Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-05

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 7.0)

In the digital era, cinemas and theatres have lost some of their significance in society because the same movies and shows are now easily available on online platforms such as Prime Video and Netflix. However, cinemas and theatres continue to have financial and cultural importance. I agree that they still play a significant role in society because they provide employment and offer a unique cultural and entertainment experience.

On the one hand, the digital era has brought a major change to the entertainment industry by making movies and shows available on mobile devices. As a result, people can watch their favourite content whenever and wherever they want. Platforms such as Prime Video and Netflix have attracted millions of viewers by offering a wide range of content at relatively affordable subscription prices. This convenience has reduced the need for people to visit cinemas regularly, as they can enjoy entertainment from the comfort of their homes.

On the other hand, cinemas and theatres have considerable cultural and financial significance. They have a long history and are associated with many memorable experiences. Watching a movie on a mobile phone cannot provide the same experience as watching it on a large cinema screen with high-quality sound systems such as Dolby Atmos and advanced viewing technologies such as IMAX, 3D and 4DX. Furthermore, cinemas and theatres provide employment for many people, including staff members, technicians and cleaners. If people completely stopped visiting these places, many workers could face financial difficulties.

In conclusion, although streaming movies and shows on mobile devices is convenient and affordable, visiting cinemas and theatres provides a completely different experience. They allow people to enjoy high-quality entertainment and spend valuable time with friends and family. Therefore, I believe that cinemas and theatres continue to have both financial and cultural significance in modern society.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response7.0
Coherence and Cohesion7.5
Lexical Resource6.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy7.5
Overall7.0

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both the decline of cinemas due to digital platforms and their ongoing economic and cultural relevance. You clearly state your position in the introduction and maintain it throughout the essay. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the contrast between the convenience of home streaming and the immersive experience of cinema technologies like IMAX and 4DX. To reach a higher band, you could further expand on the 'cultural' aspect by discussing the social ritual of going to the theatre, which would add more depth to your argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

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 smooth, using appropriate cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand'. The conclusion effectively summarizes your position. The use of referencing is clear, and the flow of information is natural. The paragraphing is sufficient and contributes to the overall clarity of the argument, making the text easy to follow throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for the topic, such as 'significance', 'subscription prices', and 'immersive'. The use of specific industry terms like 'Dolby Atmos' and '4DX' adds precision to your writing. While the vocabulary is accurate and fits the context well, it remains somewhat functional. To achieve a higher band, you could incorporate more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic expressions to demonstrate a more flexible and nuanced command of the language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of conditional clauses ('If people completely stopped...') and subordinate clauses ('although streaming movies... is convenient'). The grammar is generally accurate, with very few errors. Punctuation is used correctly to manage the flow of ideas. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout the response, which is a strong indicator of a high level of grammatical competence.

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

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