Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

It is often argued that in the digital age, theaters and cinemas are no longer crucial as people can see all the entertainment online, while others believe that theaters and cinemas are still important both economically and culturally. Although both perspectives have their merits, I believe that watching all the entertainment online whatever you want is more essential, portable and convenient. This essay will discuss both views before explaining my own perspective.

On the one hand, there are several reasons why some people believe that theatres and cinemas are no longer important. Firstly, the internet provides people with easy and affordable access to a huge variety of entertainment. This is because people can watch films, dramas and live performances from the comfort of their homes using streaming platforms. For example, online services often offer a wider range of content than local cinemas, allowing viewers to choose programmes according to their personal preferences. Therefore, it is understandable why some people consider online entertainment a better alternative.

On the other hand, theatres and cinemas continue to have significant economic and cultural benefits. One major reason is that these venues create employment for a large number of people, including actors, directors, technicians and other staff. In addition, cinemas and theatres contribute to local economies because audiences often spend money on transportation, food and other services when attending performances. From a cultural perspective, these venues provide people with a shared experience and help preserve traditional forms of art and performance. For example, watching a film or a theatrical performance with an audience can create a sense of community that cannot easily be reproduced at home.

Personally, I believe that theatres and cinemas remain important despite the rapid growth of online entertainment. Although streaming services are more convenient, they cannot completely replace the social and cultural experience of attending a cinema or theatre.

In conclusion, while online entertainment offers greater convenience and variety, theatres and cinemas continue to provide important economic, social and cultural benefits. In my view, both forms of entertainment can coexist, as they fulfil different needs in modern society.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have addressed all parts of the prompt, discussing both views and providing a clear personal opinion. However, there is a notable contradiction in your essay. In your introduction, you state that you believe online entertainment is 'more essential', but in your conclusion and body paragraph, you argue that theatres and cinemas remain important and that both forms can coexist. This inconsistency weakens your position. To reach a higher band, ensure your thesis statement in the introduction aligns perfectly with the arguments presented in the body and the final conclusion. The ideas are relevant and supported, but the lack of a consistent stance prevents a higher score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organised with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central topic, and you use cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In addition' effectively to guide the reader. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different viewpoints. The flow between sentences is generally smooth, though the transition between your stated opinion in the introduction and the subsequent body paragraphs could be more seamless. Overall, the structure is clear and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with some precision. Phrases like 'streaming platforms', 'personal preferences', and 'shared experience' are used correctly. While the vocabulary is functional and accurate, it lacks the 'less common' or 'sophisticated' items that would elevate the response to a higher band. There is some repetition of basic words like 'important' and 'entertainment'. To improve, try to incorporate more varied synonyms and idiomatic collocations related to the arts and digital media industries.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

Your grammar is generally accurate, and you use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your punctuation is handled well. There are no significant errors that impede communication. To move into the higher bands, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as inversion or more sophisticated conditional sentences, to demonstrate greater flexibility. Currently, your control is solid, but the range of structures remains somewhat standard.

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