Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-28
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)
In today’s rapidly evolving world, the issue of modern world of using digital devices for movies has sparked considerable debate, with opinions divided on whether theatres and cinemas are no longer important or important to maintain culture. While both sides of the argument hold merit, I am strongly inclined to believe that theatres and cinemas are much more important than online platforms. This essay will discuss both perspectives before explaining my view.
On the one hand, supporters of online platforms for watching all the types of entertainment argue that in this modern world watching online can be affordable and it also saves times for many other activities. This is particularly relevant when considering the cost of watching online rather than theatres. For example, many of the movies that are displayed in theatres are also available online at very cheap cost. This clearly illustrates how we can save money and time while not going to cinemas and theatres. Therefore, there are valid reasons why some people support this perspective.
On the other hand, others believe that theatres and cinemas are still important both economically and culturally. One of the most compelling reasons for this view is that many peoples want to preserve the culture of theatres and cinemas and it also contribute some economic benefit for our country. For instance, most people prefer watching movies and entertainment at big screen with powerful sounds. This demonstrates how theatres and cinemas are more valuable both culturally and economically. However, I believe that cinemas are far more important that online platforms, as it provides a more immersive and social experience.
In conclusion, both views have their own merits. However, I firmly believe that theatres and cinemas are important because it benefits economically and culturally to our country.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views on theatres and cinemas and clearly providing a personal opinion in the introduction and conclusion. The position is maintained throughout the essay. However, the development of ideas tends to be repetitive and somewhat superficial. For instance, the arguments regarding economic and cultural importance lack specific, well-developed examples, relying instead on broad statements such as "most people prefer watching movies and entertainment at big screen with powerful sounds." While the prompt is adequately addressed, the ideas would benefit from deeper extension and more concrete supporting details to reach a higher band level.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The essay displays a clear overall progression and is divided into appropriate paragraphs, featuring a standard introduction, body paragraphs addressing each perspective, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as "On the one hand," "On the other hand," and "In conclusion" are used to signal the structure of the argument. However, referencing and cohesion can occasionally feel mechanical or repetitive, particularly in the transitions between sentences. For example, the sentence "This clearly illustrates how we can save money and time while not going to cinemas and theatres" relies on a formulaic referencing pattern that is overused throughout the text.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating topic-related terms such as "digital devices," "entertainment," "economically," and "culturally." There are some attempts to use less common vocabulary, but these are sometimes marred by imprecise word choice or awkward collocation, such as "saves times for many other activities" instead of "saves time" and "at very cheap cost" instead of "at a very low cost." Spelling and word formation are generally accurate, and vocabulary errors do not impede communication, placing the response solidly at Band 6.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as concessive clauses starting with "While both sides of the argument..." and relative clauses. There are several grammatical errors and awkward structures present, including subject-verb agreement issues (e.g., "many peoples want" and "as it provides a more immersive and social experience" where 'it' does not correctly refer to the plural noun 'cinemas'). Additionally, prepositions are occasionally misused, such as "at big screen" instead of "on a big screen." Despite these frequent errors, the meaning remains clear and communication is not impeded.
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