Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-09

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)

Some individulals think that movie theatres and cinema are valuable for the economy and culture. I strongly believe that in this new digital era, cinema and movie theatres are not relevant anymore as all the shows and movies are easily available online at any given time and also saves us a lot of money.

To begin with, all the latest entertainment content is readily available on our devices. People can watch anything they like in the comfort of their homes. They don't have to wait in long lines outside the cinema just to get the ticket of their favourite movie which also saves them time. Furthermore, it also gives them the freedom to watch the movie or show they like, whenever they want without any restriction of time. For instance, those parents who have small children and can't take them to the cinema, can easily watch their favourite movie at home according to their schedule.

Another serious issue with cinemas is the high cost of tickets. The inflation is rising day by day in every part of the world. Not everybody can afford such expensive ticketsin this economy. Online entertainment subscription are available at much cheaper rate compared to cinema. People can watch variety of quality content online without any restrictions.For example, Netflix provides users access to entertainment content of all genres at a minimum subscription plan which they can also share with family. Moreover, the same movies which are shown in the theatres are released online after sometime so people are not missing anything.

In conclusion, with the rising cost of living and busy schedule of people, cinemas have lost its importance. It is much more feasible for individuals to consume entertainment content according to their own schedule and also helps them save money.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

Your position is clear: you believe online entertainment has made cinemas less relevant, and you support this with convenience, flexibility and cost arguments. These points are relevant and the examples about parents and Netflix help illustrate them. However, the task explicitly asks you to discuss both views, and the opposing case—that cinemas remain economically and culturally important—is not developed. The opening only reports that some people value them, without explaining why, and the conclusion repeats your own view rather than weighing both sides. This leaves a major part of the task minimally addressed. To strengthen the response, explain at least one cultural benefit, such as shared viewing or support for local arts, and one economic contribution before giving a more balanced final judgement.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion. The body paragraphs also group related points: convenience and flexibility first, then affordability. Linking expressions such as “To begin with,” “Furthermore,” and “In conclusion” make the sequence easy to follow. However, the progression is limited because both body paragraphs support only one side, and there is no paragraph presenting the opposing view. Some connections are repetitive or mechanical, particularly the repeated use of “also” and “Moreover.” The reference in “it also gives them the freedom” is not fully precise, as the reader must infer what “it” refers to. Organise the essay around both perspectives and use clearer references and more varied transitions to make the argument develop more fully.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary to explain access, cost and convenience, including “readily available,” “comfort of their homes,” “subscription plan” and “genres.” These choices communicate your main points clearly, and the topic vocabulary is generally appropriate. There are, however, some spelling, word-form and collocation problems: “individulals,” “ticketsin,” “subscription” where a plural is needed, and “at a minimum subscription plan” are examples. Phrases such as “all the shows and movies” and “not relevant anymore” are understandable but broad or imprecise for an academic discussion. Aim for more exact terms such as “streaming services,” “cinema attendance” and “cultural significance,” and check spelling and natural word combinations during proofreading.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including subordinate clauses in “those parents who have small children and can’t take them to the cinema” and a relative clause in “which they can also share with family.” Most sentences remain understandable, and errors rarely obstruct the message. Some grammatical inaccuracies are present, however. In the opening, “as all the shows and movies are easily available online … and also saves us” has a subject–verb agreement problem and an unclear subject for “saves.” “Online entertainment subscription are available” also has a singular/plural agreement error, while “cinemas have lost its importance” mismatches the plural subject and pronoun. Review agreement and make sure each verb and pronoun clearly matches its subject; this will improve accuracy while preserving your sentence variety.

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