Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

In today's digital world, online streaming platforms allow people to access a wide variety of entertainment from home. Because of this, some people feel that traditional theatres and cinemas have lost their importance. However, others believe these venues remain vital for cultural and economic reasons. In my opinion, although online entertainment is very convenient, physical venues still play an irreplaceable role in modern society.

On the one hand, proponents of online streaming argue that traditional venues are becoming obsolete. Streaming services like Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon Prime provide instant access to thousands of movies, plays, and concerts at a fraction of the cost of a cinema ticket. Furthermore, watching content at home offers unmatched comfort and flexibility, as viewers can pause, rewind, or watch whenever they want without traveling or waiting in lines. As a result, many people prefer staying home, making physical venues seem less necessary for daily entertainment.

On the other hand, many people argue that cinemas and theatres hold significant economic and cultural value. Economically, the entertainment and movie industry generates millions of dollars and creates thousands of jobs, ranging from actors and directors to ticket sellers and maintenance staff. Local businesses near these venues, such as restaurants and cafes, also benefit when people go out for a movie night. Culturally, theatres preserve traditional art forms like live drama and opera, while cinemas offer a shared social experience. Watching a visual masterpiece on a large screen with high-quality sound creates an immersive atmosphere that a small home TV or phone screen cannot replicate.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both perspectives and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the economic and cultural arguments in the second body paragraph. However, the essay lacks a concluding paragraph to summarize the main points and reiterate the writer's position, which is a requirement for a fully developed response. While the position is clear in the introduction, the absence of a conclusion prevents the essay from reaching the highest band. The arguments are relevant and supported with logical reasoning, such as the mention of local business benefits and the immersive nature of cinema.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the two viewpoints is handled effectively using phrases like 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand'. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'As a result', and 'Economically' are used appropriately to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is sufficient, although the lack of a final concluding paragraph makes the overall structure feel slightly incomplete. Referencing is clear throughout, and the flow of information is smooth and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses a range of topic-specific terms such as 'obsolete', 'unmatched comfort', 'immersive atmosphere', and 'traditional art forms'. The word choice is generally precise and contributes to a professional tone. There are no significant errors in spelling or word formation. While the range is adequate to convey complex ideas, it could be further enhanced by incorporating more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic expressions to demonstrate a higher level of lexical flexibility and precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The response demonstrates a good command of grammatical structures. The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentences effectively, such as 'Although online entertainment is very convenient, physical venues still play an irreplaceable role in modern society.' Punctuation is accurate, and there are very few grammatical errors. The majority of sentences are error-free, showing good control over complex structures. To reach a higher band, the student could experiment with a wider variety of complex sentence patterns and more sophisticated subordinating conjunctions to further demonstrate grammatical flexibility.

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