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 recent years, there has been a growing debate about whether in the contemporary world, cinemas and theatres are still important for movies or entertainment. Some believe that need for such activities may be replaced with digital devices, while others argue that cinemas and theatres are still essential for economic and cultural point of view. This essay will discuss both views before explaining why I strongly maintain that watching different movies and shows in electronic devices may be more beneficial.
There are many advantages of relying on digital devices for films and dramas. One of the major advantages is that People would be more comfortable in watching various shows on devices like television, laptop, and mobile phones. In today's busy schedule, individuals have not enough time to visit cinemas to watch their favourite programs. Moreover, visiting such places will be costly for particularly salaried-persons. Therefore, large number of individuals watch entertainment programs online.
On the other hand, there are some supportive arguments for theatres and cinemas. One of the major reasons is that these are important for economic benefits. Local governments would charge a large amount of tax from these places which contributes to economic growth. For example, India makes about 7% of total revenue from film industry, from which 4% contribution directly comes from theatres and cinemas.
Furthermore, such entertainment places have cultural values. Old members of the society have great memories associated with such places. For instance, In Pakistan, people used to go to cinemas on their first date.
In conclusion, although cinemas and theatres are responsible to economic growth and cultural development. However, I believe that in fast-paced world people have not enough time to book such places and also it is not affordable for salaried-persons.
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—the digital alternative and the economic/cultural importance of physical cinemas—while also presenting a clear personal position. In the introduction, the writer states: 'This essay will discuss both views before explaining why I strongly maintain that watching different movies and shows in electronic devices may be more beneficial.' Ideas are extended and supported with relevant examples, such as the mention of India's film industry revenue and cultural memories in Pakistan. However, the development of some points tends to be slightly over-generalised or brief, placing the response solidly in Band 6.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The essay presents a coherent overall arrangement with a clear introductory paragraph, body paragraphs addressing each viewpoint, and a concluding paragraph. Cohesive devices are used to signal logical connections, such as 'Moreover', 'On the other hand', and 'Furthermore'. However, referencing and transitions are occasionally faulty or mechanical. For example, in the conclusion, the sentence construction 'although cinemas and theatres are responsible to economic growth and cultural development. However, I believe...' introduces a sentence fragment error and awkward cohesive linking across sentences, which prevents the score from reaching a higher band.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common items such as 'contemporary world', 'fast-paced world', and 'revenue'. However, there are noticeable word choice and collocation inaccuracies throughout the text, such as 'salaried-persons' instead of 'salaried individuals' or 'wage earners', and stating that theatres 'are responsible to economic growth' rather than 'contribute to economic growth'. Spelling and word-choice errors do not impede communication, but they reflect the limitations characteristic of Band 6.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The response demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, with attempts at subordinate clauses ('although cinemas and theatres are responsible...'). There are, however, several grammatical errors and awkward structures present. For instance, the student writes 'individuals have not enough time' instead of 'do not have enough time', uses incorrect articles ('a large number of individuals' without 'a' missing in 'People would be more comfortable'), and constructs a fragmented concluding sentence. Despite these recurring errors in grammar and punctuation, meaning remains generally clear and communication is rarely impeded, warranting a Band 6.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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