Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-29

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 this comtemporary world, inventions are carried out for the comfort and convience of the individuals. A few people argue that theatres and cinemas are less crucial than the online platforms for entertainment purposes, whereas opponents believe that they are still required for economic and cultural reasons. This essay will intend to discuss both views along with my prespective in enumerated paragraphs.

To commence with, there are several factors why online websites are more important. First and foremost reason is nowdays each and every person have their own smartphones through which have easy access to entertainment sources because smart mobiles provide all the required services such as internet, camera and many more. Secondly, almost half of the websites are free of charge which make it more easy for masses to watch such movies and shows. Apart from this, some of the networking sites are much cheaper than a ticket for theatre visit.

On the flip side, there are numerous reasons why cinemas and theatres are still important economically and culturally. The main reason is theatres and cinemas pay a significant amount of money through taxes in the government funds which is utilised in development of the country. In addition, theatre and cinema has all neccessary equipment which are used to make the atmosphere more energetic and attractive to viewer.

In conclusion, both sides have their own benefits, in my opinion, people should watch movies in cinema once or twice a month because they support the economy of the country and also give the opportunity to watch movies together.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both views—the rise of online entertainment platforms and the enduring economic and cultural importance of physical theatres and cinemas. The student also presents a clear personal opinion in the introduction and conclusion. However, the development of ideas lacks depth and specific supporting examples. For instance, the discussion on economic benefits relies on broad statements about taxes without providing specific context or a concrete example. Similarly, the points regarding online platforms are somewhat repetitive. The position is maintained throughout, but ideas are not fully extended. This corresponds to Band 6, as all parts of the task are addressed, but some ideas remain under-developed.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The essay is arranged into a standard four-paragraph structure with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion, showing an overall coherent arrangement. Logical sequencing is present, with transitional markers such as "To commence with", "First and foremost", and "On the flip side" guiding the reader through the text. However, cohesion at times feels mechanical or forced, such as the phrase "This essay will intend to discuss both views along with my prespective in enumerated paragraphs," which is overly formulaic. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, but referencing and logical progression occasionally falter due to abrupt transitions between sentences within the body paragraphs. These features align the response closely with a Band 6 level.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student displays an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting some less common items such as "contemporary", "crucial", and "utilised". However, there are noticeable spelling and word-choice errors that detract from the overall precision, including "comtemporary", "convience", "prespective", "nowdays", and "neccessary". Furthermore, phrases like "governmental funds" or "make it more easy" reveal limitations in collocation and natural phrasing. While communication is not impeded and the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the main arguments, the frequency of lexical inaccuracies prevents the response from reaching a higher band. These characteristics fit the Band 6 descriptor well.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, attempting relative clauses and conditional structures. There are instances of effective complex structures, such as "through which have easy access to entertainment sources." However, grammatical accuracy is inconsistent. There are several noticeable errors, including subject-verb agreement issues ("each and every person have", "theatre and cinema has all neccessary equipment"), missing articles ("in the government funds"), and awkward phrasing ("which make it more easy"). Punctuation is generally acceptable, and while these errors do not impede overall communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent the response from achieving a Band 7. Therefore, a Band 6 score is appropriate.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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