Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-06

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)

In recent days, the world has been changing from manual tasks to automation. However, with the access of the internet, individuals can easily see content of their devices from anywhere in the world. One group of people still believes that in the current era, theaters and cinemas are still vital both economically and culturally. This essay will discuss both views, and then I will put in my opinion.

Firstly, due to the access of the internet to a large amount of the population, it is easy for anyone to watch any content from anywhere in the world. Additionally, with the advancement in technology and mobile devices in the pocket, viewers prefer to watch movies and dramas on their phones and other electronic gadgets. Everyone is so busy in their lives, and they have no time to go to the cinema or spend money on tickets, and they prefer to watch through online entertainment platforms. For instance, a financial report of Netflix, which is an online entertainment platform, revealed that in just the last two years their subscribers jumped from ten million to 65 million in Pakistan. This survey shows that now people prefer to see content online.

Secondly, another group argues that people can learn about their culture through cinemas and theaters. In theaters, audiences may have the opportunity to meet famous actors and gain a more authentic understanding of their culture. Moreover, when a new film is released, actors often visit cinemas to promote it and interact with their fans. For example, a cinema ticket may cost around 300 rupees, whereas watching the same content on YouTube can cost around 800 rupees. Therefore, cinemas can provide both cultural experiences and affordable entertainment.

In conclusion, according to my perspective, even though culture and finance are vital in human life, due to the busy and hectic routine of individuals, people prefer to see content online, which is very convenient to save energy as well as time.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both views and providing a clear personal opinion in the conclusion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. The argument regarding the economic importance of cinemas is weak, and the example provided—claiming that YouTube costs 800 rupees compared to a 300-rupee cinema ticket—is illogical and confusing, which undermines the persuasiveness of the argument. While the position is clear, the supporting evidence in the second body paragraph lacks the depth required for a higher band score. To improve, ensure that examples are logically sound and directly support the specific point being made.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct focus. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Additionally', 'Moreover', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader through the argument. However, the transition between ideas is sometimes mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally imprecise. For example, the link between the introduction and the body paragraphs could be smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the progression of ideas is generally easy to follow, though the logical flow within the second body paragraph is hampered by the confusing comparison of costs.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. There is an attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary such as 'automation', 'electronic gadgets', and 'entertainment platforms'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there are instances of slightly unnatural collocation, such as 'access of the internet' (should be 'access to the internet') and 'see content of their devices' (should be 'view content on their devices'). To reach a higher band, the student should focus on using more precise academic collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as 'In recent days' (instead of 'Recently'), 'access of the internet' (preposition error), and 'everyone is so busy in their lives' (awkward phrasing). Punctuation is generally correct, but the control over complex structures is inconsistent. The majority of the sentences are understandable, but the errors are frequent enough to prevent the response from reaching the 7.0 band. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and correct preposition usage would significantly improve the accuracy.

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