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)
There is considerable debate about importance of cinemas and theatres. While some people believe cinemas and theatres are no longer important because people watch all the entertainment on the digital platforms, others argued that cinemas and theatres still consist of some economically and cultural importance. In my opinion, online entertainment is more convenient, although theatres and cinemas still play a crucial role and remain valuable to society.
On the one hand, this is true that each and every entertainment and shows are available online and it is more convenient also because we can watch them on digital platform at our homes with our preference of timing and day. Most importantly, technology also help a lot in this case because they make good high-quality speakers and large screen for watching movies at home. For instance, during a house construction people start making their studio rooms for entertainment and watching all shows online without disturbing the other members of the family. As a result, many people prefer staying at home rather than travelling to cinema.
On the other hand, theatres and cinemas still play indispensable role for economic development. Although people prefer watching all these shows at home, theatre should do something to attract the audience for instance they have to provide some discounts on the latest movies and give attractive food coupons. Moreover, they need to do marketing of their entertainment shows on social media for attracting the audience with attractive offers.
In conclusion, online watching is more convenient however, theatres and cinemas also contribute to economic development because they provide jobs and business to many cafes. I believe both play an important role that's why both have to coexists in future.
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 limited. While the first body paragraph effectively explains the convenience of online entertainment, the second paragraph regarding the economic importance of theatres is less developed. The suggestion that theatres should offer 'discounts' or 'food coupons' is a practical business strategy rather than a deep exploration of the broader cultural or economic significance of these venues. To reach a higher band, you should expand on the cultural value of shared experiences or the specific economic impact on local communities.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two opposing views. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and better referencing. For example, the connection between the economic argument and the suggestion of marketing could be smoother.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'indispensable' and 'coexists'. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice and collocation errors, such as 'consist of some economically and cultural importance' (should be 'possess economic and cultural importance') and 'marketing of their entertainment shows' (should be 'marketing their films'). The range is sufficient to communicate, but lacks the precision and sophistication required for higher bands.
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 grammatical errors, particularly with articles ('the importance', 'the theatres'), subject-verb agreement ('technology also help'), and pluralization ('each and every entertainment and shows'). Some sentences are slightly awkward, such as 'this is true that each and every entertainment... are available'. These errors do not impede communication, but they demonstrate a lack of consistent control over complex structures.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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