Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-13
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 5.0)
Nowadays, there is an ongoing debate about whether theatres and cinemas are no longer important or both are important economically and culturally. In my opinion cinemas and theatres are important, and this essay will discuss both points of view and my own opinion.
On one hand, people think that cinemas are not important because they can watch everything they want online. For example, Netflix, people use Netflix to watch any film they want anytime they want and this is one disadvantage of cinemas, others might think that why should I pay on one film if I could pay the same price and get access to much more films and watch them anywhere I want with my own snacks.
On the other hand, some think that cinemas are important culturally and economically because cinemas can benefit the government more than anyone else, why? because people pay in cinemas too much money and the government takes this money. Another reason is that cinemas can make the country be famous just because an x screen for example.
In my opinion, I think cinemas are important because simply cinemas are the best hangout friends could do not only friends but also couples, for example; on valentines day you cannot find a single ticket because in this day exactly almost every couple is at the cinema watching a romantic film
In conclusion, while there are valid arguments on both sides, I believe that cinemas in not a cultural or economical thing, it's a thing that makes people become closer together.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both views and providing a personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is limited. The economic argument regarding government revenue is vague and lacks logical depth, while the cultural argument is underdeveloped. The personal opinion is clear but relies on a simplistic justification focused on 'hanging out' rather than a broader cultural perspective. To reach a higher band, you should provide more specific examples and elaborate on the reasoning behind your claims. The position is consistent, but the depth of analysis is insufficient for a higher score.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or repetitive, such as the frequent use of 'because' and 'for example'. Some transitions between sentences are abrupt, particularly in the second paragraph where the rhetorical question 'why?' is used to bridge ideas, which is too informal for an academic essay. The referencing is sometimes unclear, and the overall flow could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to connect ideas more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You rely on basic terms like 'important', 'thing', and 'money'. There are some inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'make the country be famous' instead of 'enhance a country's global profile' or 'promote cultural prestige'. The expression 'hangout friends could do' is grammatically awkward and informal. To improve, focus on using more academic collocations and precise terminology related to the topic of entertainment and economics.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation that occasionally impede clarity. For instance, the sentence 'cinemas in not a cultural or economical thing' contains a verb error, and the use of punctuation, particularly commas and semicolons, is inconsistent. There are also issues with subject-verb agreement and article usage throughout the text. While the meaning is generally conveyed, the frequency of errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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