Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-03
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)
Nowadays, new technology and OTT apps have become very popular. Some people think that theatres and cinemas are no longer necessary for watching movies because people can watch any entertainment show they want from online sources. While others think that theaters and cinemas are still important for society. I think that the requirement of both online and theaters/cinemas are there. They both play an important role in society. However, I will discuss both views and express my opinion with strong reasons and examples.
This paragraph will focus on the group of people who have the opinion that theaters and cinemas are no longer a requirement. In today's time with new technology, better software, and internet, people can watch any movie or TV show from any device. Some people find that online mode is more flexible than theaters and cinemas because online mode is cheaper than one theater ticket. Also, it is more flexible than theaters because people can watch it from any location and device. As an example, Netflix is an online OTT platform. This platform is much cheaper than one theater ticket and people can watch any movie.
On the other hand, some people think that theatres and cinemas are very important for society both economically and culturally. Although one theater ticket is too expensive, a lot of people love to watch movies in cinemas. Cinemas provide the vibe and such experience that people would not be able to find on a mobile screen. Mostly, people love watching high-quality movies and want to get the best experience possible. Furthermore, people enjoy watching movies with their friends and families.
In my opinion, watching movies in theaters and on online platforms is useful. This completely depends on individuals. Some have free time and they can go and watch movies in theaters, while others don't have extra time and they enjoy watching movies on online platforms.
To conclude, the debate between online platforms and theaters and cinemas continues. Yet, my view is the best because of the examples and reasons that I provided.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both views and providing a personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention economic and cultural importance, these points are not fully explored with specific examples or deep analysis. The conclusion is also quite weak, as it refers back to the essay's arguments in a vague way rather than summarizing the main points effectively. To reach a higher band, ensure that each body paragraph provides more substantial evidence or logical reasoning to support the claims made.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, and there is a logical progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices, such as 'On the other hand' and 'Furthermore', to link your points. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical or repetitive. For instance, the transition between the introduction and the first body paragraph could be smoother. Additionally, the final sentence of the conclusion is somewhat awkward and does not effectively synthesize the arguments presented. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the overall flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'digital age', 'economically', and 'culturally'. However, the vocabulary is often repetitive, particularly the frequent use of 'theaters and cinemas' and 'online mode'. There are also some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'the requirement of both... are there', which is not a natural collocation. To improve, try to incorporate more precise synonyms and collocations related to the topic of entertainment and media consumption to show a greater degree of lexical flexibility.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'While others think...' (a sentence fragment) and 'In today's time with new technology...'. There are also issues with subject-verb agreement and article usage. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy and try to vary your sentence structures further by using more complex subordinating clauses.
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