Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-21
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)
Some people argue that nowadays theatres and cinemas are unnecessary since entertainments are available online, while others believe that theatres and cinemas have a significant impact on the economy and culture. Although online entertainments are available, I believe that theatres and cinemas are still playing a crucial role.
The individuals who believe that cinemas and theatres are no longer important give the following reasons. First of all, there are a lot of online entertainment contents, such as online dramas, funny videos and music. Therefore, people can enjoy their free time by watching these types of contents. That is why they should not need to leave their house to get entertainment. Another possible reason is that nowadays there are many Youtubers who make high-quality contents that can connect to people easily. So, people have become more dependent on social media contents. For instance, my elder brother no longer go to the cinema hall to watch movies and enjoy his freetime by watching funny videos on YouTube.
On the other hand, people who argur that theatres and cinemas are still necessary give the following reasons. First, it is a tradition to watch movies in theatres. So, maintaining this tradition we should go to theatres. Secondly, watching movies in theatres we can spend a quality time with our loved ones and can make some good memories, which is not possible in home. Apart from that many workers are associated with theatres and cinemas and they run their families by working there. So, we should encourage them by watching movies in theatres so that they feel motivated. Furthermore, theatres and movies is a good source of income and a lot of industries are build on the basis of theatres and cinemas. Therefore, people can invest money on this sector to earn money. Besides, theatres and cinemas represent a nation to worldwide. So, the importance of cinemas and theatres is crucial.
To sum up, while there are a lot of entertainment contents are available online, I firmly believe that theatres and cinemas are very importany for a nation.
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—the rise of online entertainment versus the enduring economic and cultural importance of theatres and cinemas—and presents a clear personal opinion in the introduction and conclusion. Ideas are extended with relevant examples, such as the mention of family bonding and industry employment. However, some arguments, particularly in the third paragraph, tend to be repetitive (e.g., repeating the economic benefits and motivation of workers), leading to a slight lack of rigorous development characteristic of Band 7. The position remains consistent throughout.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The text is logically organised with a clear introduction, body paragraphs addressing each view separately, and a concluding summary. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. Cohesive devices such as 'First of all', 'Another possible reason', and 'On the other hand' are employed to guide the reader through the arguments. However, referencing and transitions are at times slightly mechanical or repetitive ('give the following reasons'), which prevents the response from reaching a higher band descriptor.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student demonstrates an adequate vocabulary range for the task, successfully attempting less common items and collocations such as 'significant impact', 'crucial role', and 'source of income'. However, there are noticeable lexical errors and awkward word choices throughout the text, including 'entertainments' (uncountable in this context), 'online entertainment contents', and 'argur' (spelling slip). These errors do not impede communication, but they reflect a Band 6 level of lexical control.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including conditional and concessive clauses (e.g., 'Although online entertainments are available, I believe that...'). There are, however, several grammatical errors and awkward structures present, such as 'watching movies in theatres we can spend' (missing preposition), 'is not possible in home' (incorrect preposition), and 'theatres and movies is' (subject-verb agreement). While these errors occur frequently, they rarely impede overall communication, making a Band 6 score appropriate.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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