Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-09
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)
Nowadays, it made a huge conflict among the world, some people believe that in the digital era, theatres and cinemas are no longer important as people prefer to watch movies online on their mobile phones and at laptops as well. Others argue that theatres and cinemas are still important for both economically and culturally, however, I strongly believe that cinemas are important because they build more stronger relations with our family and helps economically.
On one hand, in modern era, people use to be on mobile phone throughout the day and technology has made easier everything nowadays, moreover, some people prefer to watch various type of entertainment online platforms like, Netflix, Jio, Amazon prime and many more, it made easier for those who wanted to spend their own time with such snacks. It is a best way for gatherings and family time, people use to spend more time and help to build up new memories. However, these are the platforms which are required to be paid monthly or by every week, which is quite expensive sometimes.
Secondly, cinemas and theatres had been a tradition to visit at certain malls or PVR, which builds the interest among the public. The offline cinemas has many functions for example, providing a large screen where concentration begins throughout the time, in addition having many facilities like popcorns, pizza and many more beverages which helps people to survive for at least three hours. In my opinion, people are more convenient with these type of cinemas and theatres rather than going for online platforms at their own home, it help everyone to explore new things and creates memories to them.
In conclusion, both the platforms are useful for todays generation, as it totally depends person to person what they want and when, However, spending time with family member is important in todays busy world so they prefer for theatres and cinemas offline.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| 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 in the introduction. However, the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. For example, the argument regarding the economic importance of cinemas is mentioned but not sufficiently explained or supported with specific evidence. The ideas are relevant, but the reasoning lacks depth, often relying on general statements about 'memories' or 'gathering' without exploring the broader cultural or economic implications requested by the prompt. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your points with more detailed analysis and specific examples.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, and there is a logical progression of ideas from the introduction to the conclusion. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly inaccurate. For instance, the phrase 'Nowadays, it made a huge conflict' is an awkward opening, and the transition 'However, these are the platforms' is slightly disjointed. While the paragraphing is appropriate, the internal flow within paragraphs could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that referencing (e.g., 'these type of cinemas') is more precise and grammatically sound.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express basic ideas. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'digital era' and 'convenient', but there are also instances of imprecise word choice and collocation errors, such as 'build more stronger relations' (redundant comparative) and 'people use to be on mobile phone'. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey meaning, but it lacks the precision and flexibility required for higher bands. Improving your grasp of collocations and avoiding repetitive phrasing would enhance your score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there is a high frequency of grammatical errors. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('cinemas and theatres had been a tradition'), incorrect preposition usage ('at their own home'), and awkward phrasing ('it made easier for those'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are persistent throughout the text. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, subject-verb agreement, and the correct use of articles and prepositions. The current level of accuracy is consistent with a band 5.5 or 6.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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