Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-26
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)
Cinemas are a major part of entertainment for people. Nowadays, people can entertain by watching movies and other shows on online platforms by ignoring theatres and cinemas. I am in the opinion that cinemas and theatres are still important for people in many different ways.
In this paragraph, I will discuss view regarding online entertainment. Nowadays, people prefer to watch movie online rather than going to cinemas and theatres as they get many benefits from doing so. One major benefit is people can watch movie by adjusting the time from their daily routine. We can divide the movie in several parts and watch it according to the availability of time. Other benefits include watching movie in our comfort zone. At home we can enjoy watching some special scenes several times with having many choice of food to eat.
On the other hand, cinema and theatres also have many benefits. A proper surrounding environment is made in cinemas which makes people more excited and entertain while watching. Many movies are related to particular culture. So watching it in cinemas will make us deep understanding of the culture. People can watch movie at the time it is released as the same movie comes after some days on online platforms. We can also book our tickets well in advance for coming movies in particular cinemas as per our choice. It also helps in economic growth of our country in terms of cinemas and online platforms.
As per my view, watching movie in cinemas is better than watching it online. It creates a perfect mood of watching movie due to surrounding environment in cinemas whereas at home we would feel lonely while watching. A person who has the hobby to watch movies will always prefer to watch in cinemas as online platforms has the availability of the latest movie after some days.
In conclusion, watching movies in cinemas and theatres has weighted effect than watching the same at online platforms.
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 all parts of the prompt, discussing both views and providing a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. For example, the argument regarding economic growth is mentioned but not explained or supported with specific evidence. The points about 'comfort zone' and 'surrounding environment' are relevant but could be extended with more sophisticated reasoning to reach a higher band. The position is consistent throughout, but the depth of analysis is limited, which prevents the essay from reaching the higher descriptors for task development.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. There is a basic progression of ideas from the introduction to the conclusion. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. Phrases like 'On the other hand' and 'In conclusion' are used correctly, but there is a lack of sophisticated linking words to connect sentences within paragraphs. Referencing is generally clear, but the flow between ideas could be smoother to improve the overall coherence of the argument.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks range and precision. The student relies on basic terms such as 'major part', 'benefits', and 'good'. There are some awkward collocations, such as 'weighted effect' and 'deep understanding of the culture' (should be 'a deeper understanding'). While the meaning is always clear, there is little attempt to use less common or idiomatic vocabulary that would demonstrate a higher level of lexical control. To improve, the student should focus on using more precise academic vocabulary.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'I am in the opinion' (should be 'I am of the opinion'), 'watching movie' (missing articles), and 'has the availability' (should be 'offers'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the errors in article usage and preposition choice are persistent. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent the essay from reaching a higher band. A greater focus on subject-verb agreement and article usage is recommended.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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