Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-27
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 today's world, people have changed their point of view. Some people say that in the digital age, theatres and cinemas are no longer important. The claim is that people can watch entertainment online. Others maintain that these are still important for many reasons. This essay will examine both these views , and I will give my own opinion.
On the one hand, some people think that theatres and cinemas are no longer needed today. First, people enjoy watching movies online. For example, instead of going to the cinema and wasting their time, they can easily watch the show in their living room. In addition to that, they can pick any time to view what they want. Second, some people want to be in control of their environment. For instance, people who have sensitive hearing can control the volume. Furthermore, some individuals need to skip some uncomfortable parts of the movie. Finally, folks who think it is a huge waste of money and space. For example, it is better to use the massive building for a training centre or a daycare for children.
On the other hand, citizens who insist on keeping them have many reasons, First, attending the show is a positive experience. For example, the live shows and the adrenaline rush are different from the feelings when watching it at home. Also, the interaction with the crowd is wonderful. Second, the theatres and cinemas offer multiple opportunities. For example, Theaters create many jobs. That affects the economy by increasing the incomes. Finally, it has a profound impact on the culture of society. Therefore, the citizens emprises feeling and thoughts through the theatres. Also, it keeps people more connected.
In conclusion, it is clear to see both these views, as they provide different experiences. However, my opinion on this matter is that theatres and cinemas are wonderful. I believe they provide jobs and social interaction.
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 convenience of online streaming versus the economic and cultural value of physical venues. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat superficial. For instance, the point about 'sensitive hearing' is a bit narrow, and the argument regarding 'daycare' is not fully linked to the broader cultural importance of cinemas. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your points with more depth and nuance, ensuring that your examples directly support the main argument rather than just listing features.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct focus. You use basic cohesive devices like 'On the one hand,' 'On the other hand,' and 'In addition to that' to guide the reader. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and some transitions feel repetitive. For example, the use of 'First,' 'Second,' and 'Finally' in both body paragraphs makes the structure feel a bit formulaic. Improving the variety of your linking words and ensuring that ideas within paragraphs are more tightly connected would enhance the overall flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'digital age,' 'adrenaline rush,' and 'profound impact.' However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'citizens emprises feeling' (likely meant 'express') and 'wasting their time' (which is a subjective opinion rather than a neutral observation). The vocabulary is generally functional but lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. To improve, focus on using more academic collocations and ensuring that your word choices are contextually accurate.
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 several grammatical errors, such as 'folks who think it is a huge waste' (which is a sentence fragment) and 'Theaters create many jobs. That affects the economy by increasing the incomes' (which could be more effectively combined). Punctuation is generally correct, but there are minor issues with article usage and subject-verb agreement. To improve, focus on reducing these small errors and attempting more complex, error-free sentence structures to demonstrate greater control.
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.