Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-15

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)

Whilst it is often argued that, theatres and cinemas are no longer useful in digital era because people can easily binge watch movies and series in online platforms as its much more comfortable and affordable, i believe they are still valuable for both the entertainment industry's profitability and peoples' theatre experience.

On the one hand, in the modern age, everyone has easy access to internet and thus to numerous movie and series options relatively in lesser prices in various platforms such as Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+ and so on just by paying subscription fees. As online platforms give the comfort to watch movies at home while spending time with their family, more people nowadays prefer that over spending money for individual on tickets and commuting to halls. Moreover, these platforms have multiple entertainment options that go beyond just movies or series and so naturally today people are more comfortable with online options. For example, many movies are now released on OTT platforms directly and some have their own production facilities, where they produce original contents for those platforms like Netflix originals because viewers' preferences have changed significantly for the comfort these platforms provide.

However, halls are still going strong alongside these OTT platforms because these are a great way to earn revenue for producers and actors which ultimately contribute to a county's economy. Furthermore, the cinema hall's experience outweights the comfort that online platforms give. It has become somewhat a culture among a lot of people to go to theatres and cinemas with friends and family as a form of enjoyment or spending weekends. People watch movies in theatres because of the experience it provides rather than comfort and affordability and thus it is culturally rich among a group of people who value memories created with close ones' over ease. For example, movies like Avengers or Spiderman observe huge rush in cinema halls as these are high anticipated movies among fans and general public.

In conclusion, brick-and-mortar halls are now less valued as online entertainment has spread all over the world for it affordability and comfort but at the same time cinemas and theatres are still crucial because they are great a source of income for people in that business and are important among people for the experience it gives.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both views and providing a clear personal opinion in the introduction and conclusion. The ideas are relevant and generally well-developed. For instance, the argument regarding the economic contribution of cinema halls and the cultural value of the shared experience is effectively supported. However, some points, such as the claim that online platforms are 'more comfortable and affordable,' could have been further nuanced with more specific examples of the trade-offs involved. The position is consistent throughout, and the essay maintains a clear focus on the topic, meeting the requirements for a Band 7 score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the two opposing views and the conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand,' 'Moreover,' 'Furthermore,' and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader through the argument. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and there are minor issues with referencing (e.g., 'these' referring back to broad concepts). Overall, the structure is clear and the logical flow is maintained throughout the response, justifying a Band 7.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with some flexibility. Phrases like 'brick-and-mortar halls,' 'OTT platforms,' and 'high anticipated movies' show an attempt to use topic-specific terminology. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'observe huge rush' instead of 'experience a huge rush' or 'in lesser prices' instead of 'at lower prices.' While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the essay from reaching a higher band. The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and natural collocation required for a Band 8.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is a good attempt at using complex sentences, such as 'Whilst it is often argued that... i believe they are still valuable.' However, there are several grammatical errors, including punctuation issues (e.g., unnecessary commas after 'that' or 'theatres'), missing articles ('a county's economy'), and minor subject-verb agreement errors ('peoples' theatre experience'). While these errors are frequent, they do not impede the reader's understanding of the main points. The control of grammar is generally good, but the frequency of minor errors keeps the score at a Band 6.5.

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