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)
There is no denying the face that theatres and cinemas are popular method for entertainment. While it is a commonly held belief that some people believe that in the digital age, theatres and cinemas are no longer important as people can watch all the entertainment they want online, there is also an argument that theatres and cinemas are still crucial both economically and culturally. This essay will analyse this topic from both points of view and express my opinion.
On one hand, watching online films becomes the most effective way to get entertainment among people. In other words, there are alot of application like Facebook and Youtube to watch various films and funny reels, as a result, people now believe that cinemas and theatres become boring. In addition, people should pay an enormous amount of money for tickets to get into cinemas. For example, the viewers get annoyed after watching because there is alot of noise during the show.
On the other hand, the majority of people think that theatres and cinemas are the suitable way to know about their local culture and improve the economic situation. It is possible to say that, going into cinemas is the most beneficial way to teaching young people about their ancient culture. Moreover, it enhances the economic status of the country, For instance, a lot of tourists from other countries pay for watching a show on many old theatres to enjoying their time.
In conclusion, there are no easy answers to this questions on balance, however I tend to believe that watching online films on laptops is the easiest way to enjoy our time.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both views—the decline of theatres in the digital age versus their ongoing economic and cultural importance—and providing the writer's own opinion. However, the development of ideas remains somewhat superficial. For example, the arguments regarding economic benefits are basic and repetitive, asserting that cinemas help young people learn culture and attract tourists, but lacking deep elaboration or concrete data. The position is stated, but the support for each view tends to over-generalise rather than fully extend the arguments. Consequently, the response aligns best with Band 6.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with a clear paragraph structure, utilizing standard introductory, body, and concluding paragraphs. Cohesive devices are employed, such as 'On one hand', 'In other words', and 'In conclusion', though some are used mechanically. Referencing is occasionally weak; for instance, the phrase 'knowing about their local culture and improve the economic situation' lacks a clear antecedent for 'their' in this context. While the logical progression is generally maintained, the mechanical application of transitions and slight referencing issues keep the cohesion at a Band 6 level.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, successfully communicating the writer's ideas. There are attempts at less common lexical items, such as 'crucial', 'enormous amount', and 'beneficial', but these are accompanied by lexical errors and typos, such as writing 'face' instead of 'fact', 'alot' instead of 'a lot', and 'application' instead of the plural 'applications'. Furthermore, collocations like 'paying for watching a show' or 'getting into cinemas' sound slightly unnatural. Because the vocabulary range is sufficient to communicate the message despite noticeable inaccuracies, it fits the Band 6 descriptor.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The student uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating some variety. However, frequent grammatical errors are present throughout the text. Examples include article omission or misuse ('watching online films becomes the most effective way', 'tourists from other countries pay for watching a show on many old theatres'), subject-verb agreement issues ('cinemas and theatres become boring'), and preposition errors ('to enjoying their time'). Although these errors do not completely impede communication, their frequency prevents the essay from reaching a higher band, placing it squarely at Band 5.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.