Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-24

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 6.5)

There is an ongoing debate on whether theatres and cinema are still relevant in the current era, where digitalization has made everything available at one click away. Some people propose that due to many online streaming services and platforms, where people can easily watch movies and shows at their home, have made theatres and cinema obsolete. On the other hand, opponents of this claim say that theatres and cinemas are still relevant as they are linked to the cultural heritage of a civilization and also contribute economically. This essay discusses both perspectives and present my stance at the end.

The one of the main reasons of people saying that digital age has reduced the worth and need for theatres and cinemas is ease and availability digital era offers. They argue that anyone can stream any movie or TV show at their home using streaming service like Netflix or YouTube. This comfortability and accessibility have drawn more and more people towards watching entertainment online. Moreover, these streaming services are comparably cheaper than cinemas and theatres where one visit can cost more than monthly subscription of online streaming websites.

On the other hand, critics say that the main reason cinemas and theatres are still relevant to this age is most likely their cultural significance and economic value. From the ancient times, theaters and cinemas have been a source of entertainment for people. People used to act out various folklores and heroic stories in cinema, and this is still in practice in many parts of the world. Ultimately, preaching cultural values and morals of that society. Cinemas and theatres are source of employment for some people. Furthermore, many blockbuster movies and shows amass an astronomical amount on releasing in theaters in different countries. These factors are likely to contribute to the economy. For example, every year Hollywood movies contribute a significant amount in US economy. In contrast, if those movies are only released online, their gross profit would be relatively much lower.

In my opinion, in this global village both approaches are equally important for entertainment industry. Discarding one or other is not a viable option now, because some people are highly enthusiastic about watching movies in theatres and go to extreme lengths as much as reserving tickets month earlier. In contrast some people, like me, tend to wait for movies to be available on streaming platforms to watch at home. I am highly in favour of using a hybrid approach where online entertainment and theatres and cinemas are both valued.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views—that theatres and cinemas are obsolete in the digital age versus their continued economic and cultural relevance—and clearly states a personal opinion in the introduction and conclusion. The ideas are generally well extended and supported, such as the comparison of subscription costs versus cinema tickets and the economic contribution of Hollywood movies. However, there are minor slips in argumentation, such as the historical claim that people 'used to act out various folklores and heroic stories in cinema', which slightly confuses the timeline of theatre and cinema. Nevertheless, the position is clear throughout, and the task requirements are fully satisfied, aligning well with the Band 7 descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay presents a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving smoothly from the introductory overview to body paragraphs examining opposing views, and finally to a nuanced personal conclusion. Cohesive devices are used effectively, including markers such as 'On the other hand', 'Moreover', 'Furthermore', and 'In contrast'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately. While referencing is mostly clear, a few transitional phrases feel slightly mechanical or repetitive ('On the other hand' is used twice in close proximity for opposing points), placing this firmly at Band 7.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task with attempts at less common lexical items such as 'digitalization', 'obsolete', 'cultural significance', 'astronomical amount', and 'hybrid approach'. However, there are notable word-choice and collocation inaccuracies, such as 'availability digital era offers' (missing article/preposition), 'comfortability' (instead of 'comfort'), and 'amass an astronomical amount on releasing' (awkward preposition and phrasing). Spelling is generally accurate, but these lexical flaws and occasional awkward phrasings restrict the score to Band 6.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating attempts at varied structures such as defining relative clauses and conditional-like arguments. However, there are several grammatical errors and awkward structures throughout the text, including 'The one of the main reasons of people saying' (unnecessary article and preposition misuse), 'where people can easily watch movies and shows at their home, have made' (subject-verb agreement error), and 'In contrast some people' (missing comma). Although these errors do not impede overall communication, their frequency prevents the essay from reaching a Band 7.

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