Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-21
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)
Many people say that in the digital age, theatres and cinema are not really significant as one can watch all the programmes through online medium. Some people argue that both are still significant by economically and culturally. In my opinion both are important. I'll discuss both the views in following paragraphs.
Firstly people can use online website or like some applications for watching the movies and tele shows for many reasons people stick to the online platform for watching videos for example, a person who have job cannot be able to watch movies everyday by theatre. Hence they use online platforms for time consumption. On the one hand it is very useful for peoples those who are working.Hence the theatre's and cinema are very important by its conveying messages. Cinema is a great thing to spread a good thought to globally.
On the other hand people can watch their favourite movies or shows through theatres, when they get free time. One of the major reason for that is a great visual effect can be get through the theatre. In theatre one can enjoy the music and sound effect. By its making structure. Moreover theatre can consist of many people at a time. Hence people can watch movies with their friends and family.
In conclusion both theatre and online medium helps people to watch the movies and shows when they get the enough time to spend with. As a result they can also consume the time and also spending time with their family.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both views and provides an opinion, but the development is limited. While you mention that online platforms are convenient for working people and that cinemas offer superior visual/audio experiences, the arguments lack depth and specific examples. The discussion of the 'economic and cultural' importance mentioned in the prompt is largely ignored, focusing instead on personal convenience and technical quality. To improve, ensure you explicitly address the economic and cultural aspects of the prompt and provide more detailed, illustrative examples to support your claims. The position is clear, but the supporting ideas remain somewhat superficial.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. For example, 'Hence' is used repeatedly and sometimes incorrectly, such as 'Hence the theatre's and cinema are very important by its conveying messages.' The transition between ideas is sometimes abrupt, and the logical progression within paragraphs is hindered by awkward phrasing. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'furthermore', 'consequently', 'in contrast') and ensure that referencing (e.g., 'its', 'that') clearly points to the intended noun.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for higher bands. You rely on basic terms like 'great thing', 'good thought', and 'many reasons'. There are also issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'time consumption' (which implies wasting time rather than saving it) and 'by its making structure'. To improve, try to incorporate more topic-specific vocabulary related to the film industry, such as 'cinematic experience', 'cultural heritage', 'revenue streams', or 'digital accessibility'. Avoid repetitive phrasing and focus on using words that accurately convey your intended meaning.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Common issues include subject-verb agreement ('a person who have job'), incorrect preposition usage ('important by economically'), and awkward sentence construction ('a great visual effect can be get through the theatre'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of apostrophes (e.g., 'theatre's'). To improve, focus on mastering basic subject-verb agreement and the correct use of passive voice. Proofreading for common errors like pluralization and article usage will also significantly improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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