Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-16

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)

In contemporary society, it is frequently contended that theatres and cinemas are no longer essential since viewers can watch all sorts of entertainment online. While others believe that they are still vital due to their economical and cultural importance. From my perspective, I strongly believe that the online platforms are better than theatres and cinemas in entertaining individuals due to its growing influence on different areas of life and society. This essay will explain why this position is justified with some reasons and multiple examples.

One of the main reasons supporting my opinion is that the online plateforms contribute in reducing expenses regarding entertainment. In other words, instead of purchasing expensive movie or drama tickets, the public prefers to watch them through the websites and apps which offer various discounts and packages. For instance, many citizens buy subscription of Netflix to watch a wide repertoire of films by paying just 30$ for a month. Consequently, the theatres and cinemas became less prominent among many viewers owing to their skyrocketing prices. Therefore, the public is more attracted towards online sources to entertain themselves.

On the other hand, some people argue that the cinemas and theatres still play a significant role economically and culturally. They believe that such sources of entertainment brings several positive outcomes as they contribute in assisting local governments to generate income by implementing tax and preserve hositorical way of watching plays and movies. Subsequently, creating better opportunity for authorities and securing traditional style of entertainment.

In conclusion, I firmly believe that the online plateforms are prevalent among numerous citizens owing to their advantageous aspects such as affordability. However some traditional and economical challenges exist, disregarding the benefit of websites and apps would confine progress and development. Hence, a balanced and responsible approach should be adopted to maximise positive impacts.

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 in the second view, the explanation remains quite general. For instance, the point about 'tax' and 'historical way of watching' is underdeveloped and lacks specific examples to illustrate how cinemas contribute to the economy or culture. To reach a higher band, you should expand on these points with more concrete details or real-world examples. Your position is consistent throughout, which is a strength, but the depth of analysis needs to be increased to fully satisfy the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized with clear paragraphing. Each paragraph has a central topic, and you use cohesive devices such as 'In other words', 'Consequently', and 'On the other hand' to link ideas. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and there are minor issues with referencing. For example, the opening sentence of the second paragraph uses 'plateforms' (a spelling error) and the flow between the conclusion and the body paragraphs could be smoother. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear, and the structure is appropriate for an IELTS essay, meeting the requirements for a Band 6.5 or 7.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'contemporary society', 'skyrocketing prices', and 'repertoire'. However, there are several spelling errors, such as 'plateforms' (repeated), 'hositorical', and 'economical' (where 'economic' would be more precise). These errors do not impede communication, but they do limit the score. To improve, focus on using less common lexical items more accurately and ensure correct spelling of key terms. The use of '30$' is also slightly informal; it is better to write '30 dollars' or 'thirty dollars' in formal academic writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical slips, such as 'the online platforms are better... due to its growing influence' (should be 'their' to agree with 'platforms') and 'the cinemas and theatres still play a significant role... as they contribute in assisting' (should be 'contribute to assisting'). Punctuation is generally correct, but there are minor errors in sentence construction. The majority of your sentences are clear, and the errors do not cause difficulty for the reader, which aligns with the Band 6 descriptor.

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

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