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)
Nowadays , online entertainment has become increasingly popular, causing some people to argue that cinemas and theatres have lost their importance. In contrast, others believe that these venues provide considerable economic and cultural benefits. this essay examine both perspectives before giving y opinion.
On the one hand, individuals find online streaming platforms are more convenient. people can watch movies at home anytime comfortably. many people can save commuting time to and from theatres and also saves significant amount of money. Foe instance, people who use digital platforms for entertainment can get wide range of shows and movies instantly at lower cost and without wasting their time.
On the other hand, cinemas create employment opportunities for people and generate the revenue and individual also provide support to their family financially. Moreover, theatres connects people through social gatherings. Theatres also plays vital role to preserve the tradition by organizing cultural performances. For example, several communities organizes their cultural dance and acts at their local theatres that promote get-together of society.
In conclusion, Although, online channels has reduced the need of visit cinemas and provide significant convenience to the society. theatres and cinemas remain important economically, socially and culturally.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses both views and provides an opinion, but it is significantly under the 250-word minimum requirement. Because the essay is only 196 words, the development of ideas is limited and lacks the depth required for a higher band. While the arguments regarding convenience versus economic/cultural value are relevant, they are presented in a brief, list-like fashion rather than being fully extended. The position is clear, but the lack of length prevents a more thorough exploration of the topic, which is a key requirement for Task Achievement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. There is a basic attempt at using cohesive devices like 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion'. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally weak. For example, the transition between the introduction and the first body paragraph is abrupt. While the logical progression is present, the limited length restricts the ability to demonstrate more sophisticated or varied cohesive techniques.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express their ideas clearly. There are some attempts at using topic-specific vocabulary such as 'online streaming platforms', 'economic and cultural benefits', and 'cultural performances'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'individual also provide support' (should be 'individuals') and 'reduced the need of visit' (should be 'need to visit'). The vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the message but lacks the precision and variety expected at higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues such as 'several communities organizes' (should be 'organize') and 'online channels has' (should be 'have'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with missing capital letters at the start of sentences like 'this essay examine' and 'theatres and cinemas'. While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to lower the score. A greater focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy is needed.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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