Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-15

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)

There is an ongoing debate about whether the cinemas are more important or online movie platforms. Some people argue that in this digital era, online platforms may replace cinemas or theaters theaters , while others argue that cinemas and theaters have a noticeable impact on the financial and tradition sectors. I hold the view that cinemas and theaters are still crucial in order to benefit country's monetary.

One of the main reason of allowing the audience to watch movies in cinemas is definitely to boost up the economy of the country. As more people come to watch a movie in cinema halls, the more revenue will be generated. In addition, numerous employment opportunities will be created for number of citizens. For example, around any movie theater, there are different type of food stalls like popcorns, slushes and fries that can be observed.

Another significant advantage is that the cinemas therefore promote the cultural and traditional values of the country. People from different regions come to watch their favorite movies and enjoy their leisure time. They meet people with different cultural backgrounds and discuss about story of the movie and hero, which enhance the social interaction among the people.

Many people argue that cinemas are no longer crucial. In addition, the OTT platforms like Netflix, Prime Video may have some considerable benefits, for instance, the access to the movies or web-series have become easily reachable and usually a very little cost. But I firmly believe that few of the online websites are putting an extra burden to the film industry by pirating the movie in unauthorized manner before or just after release.

In conclusion, although the online platforms could save money, the cinemas are significantly important for holding a sustainable economy and promoting national culture.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views—that cinemas are no longer important due to online platforms, and that they remain economically and culturally significant—while also stating a clear personal position in the introduction and conclusion. Ideas are relevant, such as the economic boost from job creation and food stalls, and the cultural interaction fostered by attending physical venues. However, some arguments lack full extension and suffer from minor lapses in clarity, such as the underdeveloped argument regarding piracy at the end. Overall, the performance aligns well with the requirements for Band 6.5 to 7.0, and a Band 6.5 is awarded as some ideas tend to be slightly limited or under-developed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay displays a clear logical organization with an introduction, body paragraphs discussing distinct points, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices are used to signal transitions, such as 'One of the main reason', 'In addition', and 'Another significant advantage'. However, there are instances of faulty or mechanical cohesion and referencing errors, such as 'the cinemas therefore promote' where the adverb 'therefore' is used inappropriately. Paragraphing is generally used sufficiently and appropriately, but internal cohesion within paragraphs occasionally feels slightly disjointed. This level of organization and cohesive control corresponds well to a Band 6.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common lexical items such as 'employment opportunities', 'sustainable economy', and 'unauthorized manner'. However, there are noticeable inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'financial and tradition sectors' instead of 'traditional or cultural sectors', and 'benefit country's monetary'. There are also repetitive lexical choices and typographical errors like 'theaters theaters'. Despite these flaws, the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended meaning without impeding communication, fitting the Band 6 descriptor.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing relative clauses and conditional structures. However, grammatical errors are frequent throughout the text. Examples include 'One of the main reason' (plural agreement error), 'As more people come to watch a movie in cinema halls, the more revenue will be generated' (missing article and structural awkwardness), and 'discuss about story' (unnecessary preposition). While these errors do not severely impede communication, they persist across both simple and complex structures, preventing the essay from reaching a Band 7. The profile fits comfortably within Band 6.

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