Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-01
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)
Some people feel that in the digital era, theatres and cinemas are no longer important because people can watch all the entertainment they want on digital platforms. On the other hand, people believe theatres and cinemas are a crucial part of economic and cultural growth. I firmly believe that online platforms' popularity is diminishing the theatres and cinemas, as they are easily accessible to watch with globalisation.
Proponents of online entertainment feel that people in the contemporary era can watch everything online easily. The people have access to internet and other new entertainment platforms which provide them number of options to watch whenever they want hassle free. For example, in the India we have 20 to 30 new digital platforms which has movies, songs and small plays according to the genre and have plenty of options to choose. The platforms has content all over the world and with built-in language options to watch the movie and listen song. From my perspective, digitisation reduced the importance of theatres and cinemas by giving us choice and accessibility to watch any content without language barrier.
On the other hand, opponents believe that theatres and cinemas are still crucial economically and culturally.
Both theatres and cinemas represent the culture of the specific country and when it flourish it contribute automatically in economical growth. For instance, Pakistan didn't shoot any movie and song, but they use theatres for cultural plays to show the Pakistan's food, culture and people to their local people and from that they earn and economically grow. However, in my view, in the digital age, no one wants to go and see plays and the same cultural documentaries. Online media and platforms saves time and provide number of options to opt.
In conclusion, although theatres and cinemas still add value in economic and cultural growth, I feel watch all the entertainment online is quit
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 all parts of the prompt, discussing both views and providing a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. While the first body paragraph provides relevant examples regarding digital platforms in India, the second body paragraph is less convincing, particularly the example regarding Pakistan, which lacks clarity and logical connection to the argument. The conclusion is incomplete, as it cuts off mid-sentence, which prevents a full summary of the position. To improve, ensure that arguments are fully supported with logical examples and that the essay is brought to a complete, coherent conclusion.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into paragraphs, and there is a clear attempt to use cohesive devices such as 'On the other hand,' 'For example,' and 'In conclusion.' However, the progression of ideas is sometimes hindered by awkward phrasing and the incomplete ending. Referencing is generally clear, but the flow between sentences could be improved to make the argument more persuasive. The abrupt ending significantly impacts the overall coherence of the final paragraph. Using a wider range of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence would help improve the logical flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the student to express ideas clearly. There are attempts to use topic-specific vocabulary such as 'digital era,' 'contemporary,' and 'digitisation.' However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'number of options' (should be 'a number of options') and 'economical growth' (should be 'economic growth'). The range is sufficient to communicate, but lacks the precision and sophistication required for a higher band score. Focusing on learning collocations and more precise academic terminology would be beneficial.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, including subject-verb agreement issues ('The platforms has content,' 'Pakistan didn't shoot any movie'), missing articles ('in the India'), and incorrect word forms ('economical' instead of 'economic'). While these errors do not generally impede communication, they occur frequently enough to affect the overall impression. To reach a higher band, the student should focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy, particularly with articles and subject-verb agreement, and aim to incorporate more complex sentence structures with greater precision.
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.