Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-14

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 6.5)

These days, social media has become an important source of entertainment. However, the most effective method for dealing with digitalization is to promote cinemas according to the modern standards of society. Some people believe that due to the internet, the value of theaters has dropped, while others believe that cinemas are still valuable for enhancing the cultural value of a country. In my perspective, to enhance the commercial value of a country, cinemas hold the same importance as the internet, and in this essay, I will support my opinion with examples.

Firstly, cinemas are essential for promotions. By this, I mean that without cinemas, the market value of a movie cannot be accurately identified. For example, because of cinemas, people were able to know about the multi-million-dollar box office success of Spider-Man. This helps a movie a lot, as more people get attracted to it. If the market value is unknown, the promotion of a movie becomes difficult.

Another reason why I agree with this is that cinemas help to enhance the economic value of a country, as well as hold significant importance in promoting culture. Take global cinema as an example: when different Hollywood movies are released worldwide, this helps people understand other cultures while also helping the American economy thrive through taxes collected from movie ticket sales and box office revenue.

On the other hand, the internet helps people watch every type of movie and drama without paying heavy theater taxes, and it is more comfortable and peaceful. Furthermore, it helps families spend quality time together at home. However, streaming platforms do not benefit a country's economy to a great extent compared to the theatrical box office. Therefore, the drawbacks of missing out on economic growth may outweigh the benefits of home viewing. As a result, cinemas remain much more important and far more beneficial than streaming resources alone.

To sum up, although it is a common belief that people prefer social media and streaming more compared to cinemas or theaters in today's world, I believe that theaters are vital for enhancing the market value of a movie and providing significant financial benefits to the country.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both the view that cinemas are unimportant due to the digital age and the opposing view regarding their economic and cultural value, while also providing a clear personal opinion. The position is maintained throughout the essay. Ideas are extended and supported, such as mentioning Hollywood movies and the box office success of Spider-Man to illustrate economic and cultural impacts. However, some arguments could be explored in greater depth to reach a higher band level, as certain points regarding streaming versus theatrical release tend to generalise. Overall, the requirements of Task 2 are well met, earning a solid Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, beginning with an introduction that outlines the debate and states the writer's position, followed by body paragraphs discussing promotional aspects, economic values, and the counter-argument regarding online streaming. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Another reason why', 'On the other hand', and 'To sum up' are used to connect ideas effectively, although referencing and linking can sometimes feel a bit formulaic. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, resulting in a cohesive structure that guides the reader smoothly from start to finish.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student uses an adequate and generally appropriate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating less common lexical items such as 'digitalization', 'multi-million-dollar', 'box office success', and 'thrive'. While there are occasional inaccuracies in word choice or phrasing—such as 'dealing with digitalization' in the introduction where a different term might fit better—the vocabulary is sufficient to convey precise meanings without impeding communication. Spelling and word formation are generally accurate, reflecting a sound command of English lexically.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing relative clauses and conditional-like structures effectively (e.g., 'If the market value is unknown, the promotion of a movie becomes difficult'). There is good control over punctuation and grammar overall, with frequent error-free sentences. Minor grammatical slips occur, but these do not impede communication or strain the reader. The structural variety and accuracy comfortably support a Band 6.5 rating.

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