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)
Movies play a vital role in everyone's life. In past, people used to watch movie at home. But nowadays people watch movie in cinemas and theatres. There has been a considerable debate on the issue people should watch movie in cinema and theatres or online.
On the one hand, people live in modern era so they think that watch movie in cinema and theatres are still important and they can spend quality time with their family and friends. This makes the experience more enjoyable. Live theatre also helps people learn about culture. It gives the actors a chance to show their talent. Cinemas and threates also provide job. Near shops and restaurants can also earn money. For example, In England many people go to cinema and theatres in the weekend and they think that in this way spend quality time with family members .
on the other hand, some people believe that, people can watch the movie on the internet in this way they can save the money and they do not need to travel. People can watch movie at any time. For example, in India many people live in rural area. They do not have time to go to cinema and theatres so they can watch movie on the online it is very cheap and convenient.
Further enhancing my views, both are very important for people. They go to cinema and theatres at the weekend so they spend quality time with their family or friends. People can watch online movies on You Tube . They think that It is very cheap and easy.
In conclusion, different people have different notions regarding this statement but I have sound reasons to advocate that although online entertainment is very easy but challenges it poses should not be overlooked.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a personal opinion, though the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. While you mention economic and cultural benefits, the points are listed rather than fully explored. For instance, the mention of 'jobs' and 'shops' is a good starting point but lacks specific elaboration to reach a higher band. Your position is stated in the conclusion, but it would be more effective if it were clearly established in the introduction and maintained throughout the essay. To improve, ensure each paragraph provides a clear, well-supported argument rather than a list of brief points.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is quite mechanical and sometimes repetitive (e.g., 'In this way' is used multiple times). There are also issues with referencing; for example, the transition 'Further enhancing my views' does not logically connect to the previous paragraph. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words such as 'consequently,' 'furthermore,' or 'nevertheless' to create a smoother flow between sentences and paragraphs.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. You frequently use simple phrases like 'watch movie' and 'spend quality time.' There are also some minor errors in word choice, such as 'threates' (spelling) and 'in the weekend' (preposition error). To reach a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more precise, topic-specific vocabulary related to the entertainment industry and avoid repeating the same phrases throughout the text.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay relies heavily on simple sentence structures. While there are some attempts at complex sentences, they often contain grammatical errors, such as 'people live in modern era so they think that watch movie in cinema and theatres are still important.' There are frequent errors with articles ('the' cinema), subject-verb agreement, and pluralisation. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction and ensuring that your complex sentences are grammatically sound. Proofreading for small errors like missing articles or incorrect verb forms will significantly improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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