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)

Some think because of availablity of internet there is no need of theatres and cinemas where as other opposing this statement that these places for watching plays and movies are still worth because they help in boosting teconomy and promoting culture. I partially agree that these places are irrelevant.

Firstly there are people who believe and promote technology above everything else these are type of people who think that movie theatres and cinemas are not worth in this modern era because every thing is accessible through mobile phones, laptops and tablets and other new digital mediums even they do not consider classical televisions to be as important as they were few years back. They think that we should not spend money by going there but I think that they don't know the fact the theatres and cinemas are the reason that movies, series and other entertainment is mainly promoted and this business is running.

That being said, I completely disagree that these places of cultural and economic value are no longer needed and should be closed down. Historically, theatres are associated with an official ceremony, where guests dress up according to the dress code, discuss the art, and introduce their cultures and traditions. Meanwhile, cinemas have shown their timeless relevance, appearing as one of the most versatile and popular ways of spending time with friends or family outdoors, turning attention from the ubiquitous digital world. What is more, centres of entertainment serve as a commercial income for large companies, and marketing specialists are introducing more and more inventions to attract public attention.

In conclusion it is common and natural behaviour of everyone not agreeing on same thing because people have different choices because of their personal reasons or experiences.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response5.5
Coherence and Cohesion5.5
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.5
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both views and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. The first body paragraph is repetitive and lacks specific examples, while the second paragraph is more detailed but still relies on generalisations. The introduction is slightly confusing, as the final sentence states 'I partially agree that these places are irrelevant,' which contradicts the subsequent argument in the third paragraph that they are 'needed.' To reach a higher band, ensure your position is consistent throughout and provide more concrete, illustrative examples to support your claims rather than just stating them.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Firstly,' 'That being said,' and 'What is more,' though some transitions feel a bit mechanical. The referencing is generally clear, but the flow between the introduction and the first body paragraph is slightly disjointed. The conclusion is quite weak and does not effectively summarise the main points of the argument, instead offering a generic statement about people having different opinions. Improving the sophistication of linking words and ensuring a stronger summary in the conclusion would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'ubiquitous' and 'versatile,' which are used correctly. However, there are also instances of awkward phrasing and minor errors, such as 'availablity of internet' (spelling), 'teconomy' (typo), and 'commercial income' (which is slightly imprecise; 'revenue' would be better). The range of vocabulary is sufficient to communicate, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors that affect the fluency of the text. Examples include 'where as other opposing this statement' (missing verb/subject agreement), 'these are type of people' (missing article), and 'every thing is accessible' (should be one word). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage in long, run-on sentences. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, correct article usage, and breaking up overly long sentences to ensure better control over complex structures.

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

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