Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-05

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people say that in the digital age, theatres and cinemas are no longer important as people can watch all the entertainment they want online. Others argue that theatres and cinemas are still important both economically and culturally.

Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 5.5)

It is argued that nowadays theatres and cinemas are no longer significant because individuals can access them through online. It is also thought that they are still significant both economically and culturally. Some people prefer to watch theatres and cinemas in the internet because they are free and accessible. However, I believe that experiencing real-time visual images and movement is different in experiences.

On the one hand, certain individuals choose to watch cinemas and theatres in digital applications and websites because some websites and applications provide free-costs. This is because watching cinemas and theatres costs a lot of money such as transportation, meals and tickets. For instance, in the Philippines a lot of young Filipinos watched the new marvel movies through illegal websites because of the expensive tickets and transportation. Therefore, individuals choose accessible ones in order to save money and spend it on other things.

On the other hand, watching real-time theatres and cinemas provide a different experience. That is because physically present gives people the emotions of the stories, music and vibes which makes a lot of people understand the culture of the story. For instance, the Moana movie has a considerably high revenue globally due to the beauty of its culture, music and story. As a result, I believe that being physically present provide people the feeling of understanding the culture of the story.

In conclusion, few individuals choose to access cinemas and theatres through digital networks because they are free. Nevertheless, In my own opinion, experiencing theatres and cinemas real-time provides specific experiences.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You present both views and give a personal position, particularly in the contrast between online access and the experience of attending in person. The first body paragraph explains the cost and convenience of online viewing, with the example of young Filipinos using illegal websites. However, the discussion only partly addresses the task: the economic importance of theatres and cinemas is not really explored, and the cultural argument is mainly about the audience’s experience rather than the wider cultural role of these venues. The Moana example refers to a film’s revenue and cultural appeal, but does not clearly show why cinemas themselves remain important. Develop each side more fully and make your opinion explicit and consistent from the introduction through the conclusion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, two contrasting body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The signposts “On the one hand,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” help readers follow the main stages of the argument. Ideas within the first body paragraph also progress from cost to the example and its consequence. However, some links are mechanical, and the relationship between the Moana example and the claim about attending in person is not fully clear. The introduction’s position is also less definite than the conclusion’s. Use referencing and transitions more precisely, and ensure each example directly supports the point in its paragraph.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “accessible,” “transportation,” “revenue,” and “culture,” and the meaning is generally understandable. There is some attempt at more specific phrasing, such as “physically present” and “digital networks.” However, several expressions are inaccurate or unnatural, including “access them through online,” “free-costs,” and “real-time theatres and cinemas.” Repetition of “significant,” “individuals,” and “theatres and cinemas” also limits the range. Choose more natural collocations and vary repeated terms—for example, use “stream films online,” “free of charge,” and “the live, in-person experience.” This would make the argument clearer and more precise.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including a reason clause (“This is because…”) and a result clause (“As a result…”). Most sentences communicate the intended meaning, but some grammatical errors remain. For example, “watching real-time theatres and cinemas provide” has a subject–verb agreement problem, while “physically present gives people” needs a clearer grammatical subject. In “being physically present provide people,” the verb should agree with the gerund phrase. There are also article and sentence-boundary issues, such as the capitalised “In” after a comma in the conclusion. Review agreement with gerund subjects, sentence construction, and punctuation while continuing to practise varied sentence forms.

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