Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-04
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 5.0)
Both methods of watching entertainment through theatres and cinema or online have their own benefits and drawbacks.
Watching a movie through cinema has a great impact on the economy of a country as revenue generation for multiple segements, whereas also helps in the tax collection for the country and by providing employment to the people. On the other hand watching a movie through cinema is deepening the ties between the people of different culture and also a cultural difference is erased and a sense of responsibility and care of other also emerges. As per my opinion cinemas should be increased and invesetment to be encouraged so that people get employment and a way for business to be created for them.
The current era is more like a digital era so watching entertainment online has out growth all other means by a huge margin but watching online is accessible to a limited number of population and the reasons are, low or no internet connection in the rural area of a country, also expensive internet package is also a reason due to which less number of people enjoy wntertainment online whereas watching online also have some benefits like you can watch anytime, anywhere and you just need amobile and internet connection, also the time is saved through watching online.
As per the current trend and time most of the people are fond of online watching and preffered it over the cinema and theatres but cinema has their own customer and they enjoy more watching in a group of people.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both the decline of cinemas due to online entertainment and their ongoing economic and cultural importance, while also providing a personal opinion. However, the ideas remain limited and under-developed. For instance, the economic benefits of cinemas are mentioned through revenue generation, tax collection, and employment, but these points are stated rather than extended or supported with clear examples. Similarly, the counterargument regarding online entertainment is somewhat repetitive, focusing broadly on accessibility issues in rural areas and internet costs. The writer's position is discernible, particularly with the statement 'cinemas should be increased and invesetment to be encouraged,' but the overall development lacks depth and a fully rounded structure. To reach a higher level, the writer needs to expand on each point with specific explanations or real-world examples rather than listing them briefly.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
There is some basic organisation in the essay, grouping thoughts into separate paragraphs that cover online viewing, economic factors, and cultural aspects. However, there is no clear overall progression, and the transitions between sentences and paragraphs feel abrupt. Cohesive devices are used minimally and sometimes inappropriately, such as relying heavily on 'also' and 'on the other hand' without creating smooth logical bridges between ideas. Referencing is occasionally unclear, as seen in the concluding sentence where 'cinema has their own customer' creates confusion with pronoun agreement. Paragraphing is attempted, but internal structuring within paragraphs is weak, often resulting in long, run-on sentences that lack clear internal logic. To improve cohesion, the writer should use a wider variety of cohesive devices accurately and ensure each paragraph follows a logical, step-by-step development of a single main idea.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.0
The vocabulary used is limited and minimally adequate for the task. The writer attempts some less common terms such as 'revenue generation,' 'segements' (segment), and 'accessibility,' but these are accompanied by noticeable errors in word choice, spelling, and word formation. For example, words like 'invesetment,' 'wntertainment,' and 'preffered' display spelling mistakes, while phrasing like 'out growth all other means' shows awkward word choice and incorrect collocation. The range of vocabulary is restricted, leading to frequent repetition of terms such as 'watching,' 'online,' 'entertainment,' and 'cinema.' These lexical errors and limitations cause occasional difficulty for the reader in grasping the precise meaning intended. To achieve a higher score, the writer needs to expand their range of vocabulary, use correct word forms, and pay closer attention to spelling and natural collocations.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The response demonstrates a very limited range of structures, relying mostly on simple sentences and overly long, complex attempts that are frequently faulty. There are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation that can cause difficulty for the reader. Issues include subject-verb agreement problems, such as 'cinema has their own customer,' missing articles like 'through cinema' instead of 'through cinemas' or 'the cinema,' and incorrect prepositions inside grammatical patterns. Sentence boundaries are also poorly managed, resulting in run-on sentences joined by multiple conjunctions rather than accurate punctuation. While the writer attempts some complex clauses, control over them is weak. To improve, the writer must focus on reducing basic grammatical errors, using articles and plurals correctly, and breaking long, convoluted sentences into shorter, grammatically sound structures.
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.