Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-23
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 argue that in today's context as we are living in digitally advanced world, there is no need give importance to theaters and cinemas as everything is available in online. On the other hand, other group of people says, it is still important both economically and culturally. However, the below will discuss both the views with examples.
On the one hand, the people suggesting as all the entertainments are available in the online there is no need to give much essential for the films and theaters. It is a valid opinion because all the people are having phones, tabs, or laptops. Whenever people need they can watch movies at anywhere. For example: It will reduce the travelling, snacks, and ticket costs. The major reason behind this view can be considered as finance because it will save lot of time and money.
On the other hand, digital advancement have took place recently but traditionally people have had the habit of going to theaters and cinemas that became part of culture which cannot be ignored simply. Additional to this, many people work in theaters their livelihood will affect. Furthermore, these are one of the good ways to generate money, therefore it will affect the income. For instance: The shop keepers nearby theaters, the employers of the theaters, and owners are completely depend on the theaters. It would affect their daily life.
In conclusion, my opinion is though we developed digitally still theaters and cinemas should not be considered as less significant because these are blended with people lives and cultures and also through this many people are receiving financial benefits.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| 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, discussing both views and providing a clear personal opinion in the conclusion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While the economic impact is touched upon, the cultural significance mentioned in the prompt is not deeply explored beyond a brief mention. The arguments are relevant but lack depth and specific, well-developed examples. For instance, the mention of 'shop keepers' is a good start, but it could be expanded to explain the broader social ecosystem of cinemas. To reach a higher band, ensure that each point is fully extended with more detailed reasoning and concrete evidence.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'Furthermore', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions feel mechanical or slightly awkward, such as 'The below will discuss' and 'Additional to this'. Referencing is generally clear, but the flow between sentences could be smoother to improve the overall progression of ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different viewpoints.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'digitally advanced' and 'livelihood', but there are also instances of imprecise word choice, such as 'give much essential' instead of 'give much importance' or 'consideration'. Some phrasing is slightly unnatural, like 'everything is available in online'. While the range is sufficient to communicate the message, 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. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include 'digital advancement have took place' (subject-verb agreement and tense error), 'people are having phones' (stative verb usage), and 'owners are completely depend on' (incorrect verb form). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are minor errors in sentence construction. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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