Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-16
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)
The topic of the extinction of theatres and cinemas has become a widely discussed issue in contemporary society. Some people believe that theatres and cinemas are no longer important as people can watch all the entertainment they want online, while others argue that theatres and cinemas are still important both economically and culturally. This essay will critically evaluate both perspectives before offering a reasoned stance.
On the one hand, one crucial reason why people support theatres and cinemas are no longer significant as people can watch all the entertainment they want online. In this modern era, mobile phones, laptops, and televisions are more convenient than theatres and cinemas, which can have a significant impact on our daily lives; as a result, whenever we feel bored or exhausted, we can effortlessly watch any movie or anything. Additionally, supporters of this position argue that in social media, there are numerous entertainment chanels are availvail; therefore, we are more likely to watch their videos for entertainment and relaxation. A pertinent illustration of this can be seen in many countries, where people can watch Netflix, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram through mobile phones, thereby highlighting the tangible benefits of this approach.
On the other hand, one key reason why people support theatres and cinemas are still important both economically and culturally is that those are contain our history. This is mainly because at the past time, when we did not have mobile phones or other technologies, that time theatres was the only option for entertainment, which can ultimately lead to kept up happy. Another key explanation is that in this current world those are needed for maintaining the past history also earning money; hence, theatres and cinemas provide a huge ammount of economical support to their country, directly influencing the ability of the governmnet to source of a earning money.
In conclusion, after examining these arguments, I am convinced that this is the most rational stance. While various dimensions surround this issue, the analysis above makes clear that this view holds true, primarily because we can watch all entertainment videos through digital devices and also save our money and time, which is very beneficial for us. Therefore, this remains the most practical path forward.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views on the importance of theatres and cinemas, and provides a clear opinion in the conclusion. The introduction successfully outlines the scope of the essay, and body paragraphs present relevant ideas representing both perspectives. However, the development of ideas in the body paragraphs is occasionally repetitive and lacks depth, particularly in the third paragraph where the reasoning regarding historical and economic value becomes vague and slightly circular (e.g., 'those are contain our history'). While a clear position is maintained throughout, the supporting arguments would benefit from more precise elaboration and more convincing specific examples. Consequently, the performance aligns well with Band 6 descriptors.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with a clear paragraph-by-paragraph structure, including a proper introduction, distinct body paragraphs for each view, and a concluding summary. Cohesive devices are used to signal the progression of arguments, such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion'. However, referencing and cohesion are sometimes faulty or mechanical. For instance, the transition in the second sentence of the body paragraphs ('one crucial reason why people support theatres and cinemas are no longer significant') contains grammatical disruptions that affect the flow. Paragraphing is used appropriately overall, but internal cohesion occasionally falters due to awkward clause structures, placing this response solidly in Band 6.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using topic-related terms such as 'contemporary society', 'digital age', 'entertainment', and 'economically and culturally'. However, there are noticeable spelling and word-choice errors throughout the text, including 'chanels' instead of 'channels', 'availvail' instead of 'available', 'ammount' instead of 'amount', and 'governmnet' instead of 'government'. Additionally, phrasing such as 'at the past time' or 'source of a earning money' reveals limitations in lexical control and collocation. While these errors do not severely impede communication, their frequency prevents the score from reaching a higher band, making Band 5.0 the most accurate reflection.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some ambition in sentence structure with relative clauses and subordinate conjunctions. However, grammatical accuracy is weak throughout the piece. There are frequent structural errors and non-standard formulations, such as 'reasons why people support theatres and cinemas are no longer significant' (faulty complement clause), 'those are contain our history' (incorrect verb structure), and 'theatres was the only option' (subject-verb agreement error). Punctuation and word forms are also inconsistently managed. Because these errors occur frequently and occasionally strain the reader's comprehension, the writing fits the Band 5 descriptor.
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