Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-19

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)

In the recent times, the increasing use of digital media has enabled some people to prefer watching entertainment online rather than visiting the theatres or cinemas. Watching online is a much convenient way to enjoy ourselves but, movie halls and theatre places are necessary too as they provide a great experience both culturally and economically.

In my opinion, with the growing use of social media and introduction of various video streaming applications, people are often inclined to view shows on these platforms. It is a more convenient way for the ones who are too busy to go out and watch a movie. They would rather prefer watching it in the comfort of their home, anytime they want. The streaming applications also provide a variety of programmes and movies all at one place. This enables people to have a much wider pool to choose from depending on their mood. For instance, due to a busy schedule people often miss going to cinemas during the weekends. Such individuals would prefer having a relaxed weekend watching the same movie lying on their bed.

On the other hand, I believe cinemas and theatre programs hold equal importance as they provide an experience that is very rare to experience online, by just staring at a small screen. Movies like, The Interstellar, includes such astonishing space related graphics, offering a wholesome experience in a big cinema hall. Live musical plays show talented people displaying their art in a cultural way that is soothing for the eyes to watch. Furthermore, these cinemas and theatre halls would experience a downfall in their business if people stop going to watch shows offline.

Thus, in conclusion, although digital media does offer a much easier way to enjoy at your own comfort, but the entertainment at movie theatres is necessary for an overall cultural experience.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both the convenience of digital media and the cultural/economic importance of physical venues. You clearly state your position in the introduction and maintain it throughout. The ideas are relevant and generally well-developed, such as the mention of 'Interstellar' to illustrate the cinematic experience. However, the development could be more sophisticated; for instance, the economic argument is mentioned but remains somewhat superficial. To reach a higher band, ensure that your supporting points are fully explored with more depth and specific detail rather than relying on general statements about 'downfall in business'. Overall, the task is addressed effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use cohesive devices such as 'In my opinion', 'On the other hand', and 'Furthermore' to link your thoughts. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and there are minor issues with referencing, such as the phrase 'the ones who are too busy' which is a bit informal. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure supports the argument well, though more varied cohesive links would improve the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with some precision, using terms like 'inclined', 'streaming applications', and 'wholesome experience'. There are some instances of slightly unnatural collocations or word choices, such as 'theatre places' (better: 'theatre venues') and 'space related graphics' (better: 'visual effects'). While the vocabulary is adequate to convey your meaning clearly, there is a lack of more sophisticated or 'less common' lexical items that would elevate the response to a higher band. The spelling is accurate throughout, and the vocabulary is used with enough flexibility to support your arguments.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'Although digital media does offer... but the entertainment... is necessary'. Note that using 'although' and 'but' in the same sentence is redundant and grammatically incorrect. There are occasional errors in grammar and punctuation, such as 'In the recent times' (should be 'In recent times') and 'Movies like, The Interstellar' (unnecessary comma). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on refining your use of complex sentence structures and ensuring subject-verb agreement and article usage are consistent.

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

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