Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-18
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)
According to a few people entertainment is easily accessible through digital media, due to which cinemas and theatres are less essential, while some people think that they both are significant for the economy and culture. I believe that cinemas and theatres play an important role.
The advancement in technology has led to a drastic change in the digital environment. Many people now rely on digital media such as, Netflix, Youtube and Disney Plus. This has caused problems for the other entertainment industries, such as cinemas and theatres. People would spend less money on digital platforms, rather than spending more money in cinemas, as some cinemas are really expensive.
On the other hand, cinemas have better streaming quality and audio. A Large amount of movie fans would spend money in these cinemas so that they can experience better quality of the movie. cinemas also help the economy as many people spend money on these movies, and they prefer watching it in cinemas. There is a limited amount of Imax cinemas in many countries, so most people would sometimes travel to a different country just to experience the large cinema screens. Theatres and cinemas connect people, as large communities gather to watch different movies based on their genre. However, theatres play a significant role in shaping the stand-up comedy and also theatre plays. They both are necessary for boosting the economy and strengthening communities connections.
In conclusion, there is a huge amount of expansion of streaming platforms and mostly people prefer to watch it online, but cinemas can still play a crucial role for the film and stage industry.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views—that digital media makes cinemas less essential, and that theatres and cinemas remain economically and culturally important—while also presenting a clear personal opinion in the introduction and conclusion. Ideas are relevant, such as comparing the streaming quality of cinemas with online platforms and highlighting economic contributions. However, some arguments lack full extension and are slightly repetitive, leaning towards a Band 6.5 level. For instance, the point about travelling to other countries for Imax screens is a bit generalised and under-developed. Nevertheless, a clear position is maintained throughout, satisfying the core requirements of the task.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The text is generally coherent and follows a logical overall arrangement. Paragraphing is utilised, with an introduction, body paragraphs representing different viewpoints, and a conclusion. However, cohesion at times feels a bit mechanical or abrupt, particularly in transitions between sentences in the second body paragraph. Referencing is mostly clear, though expressions like 'They both are necessary' at the end of the third paragraph create slight ambiguity regarding what 'both' refers to (cinemas and theatres, or film and stage). Overall progression is visible, and the essay is easy to follow, placing it solidly in the Band 6.0 to 6.5 range.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for the task, incorporating terms such as 'accessible', 'drastic change', 'streaming quality', and 'economically and culturally'. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, though precision and collocation are occasionally imprecise, such as 'communities connections' instead of 'community connections'. Spelling and word choice are generally accurate and do not impede communication. The lexical range is sufficient for the task, though it lacks the flexibility and sophistication required for a Band 7.0, aligning best with Band 6.0 descriptors.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms. The student successfully constructs multi-clause sentences, such as 'Many people now rely on digital media such as, Netflix, Youtube and Disney Plus.' There are some grammatical inaccuracies and punctuation slips, for example, the unnecessary comma after 'such as' and slight misuse of prepositions like 'spend money on digital platforms, rather than spending more money in cinemas'. However, these errors do not impede communication, and the majority of simple sentences are clear. The control of grammar aligns well with Band 6.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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