Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-02
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, THE CRAZE OF WATCHING MOVIES HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY. SOME PEOPLE HAVE AN OPINION THAT THEATERS AND CINEMAS HAVE NO LONGER IMPORTANT BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN WATCH ALL ENTERTAINMENT ON ONLINE PLATFORMS. WHILE OTHERS ARGUE THAT THEATERS CINEMAS ARE STILL IMPORTANT. I BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE HAVE MORE OPTIONS TO WATCH ENTERAINMENT. ALTHOUGH, CINEMAS AND THEATERS ARE STILL IMPORTANT BOTH ECONOMICALLY AND CULTURALLY.
SOME PEOPLE HAVE VIEWS THAT NOWADAYS PEOPLE CAN WATCH ANY ENTERTAINMENT SHOWS ONLINE FROM ANY PLACE. THEY DON'T WANT TO TRAVEL TO THEATERS AND CINEMAS. IT IS CONVENIENT OPTION FOR CONSUMERS BECAUSE IT SAVES BOTH TIME AND MONEY OF CONSUMERS. FOR INSTANCE, FOR WATCHING A ENTERTAINMENT SHOW IN CINEMAS AND THEATER, PEOPLE SHOULD BUY TICKETS FOR EVERY MEMBERS AND THEY CAN WATCH ONLY ONE TIME. WHILE ONLINE PLATFORMS PROVIDE DIFFERENT SHOWS AT MONTHLY OR YEARLY SUBSCRIPTION. PEOPLE CAN WATCH EVERY AVAILABLE SHOWS BY PURCHASING SINGLE SUBSCRIPTION.
HOWEVER, SOME INDIVIDUALS BELIEVE THAT ONLINE PLATFORMS DOES NOT HAVE MUCH IMAPACT ON THEATERS AND CINEMAS. PEOPLE STILL PREFER TO WATCH ENTERTAINMENT SHOWS IN THEATER AND CINEMAS. IT PROVIDES UNIQUE EXPERIENCE WHICH CAN NOT GET AT HOME AND ALSO ALLOW TO SPEND QUALITY OF TIME WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS. IT ALSO PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT TO SOME PEOPLE. SOME THEATERS AND CINEMAS ORGANIZE CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AT THEATERSAND CINEMAS AND PEOPLE STIIL ENJOY IT. IT HELPS TO SAVE CULTURAL HERITAGE AND ALSO PROVIDES INFORMATION TO PEOPLE.
TO CONCLUDE, THEATERS AND CINEMS ARE STILL IMPORTANT TO PREVENT CULTURE AND HERITAGE. HOWEVER, PEOPLE GET MORE OPTIONS IN ONLINE
PLATFORMS. I BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE SHOULD CHOSE OPTIONS ACCORDING TO THEIR AVAIBILITY AND COMFORT.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0
The response addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both views—that cinemas are no longer important due to online streaming, and that they remain economically and culturally significant—while also presenting a clear position. However, some ideas are more fully developed than others. For example, while the economic aspect of cinemas providing employment is mentioned in the third paragraph, it is somewhat under-developed and lacks specific elaboration. Similarly, the first body paragraph focuses heavily on convenience and cost without extending the argument further into how this impacts social habits. Nevertheless, the main positions are identifiable and relevant throughout the essay, fulfilling the requirements for this level.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0
The essay demonstrates a coherent overall arrangement with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas, such as the advantages of online platforms versus the enduring value of physical cinemas. However, cohesion is at times mechanical or faulty. The transition words and referencing devices are occasionally repetitive or overused, such as the recurring use of 'SOME PEOPLE HAVE VIEWS' and 'HOWEVER'. Additionally, referencing can be unclear, as seen in the phrase 'DOES NOT HAVE MUCH IMAPACT ON THEATERS AND CINEMAS. PEOPLE STILL PREFER...', where cohesive links between sentences could be smoother to guide the reader effortlessly through the progression of ideas.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, providing sufficient range to discuss entertainment and digital platforms. The writer attempts some less common vocabulary, such as 'subscription', 'cultural heritage', and 'convenient option', but this is accompanied by noticeable inaccuracies in word choice, spelling, and collocation. For instance, 'IMAPACT' contains a spelling error, 'A ENTERTAINMENT SHOW' demonstrates an article error, and phrases like 'PREVENT CULTURE' are imprecise where 'preserve' or 'protect' would be more appropriate. Word choice errors and misspellings occur frequently enough to cause occasional hesitation for the reader, though they do not completely impede communication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The writer employs a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, attempting complex structures such as conditional and concessive clauses with varying degrees of success. There are noticeable errors in grammar and punctuation, particularly involving subject-verb agreement and pluralisation, such as 'THEATERS CINEMAS ARE STILL IMPORTANT', 'ONLINE PLATFORMS DOES NOT HAVE', and 'EVERY AVAILABLE SHOWS'. Prepositions and articles are also misused in patterns like 'FOR WATCHING A ENTERTAINMENT SHOW'. While these errors in grammar and punctuation are present, they rarely impede communication completely, allowing the core meaning of the sentences to be understood.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.