Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

A number of people argue that with the introduction of online entertainment services, theatres and cinemas will no longer be relevant, while others believe that people will still be in the theatre for the overall experience. Although online services are more cost-effective, I firmly believe that watching a movie in a theatre is an irreversible and immersive experience.

Watching movies and series online is not only convenient but also budget-friendly. A single monthly subscription can grant viewers unlimited access to movies across different genres. Additionally, there are no time constraints to watch a show, viewers can watch anything, at any time based on their leisure time. Also, they can play and pause the shows, along with this we can have multiple breaks in-between the shows. For instance, on Netflix, if an urgent task arises while watching a movie on Netflix, users can simply pause the film and save it to watch later. Despite the advantages, I believe home viewing often lacks the scale and atmosphere of a cinematic screening.

On the other hand, cinemas provide an atmospheric experience to the viewers. Modern theatres are equipped with high-resolution large 8k projectors and Dolby Atmos sound system that invoke powerful strong emotions. Additionally some movies are shot in IMAX, in order to experience that you need to watch them in IMAX theatre. To add to this, theatres also provide various formats to watch a film like 4DX, 3D and Infinity vision. This technology elevates the viewing event.

In conclusion, watching the films online saves time and money but people miss the overall experience of the cinema.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both the shift toward online entertainment and the enduring value of cinemas. You clearly state your position in the introduction and maintain it. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. While the advantages of online streaming are well-supported with examples like Netflix, the economic and cultural importance of cinemas—mentioned in the prompt—is largely overlooked in favor of a focus on technical specifications like '8k projectors' and 'Dolby Atmos'. To reach a higher band, ensure you address the economic and cultural aspects explicitly, as these are key components of the task instructions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices such as 'Additionally', 'On the other hand', and 'For instance' to guide the reader. However, the transition between the second and third paragraphs is slightly abrupt, and the conclusion is quite brief, failing to fully summarize the main points or restate the opinion in a more sophisticated way. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the flow could be improved by using more varied linking phrases rather than relying on simple additive transitions.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary, including terms like 'cost-effective', 'immersive', 'time constraints', and 'high-resolution'. There is an attempt to use topic-specific language related to cinema technology. However, some phrasing is slightly repetitive, such as the repeated use of 'watch' and 'shows'. To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations and less common lexical items to describe the cultural impact of cinema, rather than focusing primarily on the technical hardware of the viewing experience.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are clear and error-free, which aids readability. There are minor issues, such as the comma splice in 'viewers can watch anything, at any time based on their leisure time' and the slightly awkward phrasing 'invoke powerful strong emotions' (where 'powerful' and 'strong' are redundant). Despite these minor slips, your control over grammar is generally good, and the errors do not impede communication.

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