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)
As the technology has evolved, cinemas and theatres are considered out of date due to internet as the entertainment can be received within the comfort of the homes, however some people suggest that it is culturally unsuitable and it can be more expensive. This essays argues that cinemas and theatres are longer important.
Firstly, cinemas and theatres can cost more than watching entertainment online for instance, if you watch a movie in a cinema you would have to purchase a ticket for a single movie which would cost you double money than watching ot on an online platform. in addition to this, you have to be in a cinema to watch that movie which would require you to travel by a vehicle and thats another additional cost.
Secondly, you have to make reservations and requires you to be there at specific time. which means you do not get any personal customization.
whereas some people argue that the experience you get by cinemas and threatres are worthy of your time and that there is a whole culture for this industry and people should be respectful towards it. They also suggest that online platforms gain more profit and unfit for economy for example individuals separately spend money to watch the same movie.
In conclusion, people spend more money on tickets and on mode of transportation not only this but they also waste a lot of time. people should watch theatres only which it is required and to save time and energy they should stick to newer technology.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response addresses both views regarding the importance of cinemas and theatres in the digital age, presenting arguments about cost and convenience for the online view, and cultural and economic value for the alternative view. The student also states a personal opinion, concluding that cinemas and theatres are no longer important. However, the development of ideas is limited and somewhat repetitive. For example, the argument regarding cost is restated in different ways without deep exploration, and the point about economic impact in the opposing view is slightly confused. The position is clear throughout, but the support lacks extension, which places the response securely in the Band 5.5 to 6.0 range. It meets the general requirements of discussing both views, but the overall depth of task fulfillment is basic.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay displays a basic structural progression with an introduction, body paragraphs introduced by transition markers such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'In conclusion', and a concluding paragraph. However, paragraphing is sometimes awkward, with very short, underdeveloped paragraphs that disrupt the flow. Cohesive devices are used mechanically, and referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the sentence 'which means you do not get any personal customization' where the pronoun reference lacks a clear antecedent. Additionally, transitions between the counter-arguments and the writer's perspective could be smoother. Overall arrangement is coherent enough to follow, but the mechanical nature of the cohesion and weak paragraph structuring reflect a Band 5.5 performance.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is adequate for communicating basic ideas related to technology and entertainment, featuring terms like 'entertainment', 'online platform', 'reservations', and 'transportation'. However, the range of vocabulary is limited and repetitive, with frequent reliance on basic words. There are notable lexical inaccuracies and awkward collocations, such as 'double money than watching ot on an online platform' (instead of 'twice as much as watching it'), and 'threatres' (spelling error). The attempt to use less common items is limited, and word choice errors occasionally surface, though they do not completely impede understanding. This profile matches the descriptors for Band 5.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The student attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, but control over grammar and punctuation is inconsistent. There are frequent grammatical errors, such as missing articles ('As the technology has evolved', 'cinemas and theatres are longer important'), subject-verb agreement issues ('reservations and requires you'), and run-on sentences or sentence fragments ('which means you do not get any personal customization'). Punctuation is also faulty, with comma splices and missing periods at the ends of thoughts. While some simple sentences are correct, the frequency of errors in complex structures causes noticeable difficulty for the reader at times, aligning the response with Band 5.0.
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