Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-08

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)

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 while other argues that theatres and cinemas are still important both economically and socially.

To commence with, one of the main reason of declining popularity of cinemas and theatres is arising of the digital technology and website such as Netflix and Disney+ these website allow people to watch movies and web-series more comfortable and in a convenient way. Moreover, it eliminate expenses like tickets, travel expenses. For example, a family can watch a newly released movie at home for a fraction of the cost of theatres admissions, making online entertainment a highly practical choice.

On the other hand, traditional theatres and cinemas provide more cultural and traditional experience that will not provided by digital resources. However, culturally, going to the movie or live play will not provide such type of experience that cinema provide. The immersive environment of a dark room and a large screen and advanced sound effect creates a collective sense of emotion that home screen cannot provide. Economically, the film industries provide support and give jobs like healthcare service and management staff. Nevertheless, some movies are making on a big budget so it was necessary to play on theatres to recoup their massive budget.

Both opinion are excellent but in my view watching movies online is more profitable and convenient as such it neglect the price the tickets and travel expenses. Whole family can watch together and spend time together.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a personal opinion, meeting the basic requirements of the task. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. While the economic benefits of cinemas are mentioned, the explanation is slightly underdeveloped and repetitive. The conclusion is clear, but the supporting arguments could be more robustly expanded with more specific examples or deeper analysis. The position is consistent throughout, but the depth of discussion is limited, which prevents it from reaching a higher band. To improve, ensure that each point is fully explored with clear, logical reasoning rather than just stating the advantages.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'To commence with', 'Moreover', and 'On the other hand', though some transitions feel a bit mechanical or slightly misused, such as the transition 'However' in the second paragraph, which creates a contradiction rather than a smooth flow. Referencing is generally clear, but the logical flow between sentences could be improved to ensure a more natural progression of thought. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the internal cohesion within paragraphs could be more sophisticated.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to convey their meaning clearly. There is an attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'immersive environment', 'recoup their massive budget', and 'digital technology'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'arising of the digital technology' (should be 'the rise of') and 'making on a big budget' (should be 'made on a big budget'). The range is sufficient for the task, but the lack of precision and occasional errors in word formation limit the score to a 6.0.

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 frequent grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues ('other argues', 'one of the main reason') and tense inconsistencies ('some movies are making'). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are some awkward phrasings that hinder the flow. The control of complex structures is inconsistent, and the frequency of errors is noticeable, though they do not typically impede communication. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring consistent verb tenses throughout the essay.

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