Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-07
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 this modern era few individuals consider that, traditional theatres and cinemas have become less popular because now people can entertain themselves by watching online; however, there is a debate that some people still believe that traditional cinemas are important for economically and culturally. From my point of view theatres and cinemas are still important for us.
On the one hand, there are several reasons why people believe that traditional theatres are no longer needed. One of the main reasons is that technological advancement, where cinemas have low video quality and poor sound system, since everyone has smart devices on hand no one wants to spend their time going to cinemas. For example, there are many online platforms, such as Netflix, YouTube, HBO and so on, where people can watch whatever they want in the best quality. Therefore, nowadays individuals are losing their interest in cinemas.
On the other hand, others argue that theatres and cinemas still have a significant impact on economically and culturally. The first reason is economic, these places create employment for many people including actors then a substantial amount of money allocated to the government. Secondly, cinemas and theatres provide a shared social experience that people can not completely get from watching something from home.Moreover theatres can preserve and promote local culture through live performance and traditional production.
In conclusion, though online entertainment is convenient and may reduce the popularity of traditional cinemas and theatres, I believe that these places as till important
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The essay addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the response falls short of the 250-word minimum requirement (247 words), which impacts the development of ideas. While the arguments regarding economic impact and social experience are relevant, they are somewhat brief and could have been expanded with more specific examples or deeper analysis to reach a higher band. The conclusion is also incomplete, ending abruptly without fully summarizing the main points or restating the position clearly. To improve, ensure all arguments are fully developed and the conclusion is a complete, well-structured paragraph.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'Moreover' are used to signal shifts in the argument. However, the flow is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing, such as the transition in the first paragraph ('there is a debate that some people still believe...'). Additionally, the final sentence is grammatically incomplete, which disrupts the overall cohesion of the conclusion. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring each sentence is complete would enhance the logical progression.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. There are some attempts at topic-specific vocabulary, such as 'technological advancement', 'substantial amount', and 'shared social experience'. However, there are instances of imprecise word choice and collocation errors, such as 'important for economically and culturally' (should be 'economically and culturally important') and 'money allocated to the government' (which is slightly unclear in this context). The range is sufficient to communicate, but lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. Examples include 'few individuals consider that, traditional theatres...' (incorrect comma usage), 'impact on economically and culturally' (incorrect adverb/adjective usage), and the incomplete final sentence ('I believe that these places as till important'). These errors are frequent enough to be noticeable but do not completely impede communication. To reach a higher band, the student should focus on sentence structure accuracy and proofreading for minor slips.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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