Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

There is a debate among people on whether cinemas are important in today's world or if they have lost their significance. In my opinion, cinemas are no longer important, because people can access all the latest movies and television shows online from different websites without paying anything.

The people who think that cinemas are important have some strong points. People have been going to cinemas for hundreds of years now, whereas watching media online just started recently. Additionally, a large number of people go with their families and friends to watch movies, which also become a source of outing for them. In addition to this, people spend money on tickets as well as snacks which is a big source of income generation for the owners. For example, it is a common culture across many European countries to take families to cinema halls during Christmas.

Nowadays, with the advancement in technology the internet has become very common. As a result, many digital platforms have been launched which allow users to watch different movies online for free. Furthermore, a large number of people engage in different activities simultaneously. As a consequence of this, people need a flexible medium to watch movies, where they can pause a movie and perform another important task. For example, the majority of students around the world prefer to watch movies in small parts during their break.

There is no doubt that cinemas held an important value in the past; however, in today's world people do not have enough time to watch a complete movie in one sitting. Therefore, more importance should be given to projects which are working to improve online services to users.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention the economic importance of cinemas, the cultural aspect is only briefly touched upon. The argument for online viewing is well-supported by the need for flexibility, but the discussion could be more nuanced. To reach a higher band, ensure that both sides are explored with equal depth and that your examples are more specific and analytical rather than descriptive. You have clearly stated your position in the introduction and maintained it throughout the essay.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use a range of cohesive devices such as 'Additionally', 'In addition to this', 'As a result', and 'Furthermore' to connect your ideas. However, some of these transitions feel slightly mechanical. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different viewpoints. To improve, focus on creating smoother transitions between sentences so that the flow of ideas feels more natural and less like a list of points. The referencing is generally clear, and the progression of the argument is easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'significance', 'advancement', 'simultaneously', and 'flexible medium'. There are no significant spelling errors, and the vocabulary is generally appropriate for the topic. However, the range is somewhat limited and lacks the more sophisticated, less common lexical items that would elevate the response to a higher band. To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations and topic-specific vocabulary related to the film industry or digital media consumption to show greater flexibility and precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are clear and grammatically accurate, which ensures that communication is not impeded. There are occasional minor errors, such as 'which also become a source of outing' (should be 'becomes') and 'cinemas held an important value' (could be 'held significant value'). You have good control over punctuation and basic grammar. To achieve a higher score, aim to incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as conditional sentences or more sophisticated relative clauses, while maintaining your current level of accuracy.

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