Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

while some people think that theatres and cinemas are not important, others believe that both are important for economic and cultural purposes. In this essay I will discuss both sides of the argument and state my opinion.

People nowadays think that cinemas are not essential because they have other streaming applications such as Netflix and IPTV. Netflix can make access more films and tv series for lower prices; in addition, there are various programs and movies produced by Netflix itself and exclusively played on its application. If you pay a monthly subscription, you will have an access to thousands of programs. Furthermore, cinemas have strict rules regarding snacks that should be bought from there while watching at home is more comfortable and you can bring a variety of foods and beverages. For example, in Saudi Arabia popcorn is costly in most cinemas and theatres and it can cost double the price of the ticket itself.

However, others argue that cinemas and theatres have financial value for the government because a high percentage of the profit goes directly to the state. As a result, a lot of renovation around the city for hospitals and roads are made which definitely benefit the citizens. When the government spend money on updating the city services, this will improve tourism and will benefit the country in return. Moreover, it can't be denied that theatres and movies in general have cultural background, so they can spread the country's customs and traditions worldwide easily.

In conclusion, while it is argued that cinemas and theatres can be replaced by entertainment services online as they are cheaper, I believe cinemas and theatres are still valuable both culturally and economically because they are an integral part of the country's income.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both the decline of traditional venues due to streaming and the economic/cultural importance of cinemas. The position is clear throughout, particularly in the conclusion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. While the economic argument regarding government revenue is well-supported, the cultural argument is mentioned briefly without specific examples of how customs are spread. To reach a higher band, the cultural aspect needs more depth, perhaps by discussing the shared social experience of cinema-going, which is a key differentiator from home streaming. Overall, the response is relevant and maintains a consistent focus on the task requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two opposing views. Cohesive devices such as 'furthermore', 'however', and 'as a result' are used to guide the reader through the argument. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing could be more sophisticated. For instance, the link between the second body paragraph's points could be strengthened to ensure a more seamless progression of ideas. Overall, the information is presented in a coherent manner that is easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. There is an attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary such as 'streaming applications', 'subscription', and 'integral part'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are occasional inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'make access more films' instead of 'provide access to more films' or 'renovation around the city' when referring to infrastructure projects. The use of less common lexical items is limited, which prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Expanding the range of collocations and using more precise terminology would enhance the quality of the writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is a reasonable level of control, and errors in grammar and punctuation do not impede communication. However, there are several minor errors, such as 'When the government spend money' (subject-verb agreement) and 'an access' (incorrect article usage). Additionally, some sentences could be more varied in structure to demonstrate greater flexibility. While the writer shows an ability to construct complex sentences, the frequency of minor errors prevents a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and article usage would significantly improve the accuracy of the writing.

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