Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-10
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)
Around the world, people in the digital age can watch any movies and series without being commute to theatres and cinemas. Nevertheless, some people say that in the digital age, theatres and cinemas are still important both economically and culturally. I think theatres and cinemas are no longer important as we can watch all the entertainment through online.
Majority of the people prefer to watch any entertainment by online. Watching any movies and series in home through online is cheaper and more comfortable whereas in the theatres and cinemas there are some restrictions that may not be enjoyable. In theaters and cinemas foods and pets are not allowed. Additionally, the food and drinks available there are twice the price from outside price which make it expensive to afford.
But others argue that theatres and cinemas are still important both economically and culturally. Through cinemas and theatres many people could find the jobs which prevent economic crises. Everyone loved to watch any entertainment with their friends and family together in big screen which theatres and cinemas fulfilled. Some of the public consider watching movies only to theatres because they believed that it's their culture. For example, my friend Ram always watches any movies or series only in the theatres and cinemas like some of the people.
Overall, everyone has their own perspective but with my standpoint, I will see all the entertainment through online owing to the fact that they are cheaper and convenient, and I could enjoy myself while watching them without considering the rules like the cinemas and theatres.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both views and providing a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the economic argument is mentioned briefly as 'many people could find the jobs,' but it lacks specific detail or depth. The cultural argument is also quite superficial. While the position is clear throughout, the supporting points are somewhat repetitive and lack the level of extension required for a higher band. The response stays on topic, but the arguments could be more robustly supported with more sophisticated examples or reasoning.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. There is a basic attempt at cohesion using transition words like 'Nevertheless,' 'Additionally,' and 'Overall.' However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly unnatural, such as the transition into the second paragraph. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the flow between sentences could be improved to make the writing feel more cohesive. Referencing is generally clear, though some phrasing, such as 'in the theatres and cinemas,' is slightly repetitive throughout the text.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. There is a reliance on basic terms like 'watch,' 'entertainment,' and 'movies.' Phrases such as 'without being commute' are grammatically incorrect and indicate a lack of control over word formation. While the student attempts to use some topic-specific vocabulary, such as 'economically' and 'culturally,' the overall range is limited. To achieve a higher score, the student should aim for more precise collocations and a wider range of vocabulary to express ideas more fluently and accurately.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow. Examples include 'without being commute to theatres,' 'in home through online,' and 'watching movies only to theatres.' Subject-verb agreement and preposition usage are inconsistent. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. The student should focus on basic sentence construction and proofreading to eliminate these recurring errors in tense and word order.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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