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)
Nowadays, some individuals argue that in the digital era, theatres and movie houses have become obsolete due to online entertainment. Others believe that playhouses and film halls are vital economically and culturally. It is widely believed that this issue has significantly risen all around world. I agree with this they play a crucial role in sustainable development. This essay will discuss both perspectives.
On the one hand, in a technological world, stage venues are not necessary. This is owing to the internet and social media development, and they offer a plethora of mass media. Numerous opportunities are available for people, they pass their time through streaming distinct online platforms. For instance, the public can watch new shows, movies, and dramas on their gadgets from any location they do not need to travel to traditional venues. This is extremely convenient and easily accessible. In addition, this is a beneficial tool for introverts, as they can access this opportunity from the comfort of their homes without disturbing their routines.
On the other hand, performing arts centers and cinemas are advantageous for the economic situation and customs. They create employment prospects which help the economy and citizens' lifestyles. Moreover, they provide knowledge in accordance with ethical and aesthetic behavior. Such as a substantial amount of the public viewing history-based seasons and pictures.
In conclusion, although live performances and film screenings will diminish in the future, however, I strongly believe that these traditional places have significant positive impacts on society, and government authorities need to focus on this side for development and creating a number of job openings.
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 essay addresses both sides of the argument and provides a clear personal opinion. However, the development of ideas is somewhat uneven. While the first body paragraph provides a clear explanation for the decline of cinemas, the second body paragraph is quite brief and lacks specific examples to support the claims about economic and cultural benefits. The mention of 'history-based seasons' is vague and does not effectively illustrate the cultural importance of theatres. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your arguments with more concrete examples or detailed explanations to ensure all parts of the task are fully developed.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct focus. You use cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In addition' to guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and there is a minor issue with sentence structure in the conclusion where 'although' and 'however' are used together, which is redundant. The progression of ideas is generally clear, but the link between the economic benefits and the cultural impact in the second body paragraph could be smoother to improve the overall flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic, using terms like 'obsolete', 'plethora', and 'sustainable development'. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, though some collocations are slightly unnatural, such as 'movie houses' or 'film halls' instead of the more standard 'cinemas' or 'theatres'. Additionally, the phrase 'this side for development' is vague. While your vocabulary is adequate for the task, incorporating more precise academic collocations would help elevate your writing to a higher band.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as comma splices ('Numerous opportunities are available for people, they pass their time...') and minor issues with article usage and prepositional phrases. The sentence 'Such as a substantial amount of the public viewing history-based seasons and pictures' is a sentence fragment and lacks a main verb. While these errors do not significantly impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on sentence boundary punctuation and ensuring every sentence has a clear subject and verb will improve your accuracy.
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