Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-03

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 6.5)

The advent of Wi-Fi, accompanied by the successful mass production of television sets and other digital devices, has led to the mainstream possession of a multitude of digital devices. All such devices allow individuals to access a wide range of films and shows at the convenience of their homes. Having access to such a variety of films at such ease was never before possible; this has led to the decline of a cultural phenomenon, "going to the movies." Some people appreciate this change, while others fear the rapid loss of culture due to the digital age.

One side prefers the convenience of staying at home and watching a movie in their private space, a more personalized experience, which is economically effective and in line with the advancements of time. Therefore, they consider cinemas to be an irrelevant and out-of-date approach to watching a movie.

However, for most cultures, cinema and theatre have been an integral part of history and society. Artists and historical figures have often voiced revolutionary ideas through this platform. Immense nostalgia is also associated with going to a movie theatre.

I believe cinema and theatre should not just be restored and preserved but also re-integrated into our lifestyles. It provides opportunities for social connections and helps people cherish simple practices. The loss of cinema has made watching a movie become an ordinary act rather than what it once was: a significant experience. For example, my father often recalls going to a drive-in movie theatre and having the time of his life with his friends; however, my generation can not make such a memory as there are no longer any drive-in cinemas left in our country.

To conclude, cinemas have been an important part of our society and should remain so; individuals should put in the effort of going to the movies, and the state should support such business models that keep a culturally significant practice alive.

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 home digital entertainment and the economic/cultural importance of physical theatres—alongside a personal opinion. However, the development of these ideas is uneven, reflecting a solid middle-tier performance where some points remain somewhat under-developed. For instance, the view supporting the economic and cultural importance of theatres is introduced in a single brief paragraph without fully exploring specific economic angles, such as local job creation or tourism. The student does establish a clear position throughout, advocating for the preservation of cinemas and integrating personal experience effectively with the mention of drive-in movie theatres. To reach a higher standard, the arguments regarding both economic viability and cultural significance would need more extended, detailed support rather than brief generalisations.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay presents a coherent overall arrangement with a clear logical progression from introducing the digital age shift, presenting the two opposing views, and culminating in a personal opinion and conclusion. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, separating the introduction, the home-viewing argument, the traditional view, the writer's perspective, and the conclusion into distinct blocks. Cohesive devices are generally present and help guide the reader through the text, such as transitional phrases like 'One side', 'However', and 'To conclude'. However, referencing and cohesion can occasionally feel somewhat mechanical or repetitive, and paragraph transitions could be smoother to fully achieve the flexible cohesion characteristic of higher bands. Overall, the structural layout is clear and easy to follow throughout the response.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The writer demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for discussing cultural and technological shifts, successfully employing terms such as 'mainstream possession', 'cultural phenomenon', 'personalized experience', and 're-integrated'. There are successful attempts to use less common lexical items, showing some awareness of style and collocation, such as 'economically effective' and 'culturally significant practice'. While communication is never impeded, there are occasional minor inaccuracies in word choice and phrasing, such as 'at the convenience of their homes' instead of 'in the comfort of their homes', and 'such business models' which slightly stretches the collocation in this specific context. The spelling and word formation throughout the text are generally accurate, meeting the requirements of a solid performance in lexical resource.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

The writing demonstrates a good variety of complex structures and frequently produces error-free sentences, showcasing a strong control over grammar and punctuation. The student successfully integrates subordinate clauses, conditional elements, and participatory phrases, as seen in sentences like 'Having access to such a variety of films at such ease was never before possible; this has led to the decline of a cultural phenomenon...' Punctuation is handled well, including the correct deployment of semicolons and quotation marks. A few minor errors persist, such as the spelling slip 'can not' instead of 'cannot', but these do not detract from the overall high level of structural variety and accuracy achieved across the essay. The control over complex sentence forms is a strong feature of this response.

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