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)

While many people argue that cinemas and theatres no longer hold importance in today's world, there is another group of people who believe that it can provide benefit to the economy of the state and improve cultural interaction between people. I side with the latter argument.

Longer working hours and busy schedule has led people to alter their ways to consume entertainment. In the modern world, where time is valued the most, it has become difficult to take out time for a movie and enjoy it with leisure in cinema. People prefer to watch films and tv shows online while sitting comfortably at home, without any time restriction, unlike the movie theatres where you need to follow the screening schedule. For instance, there is a variety of movies and series available on online platform such as Netflix, Amazon Prime that are easily accessible and much more convenient.

On the other, going to theatre to enjoy not just the movie but to experience it on much bigger level is appreciated by a lot of people. Movie theatres create an environment for the audience with the sound quality and large screens that leaves these people with a greater impact than watching it online. In result, they invest to gain this experience in cinemas, benefitting the economy in the longer run. Socialization is also one of the reasons that people head out to movie theatres. There is a sense of belonging because this type of entertainment can strengthen bonds of a community. Recently the release of Spiderman movie brought together thousands of people around the globe to the cinemas, where they shared their love for the movie.

In conclusion , in the digital world while some people prefer to watch movies online, there are many people who take out time and choose to enjoy movies in theatre to gain the experience. I agree with the notion that this can ultimately benefit the economy and help culture to grow.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response6.5
Coherence and Cohesion6.5
Lexical Resource6.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy6.0
Overall6.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both views and providing a clear personal opinion. The ideas are relevant and generally well-developed, particularly the arguments regarding economic benefits and social interaction. However, the development could be slightly more nuanced; for instance, the economic argument is mentioned but could be supported with more specific detail beyond just 'investing' in the experience. The position is consistent throughout the essay, and the conclusion effectively summarizes the stance. Overall, the response meets the requirements for a Band 7, as it addresses all parts of the task with a clear position and supported ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central focus, and the transition between the two viewpoints is handled well using phrases like 'On the other' and 'In conclusion'. Cohesive devices are used effectively, such as 'For instance' and 'In result' (though 'As a result' would be more natural). Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, the two body paragraphs, and the conclusion. The flow is smooth, and the reader can easily follow the writer's line of reasoning throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is sufficient for the task and allows for some flexibility. The writer uses topic-specific terms like 'cultural interaction', 'screening schedule', and 'sense of belonging'. There are some minor inaccuracies in collocation, such as 'on much bigger level' (should be 'on a much larger scale') and 'In result' (should be 'As a result'). However, these errors do not impede communication. The range of vocabulary is adequate to convey the intended meaning clearly, and the writer demonstrates an ability to use less common items, which is characteristic of the Band 6.5 to 7.0 range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are some grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('Longer working hours and busy schedule has led' should be 'have led') and minor article usage errors ('going to theatre' should be 'going to the theatre'). Despite these slips, the meaning is always clear, and the errors do not cause difficulty for the reader. The writer demonstrates a good command of complex structures, such as the use of 'While...' and '...where you need to follow...'. The control of grammar is generally good, justifying a Band 6.5.

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

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