Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

In recent years, the rapid proliferation of high-speed internet and smart devices has fundamentally altered entertainment consumption habits. One group believes that individuals can easily view content on their devices from anywhere in the world. While another 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 state my opinion.

Firstly, with the widespread availability of the internet, it is easy for anyone to watch any content from anywhere in the world. Additionally, with the advancement in technology and mobile devices readily available, viewers prefer to watch movies and dramas on their phones and other electronic gadgets. Everyone has busy 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 figure demonstrates that now people prefer to consume content online.

Secondly, another group argues that people can learn about their culture through cinemas and theaters. Culturally, cinemas and theaters serve as communal spaces that foster shared emotional experiences—a collective resonance that solitary streaming in a living room cannot replicate. Live theater, in particular, offers an unscripted dynamism between actors and audiences that digital screens fail to capture. Economically, the film and performing arts industries rely heavily on theatrical releases to generate revenue, which in turn finances future artistic production. Additionally, these venues stimulate local commerce by driving foot traffic to neighboring restaurants, retail outlets, and public transport systems.

In conclusion, in my view, while the convenience of digital platforms is undeniable, the unique cultural and economic contributions of physical venues remain irreplaceable.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt. You clearly identify both perspectives and provide a personal opinion in the conclusion. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the economic and cultural arguments in the second body paragraph. The example regarding Netflix in Pakistan is relevant and adds depth to your argument. To reach a higher band, ensure your personal opinion is more explicitly stated in the introduction or throughout the body paragraphs, rather than just appearing in the final sentence, to ensure a more consistent position throughout the essay.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with clear paragraphing. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the two viewpoints is smooth. You use cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Additionally', and 'In conclusion' effectively to guide the reader. However, some transitions between sentences within paragraphs could be more sophisticated to improve the flow. For instance, the link between the Netflix example and the broader argument about convenience could be tightened to avoid a slightly mechanical feel. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, using terms like 'proliferation', 'communal spaces', 'collective resonance', and 'unscripted dynamism'. These choices are precise and appropriate for the academic context. There are no significant spelling errors, and word choice is generally accurate. To improve, try to incorporate more idiomatic collocations or nuanced academic phrases to demonstrate a wider, more flexible range. The current vocabulary is sufficient for the task and allows for clear communication of complex ideas.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use subordinate clauses effectively, such as 'while the convenience of digital platforms is undeniable, the unique cultural and economic contributions... remain irreplaceable.' Most sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation is solid. There are no major grammatical slips that impede communication. To aim for a higher band, you could experiment with more varied sentence types, such as inverted structures or more complex conditional sentences, to further demonstrate grammatical flexibility.

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