Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-11
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 recent years, there has been considerable debate whether theatres and cinemas are no longer popular among individuals or it still holds its significance around the globe. In my opinion, cinemas are still important to adults and the young generation. We will discuss both of the views in this essay followed by my personal opinion.
On the one hand, a few people believe that cinemas and theatres have lost its value among the film lovers. The main reason for that is the availability of various online websites and apps which provides numerous kinds of movies to the viewer. Individuals find it easy and comfortable to watch movies in their house without someone disturbing their peace. For instance, majority of the population in China has started to avoid cinemas and theatres due to the increased number of patients suffering from the emitted radio-active rays.
On the other hand, I strongly believe that cinemas and theatres would never be out of business. People get a chance to watch the most popular films across the world and that too in a large screen. Watching a movie in cinema is itself a fascinating experience and the presence of crowd makes it further entertaining. On top of that, individuals do get the opportunity to enjoy the entire movie in 3D and excess the premium feature of the cinema. For example. popular films like F1 and spiderman brand new day are one of the most awaited movies among the fans. They wait several years for these movies to be released so that they can watch them in the theatre and spend quality time with their friends and family.
To conclude, in my opinion theatres and cinemas will be the most visited places in the future as well because the craze for this experience will never come to an end.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. The argument regarding online entertainment is supported by a rather unusual and unsubstantiated claim about 'radio-active rays' in China, which weakens the logical flow. The second paragraph provides more relevant points about the immersive experience of cinemas, but the examples provided (e.g., 'F1') are not clearly linked to the broader economic or cultural significance requested by the prompt. To reach a higher band, you should focus on providing more universally applicable and logical arguments, such as the social aspect of cinema or the economic impact on local businesses.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'To conclude', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally imprecise. For instance, the link between the introduction and the body paragraphs could be smoother. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the progression of ideas is generally clear, though the internal logic within the first body paragraph is slightly disjointed due to the specific example chosen.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'significance', 'fascinating experience', and 'premium feature'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation. For example, 'excess the premium feature' should be 'access the premium features', and 'emitted radio-active rays' is an awkward and likely incorrect usage in this context. There is also some repetition of basic vocabulary. To improve, try to incorporate more precise academic collocations and ensure that your word choices are contextually accurate to enhance the sophistication of your writing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
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 subject-verb agreement issues ('theatres and cinemas... holds its significance'), missing articles ('in cinema' should be 'in a cinema'), and punctuation errors (e.g., 'For example. popular films'). While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and article usage would significantly improve the accuracy of your writing.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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