Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-01
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 6.5)
Opinions differ regarding the economical and cultural value of theatres and cinemas. While there are reasonable arguments supporting each view, I believe that online watching poses some negative effects. Examining both perspectives provides a clearer understanding of the matter.
Although some people believe that in the digital age, theatres and cinemas are no longer important as people can watch all the entertainment they want online, nothing beats the feeling of watching together as a group since individuals can share ideas and opinions while interacting. Furthermore, it reduces loneliness. For example, when men go to cinemas to watch football live, it is not about the game but the feeling of staying together and bonding. As a result, being able to access all the entertainment online cannot replace the value of cinemas and theatres.
On the other hand, other individuals believe that cinemas and theatres are still important economically and culturally because people must pay for those services. For instance when students want to watch theatres in schools for specific subjects, they pay for them. Also, those who are performing or planning for the projects need to be appreciated because it is an occupation on its own. Furthermore, these theatres can be significantly important in passing traditions through entertainment mainly because people can meet physically and exchange ideas.
To conclude, I believe that cinemas are significant economically and culturally and accessing the entertainment online cannot compensate its value but can lead to loneliness because most people will remain in their homes to watch, provided they have an internet connection.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5
The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the argument regarding the economic importance of theatres is a bit vague, focusing on students paying for services rather than broader economic impacts like tourism, employment, or local business stimulation. The cultural argument is better supported, but the overall depth of analysis is more characteristic of a Band 6.0. The position is consistent throughout, but the supporting examples could be more sophisticated to reach a higher band.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct focus. Cohesive devices such as 'Although', 'Furthermore', 'On the other hand', and 'To conclude' are used to guide the reader. However, the transitions between some sentences feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally repetitive. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the link between the economic argument and the cultural argument in the second body paragraph could be smoother. Overall, the structure is effective and easy to follow.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There is some attempt at using topic-specific vocabulary like 'economical and cultural value' and 'compensate its value'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'online watching' (better: 'streaming services' or 'digital consumption') and 'watch theatres' (better: 'attend theatrical performances'). To improve, the student should aim for more precise collocations and a wider variety of academic vocabulary.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are recurring grammatical errors, such as 'accessing the entertainment online cannot compensate its value' (should be 'compensate for its value') and 'when men go to cinemas' (a bit informal/narrow). Punctuation is generally correct, but there are some awkward phrasings that hinder the flow. The range of structures is sufficient to communicate, but more variety in complex sentence forms would be beneficial for a higher score.
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