Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-08-29
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)
It is widely argued that the cinemas are no longer important because of online websites and OTT platforms, each and every movie and entertainment now available online, still there are some people who enjoy watching movies in cinemas because of its cultural and economic value. In opinion, although watching entertainment online is more convenient, theatres and cinemas also added some special value in society.
On the one hand, online platforms are more convenient and accessible, because individuals can watch movies and shows anytime and anywhere. it is also cheaper than going to cinemas. For binge watching online people can get huge content to watch and different online platforms, For instance, Netflix, Amazon and YouTube.
On the other hand, watching shows and movies in cinemas support many things such as provide employment and generate huge revenue which is helpful to generate the salary of the Staff. Cinemas also maintain the old movies which lead to nostalgic feeling of old time and promote culture and traditions. theatres and cinemas provide jobs to many jobless individuals which lead to reduce the unemployment to some extent.
In conclusion, although online platforms save money, time of travelling and convenient watching of different forms of movie, theatres and cinemas are equally important because they are generating income for individuals and provide cultural and traditional support. cinemas also provide different experience of watching shows on broad screen which is completely different of online websites.
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 both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the essay falls short of the 250-word minimum requirement, which negatively impacts the development of ideas. While the main points regarding convenience versus economic and cultural value are relevant, they are somewhat underdeveloped. The arguments could have been strengthened with more specific examples or deeper analysis. Because the response is under-length, it fails to fully develop the discussion as required by the prompt, leading to a lower score in this criterion.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand', which help guide the reader. However, the flow is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions between sentences are abrupt. For instance, the transition between the mention of online platforms and the examples provided is somewhat disjointed. Referencing is generally clear, but the overall progression of ideas could be more sophisticated to achieve a higher band score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. The student uses basic terms like 'huge content' and 'different things', which are repetitive and imprecise. There are some attempts at topic-specific vocabulary, such as 'economic value' and 'unemployment', but the overall lexical range is limited. The student relies on simple phrasing, and there is a lack of collocation and idiomatic expression. To improve, the student should focus on using more varied and academic vocabulary to express ideas more precisely.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors. Examples include 'In opinion' (should be 'In my opinion'), 'theatres and cinemas also added' (tense inconsistency), and 'which lead to reduce' (incorrect verb form). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some sentences starting with lowercase letters after a period. While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors in grammar and punctuation hinder the overall quality of the writing and prevent it from reaching a higher band score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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