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 THE CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY, TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN DEVELOPMENT OF A COUNTRY. SOME PEOPLE ARGUE THAT MOVIE THREATRES CARRY LESS SIGNIFICANCE TO PUBLIC DUE TO THE ACCESSIBILITY AND CONVINENCE OF ONLINE STREAMING PLATFORMS. OTHERS CLAIM THAT CINEMA HALLS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR ECONOMY TO GROW AND CULTURE TO BE PRESERVED. ON ONE HAND, IN THIS DIGITAL ERA, THEATRES ARE NOT MUCH PREFERRED BY GENERAL POPULACE AS THERE ARE VARIOUS SOURCES WHICH ARE EASY TO USE BY ALL USERS. A PERSON CAN WATCH TELEVISION SHOWS, MOVIES, SERIES AND DOCUMENTARY FILMS AT ONE SITE ANYTIME, ANYWHERE. SUCH KIND OF FLEXIBILTY INSIST TO RELY MORE AND MORE ON ENTERTAINMENT PLATFORMS LIKE NETFLIX, AMAZON PRIME VIDEO, ZEE STAR, AND JIO HOTSTAR. THE MOST ATTRACTIVE ELEMENT IS THAT CUSTOMERS CAN ADD THE FILTER OPTION AND SELECT THEIR PREFRENCE OF THEME TO SEE THE FILM. ADDITIONALLY, SOMETIMES THERE ARE CASES WHERE SOCIAL MEDIA CREATES HYPE OF A SPECIFIC MOVIE AND ON THE RELEASE DAY THERE IS HOUSEFULL, ALSO THE TICKET PRICES WENT ON A HIKE WHICH MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES CANNOT AFFORD. ON OTHER HAND, RUNNING OF MOVIE THEATRES ARE NECESSARY BECAUSE OF THEIR ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL VALUES. PEOPLE CAN GET A CHANCE TO WATCH A FILM WITH THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND HAVE FUN TOGETHER. SUBSEQUENTLY, THEY ENJOY ESPECIALLY, DURING WEEKENDS AND SPEND QUALITY TIME TOGETHER. INTRODUCTION OF SUCH KIND OF AMENITIES HAS ALLOWED TO ESCAPE FROM THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF THEIR HECTIC SCHEDULE. WHENEVER THERE IS A BLOCKBUSTER MOVIE, BOX OFFICES EARN HUGE REVENUE AND INCREASE SALES RATIO, BOOSTING THE FILM INDUSTRY. AS A RESULT, THE ECONOMY OF A NATION WILL FLORISH AND EXPAND. TALKING ABOUT THE ESSENCE OF CULTURE, IN MY OPINION, I THINK THAT ONLINE SERVICES OF WATCHING SHOWS ARE PROMINENT AND FLEXIBLE AS PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT ROUTINES AND LIKINGS TOWARDS SELECTING MOVIES. AN INDIVIDUAL CAN START FILMS TO BE SEEN AT THEIR OWN PACE, DISPLAY AND AUDIO SETTINGS. WHEREAS WE CANNOT MAKE ALTERATIONS TO CINEMA HALL BASED ON OWN WISH. TO CONCLUDE, IT IS A CHOICE OF A PERSON WHETHER TO DECIDE WHERE TO WATCH IN THEATRE OR ON ANY AVAILABLE WEBSITE. THE DECISION VARY UPON THEIR STUDY OR JOB LIFE, SOCIAL STATUS FAMILY AND FINANCIAL BACKGROUND.
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 uneven. While the points regarding convenience and economic impact are relevant, the discussion on cultural value is underdeveloped and somewhat overshadowed by the personal preference for online streaming. The conclusion is a bit repetitive and could have more effectively synthesized the main arguments. To reach a higher band, ensure that each body paragraph provides a more balanced and detailed exploration of the prompt's requirements, particularly regarding the cultural significance of physical venues.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear progression of ideas. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'On one hand,' 'Additionally,' and 'To conclude,' which help guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the use of referencing could be more sophisticated. For instance, the transition between the economic argument and the personal opinion in the final paragraph is abrupt. Improving the flow between sentences and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, unified focus would enhance the overall coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, with some attempts at topic-specific language like 'digital era,' 'box offices,' and 'revenue.' However, there are instances of imprecise word choice and minor spelling errors, such as 'CONVINENCE' (convenience), 'PREFRENCE' (preference), and 'FLORISH' (flourish). The range of vocabulary is sufficient to convey meaning, but it lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands. Expanding your range to include more academic collocations and ensuring accurate spelling will significantly improve this score.
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, such as 'running of movie theatres are necessary' (subject-verb agreement), 'The decision vary' (subject-verb agreement), and 'insist to rely' (incorrect verb pattern). Punctuation is mostly functional, but there are some awkward phrasings that impact the fluency of the text. To improve, focus on mastering subject-verb agreement and refining complex sentence structures to ensure they are error-free.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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