Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-04
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)
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. They believe in the modern age, life has become very fast-paced and overwhelmed and no one has enough time to especially go and sit in theaters and watch a play for 2 hours.
Moreover, they think it is more convenient and inexpensive to watch your favorite show sitting in your TV launch or room. Because going to watch a movie in cinemas require tickets which are quite expensive and you have to pay petrol or ride because cinemas are often in the city center away from residence area. Another factor is selection, you can not particularly pick the show you want to watch you have to see whatever is broadcasted. That's why people prefer watching show or movie online rather than cinemas.
While there are some other people who have completely opposite stance. They believe although online streaming apps like Netflix and YouTube have much more exposure than cinemas but theaters still have their loyal audience. And every play portrayed in theaters is not just a waste of time because they represent culture of our ancestors. So, it might be slow and boring for young generation but it still teaches them important and crucial life lessons.
Furthermore, theaters are important for many people because they earn their livelihood from it. And they are very important economically. Also they take huge taxes which are then used by government for the wellbeing of people.
In my opinion, theaters remains vital because they preserve culture and connect people through live storytelling. And it is important as it reflects society and give voice to issues that other media often ignore.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both views and providing a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. The arguments regarding the convenience of online streaming are well-supported, but the points about the economic and cultural importance of theatres are a bit generic and could benefit from more specific examples or deeper analysis. For instance, mentioning a specific type of theatre or a concrete economic impact would strengthen the essay. The position is clear throughout, but the depth of argumentation prevents it from reaching the higher bands.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each focusing on a specific aspect of the prompt. There is a clear progression of ideas from the arguments against theatres to the arguments in their favor, and finally the conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'While', 'Furthermore', and 'In my opinion' are used to link ideas. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally repetitive. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure is easy to follow, which meets the requirements for a Band 6.5 or 7.0 level of organization.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to convey their meaning clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'fast-paced', 'livelihood', and 'vital'. However, there are also some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'TV launch' (likely meaning lounge) and 'pay petrol or ride'. The range is sufficient to discuss the topic, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for a higher band score. Improving the variety of collocations would significantly enhance the quality of the writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation, such as 'cinemas require' (subject-verb agreement), 'residence area' (missing article), and 'theaters remains' (subject-verb agreement). Additionally, some sentences are slightly awkward, such as 'they take huge taxes'. While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. A more consistent control over articles, prepositions, and subject-verb agreement is needed to reach the next level.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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