Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

Some individuals believe that in the technological era, theatres and cinemas no longer hold great importance, since people can watch all the movies and TV-shows they want on the internet, whilst some argue that they are still vital both economically and culturally. I personally believe in the latter.

To begin with, a majority of people now have access to the internet and the various online streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. People have become so engrossed in their jobs that they are barely left with any time to go out and visit cinemas. Watching movies and shows online from the comfort of one's home is very convenient and a great time-saver. Moreover, it offers users a huge variety of genres to choose from and switch to some other movie whenever they get bored with the previous one.

On the contrary, many hold the opinion that cinemas and theatres have a huge economic and cultural impact. Visiting theatres and cinemas creates job opportunities for the cleaning staff and box office clerks among many others. In addition to this, cinemas feature various dramas related to people's own culture and heritage which aids in keeping their history alive. For instance, the theatre 'Punjabi Rang Manch' in Patiala, India has successfully restored the lost history of Punjab by spreading awareness among the citizens through their plays and skits.

In my opinion, although online entertainment websites have substantially made movies and TV-shows accessible to the public, cinemas and theatres are still extremely crucial. They help carry-on one's culture and revive local languages. They add to the total gross domestic product of a country and the taxes obtained are useful for improving the infrastructure.

To conclude, while alternatives to cinemas and theatres have become quite popular among the public, they still play an indispensable role in conserving a nation's culture and improving the economy.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both views and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant and well-supported, particularly the example of the 'Punjabi Rang Manch' theatre, which adds depth to the argument. The position is consistent throughout the essay. To reach a higher band, the development of the economic argument could be slightly more detailed, perhaps by explaining how the 'multiplier effect' of theatre-going benefits local businesses beyond just the venue itself. Overall, the response is well-focused and meets the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the two viewpoints is smooth. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Moreover', 'On the contrary', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different stages of the argument. The flow is natural, and the relationship between ideas is clear throughout the text, demonstrating a good command of organizational features.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses a range of topic-specific terms such as 'streaming platforms', 'genres', 'economic and cultural impact', and 'gross domestic product'. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, and the word choices are generally precise. While the language is natural, it could benefit from a slightly wider variety of sophisticated collocations or idiomatic expressions to reach the highest band. However, the current range is more than adequate to convey complex ideas clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. The grammar is generally accurate, with very few errors that do not impede communication. For instance, the use of complex sentences like 'Although online entertainment websites have substantially made movies and TV-shows accessible to the public, cinemas and theatres are still extremely crucial' shows good control. Punctuation is used correctly throughout. While there are occasional minor slips, the majority of the sentences are error-free, reflecting a strong command of grammatical structures.

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