Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-07-31

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 7.5)

There is an ongoing debate regarding the significance of cinemas and theatres. Some say that technology has replaced the need for people to go to cinemas for entertainment while others argue that theatres have a cultural and economic value.

Those who argue that cinemas are no longer popular believe that people have greater access to free online entertainment platforms because of increasing advancements in technology. Most people can just watch movies or entertainment shows on free apps on their mobile phones. It is not only convenient but also a cheaper option. Previously people would go to cinemas because they could not find newly released movies on online platforms, but this problem has also been eliminated now. Most films are available for free on streaming platforms such as HITV only a few days after their release. Proponents of this view also value comfort. In cinemas or theatres, people have to sit in one seat for hours which can cause discomfort. This problem is completely eliminated when watching films digitally as people can watch anything online comfortably in their beds.

On the other hand some argue that cinemas and theatres have a cultural and economic importance because it allows people to bond and also allows entertainment industry to make profits. The entertainment industry has been rapidly expanding in the past few decades and cinemas and theatres are an integral part of it. If people switch from buying tickets to watch movies in theatres to watching entertainment for free on their phones, it would greatly impact our economy as profits will decrease. For example, many cinemas in Multan have been shut down and sustained huge losses as the number of customers have fallen dramatically due to people preferring to watch films/shows online. Additionally, families often go to such places together to spend quality time with each other. It can be a way for people to bond and share their interests with their loved ones.

Conclusively, many people think that convenient and cost-free entertainment online has caused people to ignore cinemas and theatres, but other argue that going to cinemas allows people to connect with each other as well as generating profits for entertainment companies. I firmly believe that the communal experience of watching entertainment together in theatres cannot be replicated by watching it on our phones. For example watching a comedy film in cinemas and sharing laughter with other people is an atmosphere that cannot be created by watching the same film in our homes.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both views and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant and well-supported, particularly the example regarding cinemas in Multan, which adds a personal and local touch. The position is consistent throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, the development could be slightly more nuanced, perhaps by exploring the 'cultural' aspect of theatres in greater depth, as the current focus leans heavily on the economic and convenience-based arguments.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the two opposing views is handled well with phrases like 'On the other hand'. Cohesive devices are used effectively, though some transitions are slightly mechanical. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, the two body paragraphs, and the conclusion. The flow is smooth, and the reader can easily follow the argument from start to finish.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The vocabulary is sufficient for the task and allows for clear communication. There is an attempt to use topic-specific language such as 'streaming platforms', 'integral part', and 'communal experience'. While the range is adequate, it lacks the more sophisticated or idiomatic collocations that would characterize a higher band. Some word choices are a bit repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'entertainment' and 'people'. However, the meaning is always clear, and there are no significant errors in word choice.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are grammatically accurate, and errors are rare and do not impede communication. For instance, the use of conditional structures ('If people switch... it would greatly impact') is handled correctly. There are minor slips, such as 'other argue' instead of 'others argue' in the conclusion, but these are infrequent. The punctuation is generally sound, supporting the overall clarity of the writing.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.