Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-18
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)
Although, people can watch the entertainment through different online platforms including netflix, youtube, cinemas and theatres are still important economically and culturally. The trend of using cinemas and theatre is still playing a crucial role in the economy of developed countries. In the same way , cinemas are important culturally in developing countries. On the other side, in digital age some people prefer to watch online the entertainment.
First of all, cinemas play an important role in generating revenue of both developed and developing countries. Several TV shows and movies attract the number of people to cinemas and theatres and in return the film industry is further enhanced.
Culturally , cinemas and theatres are important as they make strong social bonds among the people of the same region. For instance, theater shows attract large number of people in Pakistan on weekend and they really enjoy from this culture.
On contrary, some people argue that cinemas and theatres are no longer important because of digital period. As many people are using online platforms including Youtube and Netflix for entertainment purpose. For instance, more than 5 billion people in the world are using internet and they prefer to have a fun online as they want instead of visiting to cinemas and theatres.
It is true that, in this technological period people prefer the entertainment online, but in my opinion cinemas and theatres are equally important in this age economically and culturally, as they are not only generating revenue for the countries but also bringing closer to more people culturally and socially.
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 all parts of the prompt by discussing both views and providing a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention economic and cultural importance, the arguments remain quite general. For instance, the point about 'social bonds' in Pakistan is a good start, but it lacks depth to fully explore how this contrasts with the digital experience. To reach a higher band, ensure that each supporting point is fully explained with more specific reasoning or illustrative detail rather than just stating the idea.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices such as 'First of all', 'On the other side', and 'For instance'. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'On contrary' (should be 'On the contrary'). Additionally, the referencing is sometimes repetitive, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring they are used with greater precision would enhance the overall coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to communicate your ideas clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'film industry', 'revenue', and 'digital age'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are some minor inaccuracies in collocation and word choice, such as 'enjoy from this culture' (should be 'enjoy this culture') and 'have a fun online' (should be 'have fun online'). To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated synonyms and collocations to demonstrate a wider range of lexical control.
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 frequent errors in grammar and punctuation, such as missing articles ('in digital age' should be 'in the digital age'), incorrect preposition usage, and comma splices. Some sentences are also slightly fragmented or lack proper subject-verb agreement. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur often enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy and article usage will help improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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