Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-28

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)

A solid argument that exist among people of modern era is for the importance of cinemas or theatres that whether they are still be able to attain individuals or not. Some believed that they no longer needed because we are living in the era of technology and we have the facility of enjoying the streaming services at our homes while on the other hand, some still recognized them and considered them beneficial both economically and culture wise.

Enormous people specially youngsters like Generation Z grown up using smart-phones and digital media and they view this as an ease because they now how to utilize technology and they firmly believed that online platforms allowed us to enjoy all streaming services by sitting at out homes with a huge comfort level rather than getting a leave from work or offices to set a separate or scheduled time for watching movies and dramas in cinemas or in theatres which is outdated according to them. They considered this as a facility.

In contrast, some sort of social persons or businessman still have a motive about the importance of cinemas or theatres in terms of revenue that is generated from them which supports local government and communities as well. According to them cinemas or theatres promote culture as well. For example, when people of different regions or areas sit together and watch each other traditional dramas then they will able to share each other interests and will recognize each other traditions as well.

In my opinion, this is a facility for individuals such as students or employees to entertain themselves by enjoying streaming services at homes without going somewhere but they also give some priority to promote cultural values and then they also be abled to support businesses economically.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both views and provides a personal opinion, meeting the requirements of the prompt. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the argument regarding economic benefits is vague, mentioning 'revenue' without explaining how cinemas specifically contribute to local economies. The conclusion is also brief and lacks a strong synthesis of the points discussed. To reach a higher band, you should provide more concrete examples or deeper analysis for each perspective, ensuring that your own position is clearly articulated and supported throughout the essay rather than just mentioned in the final paragraph.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. Phrases like 'on the other hand' and 'in contrast' are used, but there is a lack of sophisticated linking words to connect sentences within paragraphs. Additionally, some referencing is unclear, such as the use of 'they' in the final paragraph, which makes it difficult to determine whether you are referring to the streaming services or the individuals. Improving the variety and precision of your cohesive devices would enhance the flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and range required for a higher band. There are several instances of awkward word choices, such as 'attain individuals' instead of 'attract audiences' and 'social persons' instead of 'proponents' or 'advocates'. Furthermore, some collocations are unnatural, such as 'huge comfort level'. To improve, focus on learning topic-specific vocabulary related to media and economics, and practice using words in their correct context to avoid these minor inaccuracies.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'Some believed that they no longer needed' (missing passive voice), 'they now how to utilize' (spelling error), and 'they also be abled to support' (incorrect verb form). While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors in tense, subject-verb agreement, and word formation prevent the writing from reaching a higher level of accuracy. Focusing on proofreading for basic grammatical consistency would be highly beneficial.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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