Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)
Some individuals say that in the digital age, theatres and cinemas are no longer crucial as citizens can see all the entertainment they keen to watch online. Others argue that theatres and cinemas are still important both economically and culturally. I think everyone has different type of taste in everything. I will explain both sides and give my opinion. On one hand, these days young generations are becoming addicted to smartphones, computers, and such type of devices. The are spending lots of time on social media apps while chatting with their online friends. Furthermore, I think it is the biggest point behind decreasing the value of theatres and cinemas. Nowadays, everyone has cell phones and the want to watch everything on it while staying at home. For instance, after spending a lot of time on that type of activities people usually want to stay alone and they find it easier instead of going cinemas. On the other hand, many people are still preferring cinemas and theatres because they know the value of spending time with love once. I also prefer that type of activities because they allow us to make enjoyable and unforgettable memories. For example, individuals can go with their friends and parents to watch movies on big screen and enjoy each other's company as well. I think cinemas are very beneficial according to smartphones for watching movies. Nevertheless, everything has its own advantages and disadvantages. Personally, I would prefer people should go to the theatres for watching movies because that time can be unforgettable for the. In conclusion, people shouldn't give their smartphone to much value. Theatres and cinemas company should take care of family privacy. Cinemas still have lots of importance in my heart.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. For instance, the argument regarding the economic importance of theatres is mentioned in the prompt but is not explored in the body paragraphs, which focus almost exclusively on social and personal preferences. While the position is clear, the supporting points lack depth and specific examples, relying on generalisations about 'young generations' and 'smartphones'. To reach a higher band, you should provide more concrete evidence or logical reasoning to support your claims, ensuring that all parts of the prompt, including the economic aspect, are addressed.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, and there is a basic attempt at logical progression. You use some cohesive devices such as 'On one hand', 'Furthermore', and 'In conclusion'. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly unnatural, such as the transition 'I think it is the biggest point behind decreasing the value'. Additionally, referencing is occasionally unclear, and the flow between sentences could be improved to create a smoother reading experience. The paragraphing is present but the internal structure of the paragraphs needs more careful planning to ensure ideas follow one another logically.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. There are several instances of awkward phrasing and word choice errors, such as 'all the entertainment they keen to watch' (should be 'are keen to watch') and 'beneficial according to smartphones' (which is unclear). You rely on repetitive structures and basic vocabulary like 'type of activities' and 'things'. To improve, you should aim to use more precise collocations and a wider variety of topic-specific vocabulary related to media, economics, and cultural impact.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'The are spending' (instead of 'They are'), 'the want to watch' (instead of 'they want'), and 'love once' (instead of 'loved ones'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, and there are errors in subject-verb agreement and article usage. While the meaning is generally understandable, the frequency of these errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and pluralisation would significantly improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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