Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

The given opinions and arguments about cinemas has led to many controversies. Some people in the digital age argue that theatres are no longer important as people can watch all the entertainment they wish online. While others say that theatres and cinemas are still important both economically and culturally. This essay will discuss both the perspectives and explain why i believe that theatres and cinemas are still important economically and culturally.

People who say that cinemas and theatres are no longer important are addicted to watching all the movies online. In this digital era, OTT platforms provide all the movies, series and entertainment shows in a single platform without them going out to watch a movie in a theatre. And the other reason that is making people hate going to movie theaters are the ticket price hikes. Increase in the ticket prices are really making it hard for middle class people, so that they are mostly choosing to wait and watch the movies online.

On the other hand, others argue that theatres and cinemas are still important both economically and culturally. Movies had always been a part of our culture and represents the way we live. Moreover, film making is an art. The film industries are very important economically as well. Financially, the film industries makes lot of money and provides employment to many people.

In conclusion, although some people argue that cinemas and entertainment are easily accessible online, the emotion and the excitment that we feel can only be expereinced in a theatre. Therefore I firmly believe that films and theatres are very important both economically and culturally.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention economic and cultural importance, the points are quite general. For example, you state that 'film making is an art' and that industries 'provide employment,' but these points could be expanded with more specific examples or deeper analysis to reach a higher band. The introduction and conclusion are clear, but the body paragraphs lack the depth required for a higher score. To improve, ensure that each main idea is supported by a concrete example or a more detailed explanation.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Moreover,' 'On the other hand,' and 'In conclusion,' which help the flow of the text. However, the transition between sentences within paragraphs can be slightly mechanical. For instance, the second paragraph starts with 'People who say...' and then jumps to 'And the other reason...' which feels a bit informal. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that ideas within paragraphs are more tightly connected would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to express your ideas clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'OTT platforms,' 'digital era,' and 'film industries.' However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'controversies' (which is perhaps too strong for a debate about cinema) and 'excitment' (spelling error). To achieve a higher band, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations and less common vocabulary related to the topic, such as 'cinematic experience,' 'cultural heritage,' or 'financial viability.'

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors throughout the text. For example, 'theatres and cinemas has led' (subject-verb agreement), 'the film industries makes' (subject-verb agreement), and 'the emotion and the excitment' (spelling). Additionally, some sentences are slightly awkward, such as 'the other reason that is making people hate going to movie theaters are the ticket price hikes.' Increasing your control over complex sentence structures and proofreading for subject-verb agreement and spelling will significantly improve your score.

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