Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-09

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 this modern era some people say, theatre and cinemas are no longer vital as people can watch online entertainment that are easy to access and anyone can consume every content they want. Others argue that cinemas and movie theatres are still play a important role for growth of both economically and culturally as well. In my opinion cinemas are still important for economy and our culture.

In one hand, some people say the modern digital entertainment platform like Netflix, prime video and many more are easily access and more convenient. For example, people who work 9-5 jobs are not always available and reached home tiered. They prefer to stay at home. So they can watch their favourite shows to relax themselves.

There are some benefits of online entertainment like, some content are exclusively available only on them.

On the other hand, other argue that theatres and cinemas are more beneficial for economic growth and significant for our culture. For instance, theatres are still plays a major role in the country economy. Hundreds of movies which earned millions. It is also important for our culture as well. People love to go and watch in theatres. They will experience a immense level of big screen. But watching in theatres has another different experience.

In conclusion, both have their own views

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.0
Coherence and Cohesion5.5
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.5
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, reaching only 219 words. This significantly impacts the development of ideas. While you address both views and state an opinion, the arguments are underdeveloped. For instance, the economic and cultural importance of cinemas is mentioned but lacks specific examples or logical expansion. The conclusion is also abrupt and fails to summarize the main points effectively. To improve, you must expand your supporting arguments with more detailed explanations and ensure you meet the length requirement to allow for a full discussion of the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the flow is somewhat mechanical. You use basic transition signals like 'In one hand' (which should be 'On the one hand') and 'On the other hand', but the internal cohesion within paragraphs is weak. The sentences often feel disconnected, and the lack of depth makes the progression of ideas feel repetitive. The conclusion is particularly underdeveloped, failing to synthesize the arguments presented. Improving the use of cohesive devices and ensuring each paragraph has a clear topic sentence followed by supporting evidence would significantly improve the logical flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally functional but limited. You rely on simple phrasing and repeat words like 'important' and 'theatres' frequently. There are also errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'consume every content' (should be 'consume all content') and 'reached home tiered' (should be 'arrived home tired'). To reach a higher band, you should aim for a wider range of vocabulary related to the topic, such as 'cinematic experience', 'digital streaming platforms', or 'cultural significance', and ensure words are used in their correct grammatical context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

There is a mix of simple and some attempted complex structures, but accuracy is inconsistent. You frequently struggle with subject-verb agreement, such as 'cinemas are still play a important role' (should be 'play an important role') and 'theatres are still plays' (should be 'theatres still play'). There are also errors with articles ('a important' should be 'an important') and pluralization. While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors in basic grammar prevent the essay from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and article usage.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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