Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-17
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 today's rapidly changing world, theatres and cinemas has become a matter of considerable debate. While some people believe that theaters and cinemas are no longer important as individuals can watch any thing related to entertainment online, while other argue that theaters and cinemas are still important because both of them are helpful economically and culturally.
In this essay, I shall discuss both perspectives before explaining why I believe that people can can watch all entertainment online.
One of the main reason why individuals can watch all movies and other entertainment things online without moving physically to cinemas and theaters is that people can watch anything staying at their home without putting any efforts. This is because watching movies at home help them to save a lot of time and money. People can watch anything or any type of movies instantly with just a single subscribation and it also save their money for tickets and food. For instance, a person who have a subscribation of Netflix can enjoy any type of movie with just one click while lying on his bed. So, watching all entertainment online help is several ways.
On the other hand, cinemas and theaters are also important because they play vital role in the life. Cinemas and theaters play a key role economically because they create a lot of employment for the people who can work there in many roles like cleaners, ticket checker, some create their food court there in this way they support economy. Theaters and cinemas are still important in culture because they are used to perform dramas and other function related to culture online.
To sum up, although online entertainment provides a affordable alternative, theatres and cinemas continue to play an important role in supporting employment and preserving cultural experiences.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a personal opinion, meeting the basic requirements of the task. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While the economic benefits of cinemas are mentioned, the cultural aspect is underdeveloped, and the explanation for why online entertainment is superior is repetitive. The position is clear, but the supporting arguments lack depth and specific examples. To improve, you should aim to expand on your points with more detailed reasoning rather than repeating the same ideas in different ways.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear introduction and conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the other hand' and 'To sum up' are used to signal shifts in the argument. However, some transitions feel mechanical, and there are instances where the flow is slightly hindered by repetitive phrasing. The referencing is generally clear, but the overall progression of ideas could be smoother. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph focuses on a single, well-developed idea would enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'economically', 'culturally', and 'employment'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and spelling, such as 'subscribation' (subscription) and 'things' (which is quite vague). The vocabulary is generally functional but lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. To improve, focus on using more precise academic collocations and ensure you are using the correct forms of words. Avoid overly simplistic terms like 'things' or 'stuff' in formal writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('theatres and cinemas has become', 'watching movies at home help', 'a person who have a subscribation'). There are also some awkward phrasings, such as 'without moving physically to cinemas'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and pluralization errors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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