Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-25
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)
In this digital age, the number of residents believe that cinemas and theatres are not really popular. Since they can watch the movies and series comfortably at home. While others feel that these are still significant in terms of economic and culture growth. From my perspective, I believe the balance is important. While theatres and cinemas are still valuable for the entertainment and economic growth.
The primary reason is majority of people who support the idea of not visiting the cinemas or theatres. Since, in this advanced technological world many options are available where you can watch your favourite shows and series online which is more convenient and cheaper. For example, if we go to the cinema to watch a movie it will increase the expenses such as, ticket, food, and travel cost. Hence, it saves our time and energy and we can take benefit from the digital age.
On the other hand, people argue that it is a great way to enjoy with your family and friends. It is also essential for the economic sector. For instance, when we go to the cinemas and theatres with our loved ones we purchase the tickets, food items such as: Popcorn and cold drinks individually which will increase the economy directly. Accordingly, I strongly support this idea for the betterment of the civilians and the entertainment industry.
In conclusion, although many individuals would prefer to watch movies online since it is convenient. however, the cinemas and theatres are still play an important role for the development of the country.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
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 limited. For instance, the economic argument is restricted to individual spending on snacks rather than broader industry impacts. The introduction and conclusion are slightly repetitive, and the position could be more nuanced. While all parts of the prompt are addressed, the arguments lack depth and rely on basic examples. To improve, you should expand on the cultural significance of theatres and provide more sophisticated reasoning regarding the economic impact beyond individual ticket sales.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the argument. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or inaccurate. For example, starting sentences with 'Since' or 'However' in the middle of a paragraph creates sentence fragments rather than logical flow. The transition between the two viewpoints is functional but lacks sophistication. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that your sentences are complete, avoiding the tendency to break complex thoughts into fragmented, punctuated segments.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for higher bands. You rely on general terms like 'not really popular' and 'great way to enjoy'. While you attempt some topic-specific vocabulary such as 'entertainment industry' and 'economic sector', there is a lack of collocation and variety. Some word choices are slightly unnatural, such as 'betterment of the civilians'. To improve, try to incorporate more academic collocations and precise synonyms to express your ideas more fluently.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede flow. Common issues include sentence fragments (e.g., 'Since they can watch the movies and series comfortably at home.') and errors in subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'theatres and cinemas are still play'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas and colons. To improve, focus on ensuring every sentence has a clear subject and verb, and practice proofreading to eliminate basic errors in tense and article usage.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.