Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-07

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 the contemporary world, many individuals believe that in the modern age, theatres and cinemas are not very much attracting the viewers because, they can enjoy all shows that they want to watch on different OTT platforms. While others say that theatres and cinemas are very important as cinemas are cultural identities and also helps in economy. Watching shows on online platform have some positive as well as some negative points. Positive such as it saves the time, also reduce the amount of money required to spend on movie tickets. Whereas, watching movies in theatres help theatre owners to earn money, and watching cinema in theatre is also related to cultural identities.

Firstly, watching movie in the home instead of cinema house saves the time which required to traveling to cinema house to watch movie. Secondly, OOT platforms reduces the money which required to purchase a movie tickets because, so many people can watch movie at only single price which applied to rent the movie. In theatre, individual needs to buy tickets.

On the other hand, online platforms, causes big problems that attached with the theatre service. Theatres or cinema house help theatre ouwners to earn money. Along with that, many services were related to theatres like food, food counters can also earn money through providing services. Watching movie is also relates to culture.Like in villages in the past time people gather together to watch movie. This concept later converted into the movie theatres.

In conclusion, watching movie on different online platform had several advantages like saves the traveling time and reduces the tickets cost. But watching movie in cinema house help people to earn money and also has cultural significance. In my opinion watching on OOT platforms is beneficial because it saves the time and cost, and you can enjoy movie more because you can stop the movie when you want, according to your schedule you can watch.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response6.0
Coherence and Cohesion6.0
Lexical Resource5.0
Grammatical Range and Accuracy5.0
Overall5.5

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address both views and give a clear personal preference: online viewing is beneficial because it saves time and money and allows viewers to pause a film. You also identify economic and cultural reasons for cinemas, including income for theatre owners and food counters, and the example of villagers gathering to watch films. These points are relevant, but they are not developed equally. The advantages of online platforms are explained more clearly, while the economic and cultural importance of cinemas is asserted rather than explored in depth. For example, explain how cinema-related jobs or shared viewing experiences benefit communities, and support your claims with a specific example. This would make the discussion more balanced and the ideas more fully supported.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two perspectives, and a conclusion that restates your opinion. Sequencing words such as “Firstly,” “Secondly,” and “On the other hand” help readers follow the main contrast. However, some connections are mechanical or unclear. The opening lists positive and negative points before the body develops them, and “On the other hand, online platforms, causes big problems that attached with the theatre service” does not clearly introduce the cinema argument. There is also repetition of “watching movie” and “theatre/cinema house.” Use topic sentences that state each paragraph’s central claim, and connect examples directly to that claim. Clearer referencing and less repetitive transitions would improve progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “OTT platforms,” “movie tickets,” “cultural identities,” and “cultural significance.” However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations sound unnatural, sometimes making the meaning less clear. Examples include “not very much attracting the viewers,” “big problems that attached with the theatre service,” and “cinemas are cultural identities.” Some terms are also repeated, particularly “watching movie” and “theatre.” Aim for more precise expressions and vary your vocabulary: for instance, describe cinemas as “cultural institutions” and explain that online services “reduce viewing costs.” Check spelling and word forms as well, such as “owners” and “platforms.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a contrast with “While others say…” and a reason clause beginning “because.” The main message is generally understandable, but errors in agreement, articles, verb forms, and sentence construction recur. For example, “OTT platforms reduces” should use a plural verb, while “Watching shows on online platform have” needs a singular subject and an article or plural noun. In “the time which required to traveling,” the relative clause and verb pattern are faulty. Punctuation also creates awkward breaks, as in “because, so many people.” Practise building accurate sentences around one main clause, then add a correctly formed reason or contrast clause. Review subject–verb agreement and article use.

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