Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)
While some people argue that the prevalence of theatres and cinemas has been diminished and people can watch all the entertainment on digital platforms, others believe that theatres and cinemas are still crucial for both economy and culture. Although both views have some merit, I believe that movie theatres hold paramount importance for a country's economics and culture.
On the one hand, individuals think that it is better to watch movies online rather than visiting a cinema or theatres because the cost of tickets and food is expensive. This means that wealthy can afford the full experience, while the poor are priced out. For example, in developing countries, people are already struggling to support their families financially and it becomes quite difficult to afford entry tickets for every single member of the family, so they prefer watching those films online without spending a single penny.
On the other hand, others argue that the film industry has a major positive impact on the economy and culture. As one of the most influential entertainment sectors, it portrays cultural diversity and spreads awareness among individuals through visual displays. With the help of films, pivotal historical events are portrayed to help viewers understand the reality of the world. For instance, the Hollywood industry is one of the largest entertainment sectors, with movies heavily promoted by celebrities. These films are primarily released in theatres because they generate massive financial benefits.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views—the digital alternative and the economic/cultural value—while presenting a clear personal position in the introduction. However, the length requirement has not been met, as the response contains only 235 words, falling short of the 250-word minimum. This under-length impacts the full development of ideas, particularly in the conclusion, which is entirely missing. While the body paragraphs successfully explore the financial barriers of cinemas and the cultural and economic benefits of the film industry, the lack of a concluding summary prevents the task from being fully developed at a higher band. Consequently, task achievement is limited by the word count deficit.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The response exhibits a clear overall structure with a well-defined introduction and two distinct body paragraphs that logically address the opposing views. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and the transition between perspectives is guided by standard cohesive markers such as 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand'. However, referencing and progression are slightly constrained by the abrupt end of the essay due to the missing conclusion. Within the body paragraphs, logical flow is generally maintained, though the connection between ideas could be extended more smoothly. Cohesive devices are functional rather than flexible, placing the writing comfortably within the Band 6 descriptor range for cohesion.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.0
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for the task, attempting less common lexical items such as 'prevalence', 'paramount importance', 'cultural diversity', and 'pivotal historical events'. Word choice is generally appropriate, though there are minor slips, such as 'the wealthy can afford' missing a plural noun or the slight awkwardness in 'the Hollywood industry is one of the largest entertainment sectors'. Spelling and word formation are accurate throughout the text. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the message clearly, it lacks the broader flexibility and precision required to achieve a higher band score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5
The response displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating control over multi-clause structures such as 'While some people argue that... others believe that...' and 'Although both views have some merit, I believe that...'. Grammatical accuracy is generally high, with many error-free sentences. Minor errors do occur, such as 'wealthy' used without a noun (should be 'the wealthy') and 'cinema or theatres' showing a slight lack of parallel phrasing. However, punctuation and sentence construction are well-managed and never impede communication, supporting a solid performance in this criterion.
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