy bank, they get a grasp of what things are worth. That hands-on practice helps them develop good spending habits early on. Once they understand the value of money, then they'll be ready to handle digital payments responsibly.

Useful Phrases & Plain Notes

get a grasp of

Achieve a clear understanding of how something functions.

develop good spending habits

Learn how to save and spend money thoughtfully.

understand the value of money

Appreciate the effort and work required to earn funds.

handle digital payments responsibly

Use online cards or apps safely and sensibly without overspending.

How can people protect themselves from online phishing?

Assessment Criteria

Fluency and Coherence Lexical Resource Grammatical Range and Accuracy Pronunciation

[Bài tập luyện nói]

💡 Model Answer (Open after recording) ▼

Well, the most crucial step is to always think twice before clicking on any suspicious links in emails or text messages. Scammers often pretend to be your bank, claiming your account is locked. Instead of rushing in, you should verify the sender address or open your banking app directly. Also, people really ought to turn on two-factor authentication on their devices. Um, my brother almost lost his savings to a fake text last year, so now we never share one-time passcodes with anyone. Staying alert is the best way to stay away from scams.

Useful Phrases & Plain Notes

think twice before clicking

Pause and evaluate risks carefully before tapping a web link.

verify the sender address

Inspect the exact origin email or phone details to confirm legitimacy.

turn on two-factor authentication

Activate an extra verification code on your phone when logging in.

stay away from scams

Not go near scams or fall for them.

IELTS Speaking: Cashless Payments & Digital Banking

Module 1: Language Build-up & Quick Facts

How to use this lesson

1. Key Word Check

2. Natural Word Combinations

3. Useful Sentence Patterns

Module 2: Long Turn (Part 2)

Your Recording

Module 3: In-Depth Discussion (Part 3)

Why do some people still prefer to pay in cash?

Should shops be allowed to refuse cash?

Do you think children should learn about real money before they use cards and phones?

How can people protect themselves from online phishing?

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