Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-06

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)

Most people think that theatres and cinemas are no more important because in nowdays people watch movies through phone alongside there are number of people argue that still cinemas and theatres have importance because both are cheaper.

Firstly there are more number of people which likes to watch movies on smartphone these people are mostly genz which dont like theatres and cinemas because same movies are available on mobile apps such as netflix ,prime etc also they save money such as petrol expense ticket expense. most of young people prefer to watch movies lonely in their homes they want to watch movie accourding to their time, at any point they can stop or resume movie.

On the other hand theatres and cinemas are still important for several reasons economically they can generte jobs for film industry, people make movies and earn profit on it when thay lauch movies in theatres or in cinemas so when they launch movies people who like to come cinemas they come buy ticket. Culturally people love to watch movies with friends or with their family members which make new social experience that cancot be replaced by watching alone at home furthermore theatres present dramas which present cultural and art values to us.

In my opinion in nowdays people like to watch movies at home because it is more convinient and most people dont like gathering but alongside cinemas and theatres are remains important because they generte job and support country economically.

To conclude , both online and cinemas have their place but people like online more than going physically in cinemas

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both sides of the discussion and give a personal view: online viewing is described as convenient and economical, while cinemas and theatres are linked to employment and shared cultural experiences. This is relevant to the question, but the discussion is only partly developed. For example, the claim that cinemas and theatres are “cheaper” is not explained and conflicts with the later point that viewers save money by watching at home. The economic argument would be stronger with a specific explanation of how venues support jobs or local businesses. Your opinion is present, but it could be clearer and more consistent about whether cultural value makes these venues important despite the popularity of online viewing. Add developed examples and explain the significance of each main point.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, a paragraph about online viewing, a contrasting paragraph about venues, and a conclusion. “Firstly” and “On the other hand” help signal the shift between the two views. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes difficult to follow because several ideas are joined in long, loosely connected sentences. The introduction also combines the two positions without clearly setting out the essay’s direction, and the conclusion repeats the main contrast rather than drawing the discussion together. Some linking expressions, such as “alongside,” are used awkwardly or repeatedly. Organise each body paragraph around one clear main idea, then explain it and give an example; use references such as “these venues” to make connections clearer.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use relevant topic vocabulary, including “smartphone,” “mobile apps,” “profit,” “social experience,” and “cultural and art values,” so the reader can understand the main subject. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or repetitive, which makes parts of the response less natural. For instance, “watch movies lonely” does not express the intended idea naturally, and “generate jobs for film industry” is imprecise. There are also noticeable spelling errors, including “accourding,” “convinient,” and “thay,” which reduce accuracy. Build a wider set of precise expressions for convenience, employment, and cultural value, and check spelling and collocations during revision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt some longer sentences and use basic structures to compare the two views, but control is inconsistent. Errors in agreement and verb forms appear in phrases such as “people which likes” and “cinemas and theatres are remains important.” Articles and sentence construction are also problematic, as in “when they launch movies in theatres or in cinemas,” while several sentences run together without clear punctuation. These errors sometimes make the reader work to identify how ideas relate. Practise building accurate simple sentences first, then combine them with controlled clauses using “because,” “which,” or “although.” Pay particular attention to subject–verb agreement, articles, and full stops between complete ideas.

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.