Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-02

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 5.0)

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.No longer important as people can watch all the entertainment they want online. Others argue that theatres and cinemas are still important both economically .

The rapid expansion of digital streaming services has transformed how audiences consume entertainment, leading some to claim that traditional venues like cinemas and theatres have become obsolete.

While home entertainment offers unprecedented convenience, I firmly believe that these physical venues remain essential from both a cultural and an economic standpoint.

Additionally, streaming eliminates associated costs such as travel, parking, and like cinemas and theatres have become obsolete.

While home entertainment offers unprecedented convenience, I firmly believe that these physical expensive ticket prices, making entertainment far more affordable and accessible.On the other hand, traditional venues offer distinct cultural and economic benefits that digital media cannot replicate.

The former staff dining rooms have been replaced by two separate counters: one for takeaway food and another for a coffee bar. The main area still accommodates tables and chairs, but the toilets have been removed. Additionally, the single bin has been replaced with recycling bins situated along the right boundary wall.

conclusion, although online platforms provide exceptional convenience and variety, physical venues offer invaluable social, artistic, and economic contributions. In my opinion, theatres and cinemas will continue to hold a crucial place in modern society as irreplaceable cultural hubs.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response4.0
Coherence and Cohesion4.5
Lexical Resource5.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.0

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to address the prompt effectively. While the introduction and conclusion attempt to discuss the importance of theatres, the body paragraphs are highly problematic. One paragraph contains repetitive text from the introduction, and the third paragraph is completely off-topic, discussing the layout of a staff dining room rather than the cultural or economic importance of cinemas. Consequently, the task is only partially addressed, and the development of ideas is severely compromised by the inclusion of irrelevant information. To improve, ensure that every paragraph directly supports your stated position and that you avoid repeating phrases from the prompt or previous sections.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 4.5

The essay lacks logical progression. The inclusion of an irrelevant paragraph about a dining room disrupts the flow of the argument entirely. While there are some attempts at cohesive devices such as 'Additionally' and 'On the other hand', the mechanical repetition of text from the introduction into the body paragraphs creates confusion. Paragraphing is present, but the content within the paragraphs does not follow a logical sequence. To improve, focus on planning your essay structure before writing to ensure that each paragraph contributes to a single, coherent argument and that ideas transition smoothly from one to the next.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task, with some appropriate collocations such as 'unprecedented convenience', 'digital streaming services', and 'irreplaceable cultural hubs'. However, the range is limited by the repetitive nature of the text and the inclusion of irrelevant content. There is little evidence of a wide range of sophisticated or less common lexical items. To improve, try to incorporate more topic-specific vocabulary related to economics and culture, and ensure that your word choices are varied and precise throughout the entire essay rather than repeating the same phrases.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatically correct sentences, such as 'The rapid expansion of digital streaming services has transformed how audiences consume entertainment'. However, the presence of fragmented sentences and the repetition of text lead to grammatical awkwardness. Punctuation is generally functional, but the overall control is inconsistent due to the disjointed nature of the writing. To improve, focus on ensuring that every sentence is complete and grammatically sound, and aim to use a wider variety of complex structures, such as conditional sentences or relative clauses, to enhance your grammatical range.

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

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