Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · 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 5.0)

Theatres and cinemas are getting old nowadays, because of digital platforms online. Although, it is very time taking for individuals to watch movies in theatres and costly as well. I believe it is still useful for spending enjoyable moments with their loved ones and for the knowledge of future individuals both economically and culturally.

To commence with, these days people are getting more towards into online platforms for entertainment or watching any upcoming film instead of using cinema because it costs a much higher in travelling. Food and drinks items are also quite expensive inside the cinema; people have to sit there for several hours in continuity which is very frustrating for most of them. People are getting more interested in watching series

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response4.0
Coherence and Cohesion5.0
Lexical Resource5.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.0

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 4.0

The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, reaching only 123 words. Consequently, the task is addressed only partially. While you introduce both sides of the argument and state an opinion, the ideas are significantly underdeveloped. The second paragraph begins to discuss the disadvantages of cinemas but stops abruptly, and the essay lacks a conclusion or a full discussion of the cultural and economic importance mentioned in the prompt. To improve, you must expand on your points with specific examples and ensure all parts of the prompt are addressed in full paragraphs.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.0

The essay shows some attempt at logical organization, using a transition phrase like 'To commence with'. However, the abrupt ending of the second paragraph and the lack of a concluding paragraph mean there is no clear overall progression. Cohesive devices are limited and somewhat mechanical. The text feels like a fragment rather than a complete essay. To improve, ensure each paragraph has a clear topic sentence, supporting details, and a concluding thought, and use a wider variety of linking words to connect your ideas smoothly throughout the entire piece.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is adequate for basic communication but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. Phrases like 'getting old nowadays' and 'time taking' are somewhat informal or non-standard. You rely on simple descriptors and struggle to incorporate more sophisticated or academic vocabulary related to the topic of entertainment and economics. To improve, focus on learning topic-specific collocations and more precise academic vocabulary. For example, instead of 'getting old', use 'becoming obsolete' or 'declining in popularity'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The response contains a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures, but there are noticeable errors that occasionally hinder clarity. For instance, 'people are getting more towards into online platforms' is grammatically awkward, and 'it costs a much higher in travelling' is incorrect. There are also issues with punctuation and sentence fragments. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and correct preposition usage. Practice writing complex sentences using subordinating conjunctions like 'although' or 'whereas' while ensuring the internal grammar of those clauses remains accurate.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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