Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

Supporters of this view argue that theatres and cinemas will turn obsolete with the advent of digital era which makes it easier for people to access different form of media while on the other hand, opponents note that threatres and cinemas are essential for the economic and cultural growth of the media,

The growth of direct-to-home media and other online platforms has increased the accessibilty factor for movie watchers around the globe. People can now pay a small premium and watch shows of their desire at the comfort of their homes. A major revolution in this aspect can be attributed to the pandemic period when people had to stay locked in inside their homes for a long period of time. This era marked the boost in subscriptions and a growing affinity towards digital media. It also caused a permanent shift in the way people watch movie as they prefer to watch indie and local films in their home, A major evidence of this trend stems off from the fact that movie studios and producers are releasing some of their films directly on these platforms instead of screening them in cinemas.

The counter argument is that people are increasingly going to the cinemas as they are places of shared human values. The joy of having to share the same experience with people of similar interests is particularly important as a human being. People prefer to watch blockbuster movies produced by large studios like marvel, universal studios, etc in the theatres itself so as to enjoy all the nuances and details that is often missing when one tries to watch on their home television setup.

From my perspective, I belong to a bunch of people who would like a mix of both world. They prefer to watch series or indies films on digital platforms whereas they wouldn't mind spending an extra dime to watch blockbuster movies in the cinemas for it is rarely possible to mimic the sound and visual designs and quality in their household settings.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant, such as the convenience of streaming versus the immersive experience of cinemas. However, the development is somewhat uneven. The first paragraph is a single sentence that functions as an introduction but lacks a clear thesis statement. The discussion on economic and cultural importance mentioned in the prompt is touched upon but could be more explicitly linked to the arguments provided. Overall, the response covers all parts of the task well, but the depth of analysis could be improved by providing more specific examples beyond general references to 'blockbuster movies' or 'the pandemic'.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, each focusing on a distinct aspect of the topic. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'on the other hand', 'a major revolution', and 'the counter argument'. However, there are some issues with punctuation and sentence structure that affect flow. For instance, the first paragraph ends with a comma instead of a period, and there are run-on sentences in the second paragraph. Referencing is generally clear, but the transition between the introduction and the body paragraphs is slightly abrupt. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring punctuation is accurate would enhance the overall cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task. You use some good collocations like 'accessibilty factor', 'shared human values', and 'economic and cultural growth'. However, there are some inaccuracies and awkward phrasings, such as 'turn obsolete' (should be 'become obsolete'), 'stems off from the fact', and 'belong to a bunch of people'. Additionally, there are minor errors in word choice, such as 'movie' instead of 'movies' in the phrase 'way people watch movie'. To reach a higher band, focus on more precise vocabulary and ensure that collocations are used naturally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt complex sentences, there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation that occasionally impede readability. Examples include 'theatres and cinemas will turn obsolete with the advent of digital era' (missing articles), 'locked in inside their homes' (redundant), and 'marvel, universal studios, etc in the theatres itself' (capitalization and subject-verb agreement errors). The use of commas is inconsistent, particularly in the final paragraph. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, the correct use of articles, and ensuring that complex sentences are punctuated correctly to avoid run-on structures.

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

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