Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-05
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)
In recent years, many people are watching most of the movies through online site and application. While others argue that theaters and cinemas are still important in both economically and culturally. This essay will discuss both the views and validate my opinion that the theaters and cinemas are still important.
To begin with, most of the people are watching movies through online sites and other application. The main reason for watching movies from sites is they can save their time for going to the theater but also they can watch movies for free from online every platforms. For example, a person who is living in a rural areas can watch any of the movies from online sites because they cannot go and watch movie from the theaters. However, watching movies from site and other application are time managing.
On the flipside, watching movies through online application and other sites can affect the movie. Because, the movies that are streaming for free in the online platforms, the movie cannot get the collection from all over the world and cannot get enough money to the actor or actress also they cannot meet the money that they invested to make that movie. For instance, if a newly released movie is streaming through online platforms and the movies budget is over 200 million and they only gets 100 million that is a problem. Although, watching movies through online platforms is time managing but can also affect the movie.
In conclusion, watching movies from online sites is time managing and majority of the sites are streaming it for free. And this can affect the movie by they do not get the enough collection from the world that will be a problem, so I think that theaters are the best place to watch the movies because that is very entertaining.
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 both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. The arguments regarding economic impact are repetitive and lack depth, focusing primarily on the concept of 'collection' (revenue) without exploring broader cultural or economic nuances. The explanation of why online viewing is 'time managing' is also underdeveloped and slightly confusing. While the task is addressed, the supporting points lack the necessary detail and sophistication required for a higher band. The position is clear, but the supporting evidence remains superficial throughout the essay.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or repetitive. For instance, the phrase 'time managing' is used repeatedly as a filler rather than a precise descriptor. Transitions between sentences are sometimes abrupt, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the second paragraph where the connection between rural living and online streaming is not fully explained. While the overall progression is discernible, the lack of varied linking words and the repetitive nature of the sentence structure hinder the flow of the argument.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision needed for higher bands. There is a reliance on basic terms like 'movies', 'sites', and 'application'. The student struggles with collocations, such as 'get the collection' instead of 'generate revenue' or 'box office returns'. Additionally, the phrase 'time managing' is used incorrectly to mean 'time-saving' or 'convenient'. There are also minor errors in word form, such as 'economically and culturally' used as adjectives where nouns were required. The range is sufficient to convey meaning but lacks the flexibility to express complex ideas effectively.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but accuracy is inconsistent. There are frequent grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('most of the people are watching', 'the movies... cannot get'), and awkward phrasing ('the movie cannot get the collection'). Punctuation is generally functional, but the sentence construction often feels repetitive. While the meaning is usually clear, the frequency of errors—particularly with articles and prepositions—is noticeable. To improve, the student needs to focus on sentence variety and ensuring that complex structures are used with greater grammatical control.
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