Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-11

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 6.0)

Nowadays, people argue about the importance of theatres and cinemas, as some people believe it is essential on two levels, economically and culturally. Whereas other people's perspective is that theatres and cinemas are not important. Moreover, people can access entertainment materials online.

The two opinions have some advantages and disadvantages. In this modern world, people tend to use technology and online platforms due to their accessibility and how easy they are to use. Thus, they prefer to find a movie online to watch instead of going out to the cinema; they believe it will save them money and time. Also, they can choose whatever they want to watch and not be limited to a current movie or a play that is on display at the theatre or in cinemas. But this can lead people to be more individual and isolated, as going out to visit cinemas or watch a play in theatres can be a good opportunity to meet new people and extend people's social circle.

While the other point of view believes in the importance of the role of cinemas and theatres in fostering the economy and culture. This is important to broaden people's horizons, as when they attend a theatre play, it gives them a live experience to watch real actors; also, this gives spectators a sense of authenticity. Furthermore, when people go to cinemas or theatres and pay for tickets, this helps the economy because this money goes into investment to keep these places running and pay for the workers' salaries and actors ' salaries as well.

From my own knowledge, I can see both perspectives are right; for example, in my home country, people enjoy going to theatres more and live the experience of the big screen in cinemas. It gives them a real sense of entertainment, but it can also be hard for other people to outside the house due to their tight schedules, or for old people to not be able physically. Thus, watching movies online will be much easier for them.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address both views and give a personal position, explaining the convenience and choice offered by online entertainment alongside the social, cultural and economic value of venues. The examples about ticket income supporting workers and live performances offering an authentic experience are relevant. However, the discussion is uneven: the online-view paragraph is developed with several benefits and a social drawback, while the economic and cultural case is asserted more briefly. Your conclusion is also not fully decisive: “both perspectives are right” acknowledges both sides, but does not clearly state which view you ultimately support or how you weigh them. Develop the economic and cultural arguments with a specific example, then make your own judgement explicit and consistent.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, a paragraph on online viewing, a paragraph on the value of venues, and a final paragraph giving your perspective. Ideas generally progress logically, and linking expressions such as “Thus,” “Furthermore,” and “From my own knowledge” help signal relationships. Some connections are less smooth or precise, however. The opening uses “Whereas” as a sentence fragment, and “The two opinions have some advantages and disadvantages” is a broad transition that does not clearly preview the discussion. The final paragraph combines your opinion, a country example, and accessibility concerns without a clear concluding judgement. Use more precise topic sentences and make the relationship between each example and your main point explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range for the topic, including terms such as “accessibility,” “fostering the economy,” “broaden people’s horizons,” and “sense of authenticity.” These choices help communicate ideas about convenience, culture and live performance. There are also some awkward or imprecise expressions, including “entertainment materials,” “be more individual,” and “to outside the house,” which make parts of the response sound less natural. Repetition of “people,” “important,” and “watch” also limits flexibility. Aim for more precise collocations and vary key nouns and verbs; for example, describe online content as “a wide range of entertainment,” and say that venues can “encourage social interaction.” This would make your meaning more fluent and exact.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex forms, including clauses with “as,” “while,” and “when,” and most of your meaning remains clear. Some grammatical errors occur, particularly in sentence boundaries and clause construction. The opening “Whereas other people’s perspective is that…” is a fragment, and “it can also be hard for other people to outside the house” is missing a grammatical structure after “people.” In “actors ’ salaries,” the apostrophe is incorrectly separated, while the final sentence’s “for old people to not be able physically” is awkwardly formed. Review how subordinate clauses connect to complete sentences, and practise infinitive patterns such as “it may be difficult for older people to leave home or to be physically able to attend.”

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