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 no longer popular. Since they can watch the movies and series comfortably at home, others feel that these are still significant in terms of economic and cultural growth. From my perspective, I believe that balance is important. While theatres and cinemas are valuable for the entertainment and economic growth.
The primary reason why many people prefer not to visit the cinemas or theatres is the convenience of online entertainment. In today's technologically advanced world, many platforms allow people to watch their favourite films and series online. For example, going to the cinema can involve additional expenses such as tickets, food, and transportation costs. Hence, it saves our time and energy and benefit from the digital world.
On the other hand, people argue that it is a great way to spend time with 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 enjoy that moment and laugh together which is quite crucial in this busy world . Purchasing the tickets, food items like popcorn and cold drinks individually which contribute directly to the economy. Accordingly, I strongly support this idea for the betterment of the society and the entertainment industry.
In conclusion, although many individuals prefer watching films online because it is more convenient and affordable. Cinemas and theatres still play an important role in entertainment and economic development of the country.
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 both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the economic argument is mentioned but not fully explored beyond a brief mention of ticket and food sales. The introduction is slightly disjointed, as the final sentence is a fragment ('While theatres and cinemas are valuable for the entertainment and economic growth.'). To reach a higher band, you should ensure that each paragraph contains fully developed supporting arguments rather than just listing examples. The position is clear, but the depth of analysis could be improved to better satisfy the requirements of the prompt.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices such as 'On the other hand,' 'For example,' and 'In conclusion,' which help the flow. However, some transitions are a bit mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the second paragraph where 'it' is used to refer to the act of saving time and energy, which feels slightly disconnected from the previous sentence. Paragraphing is used appropriately, but the internal cohesion within the paragraphs could be strengthened by using a wider variety of linking words to connect ideas more fluidly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to express your ideas clearly. You use some relevant topic-specific vocabulary like 'technologically advanced,' 'entertainment industry,' and 'economic development.' However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are some minor issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'the number of residents believe' (which is grammatically awkward) and 'contribute directly to the economy' (which is acceptable but could be more precise). To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated synonyms and idiomatic expressions related to the topic of digital media and cultural heritage.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt complex sentences, there are several grammatical errors that occasionally affect clarity. For example, the sentence 'While theatres and cinemas are valuable for the entertainment and economic growth' is a dependent clause functioning as a sentence fragment. Additionally, there are minor errors in subject-verb agreement and article usage, such as 'the number of residents believe' and 'the entertainment and economic development of the country.' Despite these errors, the meaning is generally easy to follow, and the mistakes do not significantly impede communication.
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.