Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

Many argue that online platforms are more essential than movie theatres and cinemas as digital consumption does not require traveling to cinema halls or separate tickets. On the other hand, some people think cinema halls play a pivotal role in both economic and cultural sectors. I firmly agree with this view as visiting theatres or cinema halls helps the society financially and culturally by generating employment opportunities and preserving culture.

Online entertainment does not require the purchase of extra tickets or traveling. Most of the time people can buy subscriptions and watch many movies or series altogether with unrestricted access. This is one of the paramount advantages of OTT platforms. A classic example would be Netflix or Amazon Prime which only needs a monthly or yearly subscription for a tiny amount but grants access to numerous shows. The existence of streaming sites like these makes theatres less important.

Conversely, cinema halls and theatres benefit the community and culture by increasing revenue streams for the artists. I agree with this as online platforms require less payment but sometimes many artists working for the theatre are not paid well and end up leaving their profession, which results in many cultural plays becoming non-existent. Moreover, these cinema halls also boost the economy by their ticket sales. For instance, in China cinema halls and theatres for cultural operas always operate at full capacity, resulting in massive growth in the entertainment industry and preserving millennia-old opera till this day.

In conclusion, there are various justifications for why theatres and cinema halls can be deemed less vital in this digital age. However, I believe cinema halls and theatres are fundamentally crucial as they contribute to the preservation of culture and stimulation of the local economy.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, presenting both sides of the argument and clearly stating a personal position in the introduction and conclusion. The ideas are relevant and supported with examples, such as the reference to Netflix and the Chinese opera industry. The position is consistent throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, the development of ideas could be more nuanced; for instance, the economic argument regarding artists' pay could be expanded to explain the broader societal impact of cultural preservation more deeply. Overall, the task is well-addressed with a clear, logical progression of ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'On the other hand', 'Conversely', and 'Moreover' are used effectively to link ideas. However, some transitions could be more sophisticated to improve the flow between sentences. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the referencing is clear throughout the text, ensuring that the reader can easily track the writer's argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is sufficient for the task and allows for some precision. The writer uses terms like 'pivotal role', 'unrestricted access', and 'paramount advantages' appropriately. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, though some collocations could be more natural. For example, 'tiny amount' is slightly informal; 'nominal fee' would be more academic. The range is adequate to convey the intended meaning clearly without significant errors in word choice or spelling that would impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are clear and error-free, though there are occasional minor slips, such as 'boost the economy by their ticket sales' (which could be 'through ticket sales') and 'till this day' (which is slightly informal). The control of grammar is generally good, and punctuation is used correctly to support the structure of the arguments. The complexity of the sentences is sufficient to meet the requirements for a Band 7, as the writer shows good control over a variety of structures.

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

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