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)
World today is digital in nature and everyone of us has it's own small cinemas and theatres at home. However, some people still value the actual theatres and cinemas and think that they hold both economic and cultural value while others think these old sources of entertainment are no longer important as they can watch everything online. In my opinion, theatres and cinemas are still important both economically and culturally.
The actual theatres and cinemas have their own charm and importance. Instead of watching the entertainment online at home, hanging out with friends and family, watching the movies on big screen with having popcorn and sitting with a lovely audience is much more entertaining. Likewise watching movies at home can be boring sometimes. Going out with your classmates or colleagues can be much more refreshing than inviting them or being invited at their place. Another positive aspect of the theatres and cinemas is the economy and culture. If more and more people go and watch movies in theatres and cinemas will bring more economic benefits to the country and industries. People often come from other countries to watch movies which is also very important to show them the culture which also bring remittances to the country.
On the other hand, in this digital age, some people also think that theatres and cinemas are no longer important because they can watch the entertainment online at home. Now-a-days each and every place can be a cinema or theatre as everyone of us have digital devices and internet. This aspect can also be very beneficial because due to busy schedule people often don't have time to go out instead they prefer watching the entertainment at home and relax.
in conclusion, in this digital age, theatres and cinemas are still important economically and culturally.
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. The ideas are relevant, such as the social experience of cinemas versus the convenience of digital platforms. However, the development is somewhat uneven. The economic and cultural arguments are mentioned but remain superficial; for instance, the claim that cinema attendance brings 'remittances' is conceptually unclear and lacks specific supporting evidence. While the position is consistent, the depth of analysis could be improved by providing more concrete examples of how cinemas specifically contribute to local economies or cultural preservation beyond general statements.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs for each viewpoint, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'However', 'Likewise', and 'On the other hand', which help guide the reader through the argument. However, the flow is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions feel abrupt. The referencing is generally clear, but the concluding sentence is very brief and does not effectively synthesise the arguments presented in the body paragraphs. Improving the sophistication of linking phrases would help achieve a higher band score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the student to express their ideas clearly. There is some attempt to use topic-specific language like 'economic benefits', 'digital age', and 'remittances'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of awkward phrasing, such as 'everyone of us has it's own small cinemas' (should be 'its') and 'with having popcorn'. The repetition of basic words like 'important' and 'entertainment' suggests a need for a wider range of synonyms to demonstrate more flexibility and precision in word choice.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors that detract from the overall quality. Examples include 'World today is digital' (missing article), 'everyone of us have' (subject-verb agreement error), and 'remittances to the country' (inaccurate usage). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas. While the errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent the essay from reaching the 7.0 band, which requires more frequent error-free sentences and better control over complex structures.
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