Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-08

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)

There are two views regarding importance of theatres and cinemas in the modern digital age where most of the people have a digital device and internet access at their convenience; a group of people believes that theatres and cinemas are outdated now and no longer needed as they are able to enjoy entertainment of their choice online. While the other group has a contrastive view regarding importance of theatres and cinemas who view these spots as a financial benefit and a way to keep the culture alive.Both arguments are true in their own aspects. I belong to the first school of thought who believe in watching entertainment that interests them online.

Watching entertainment online is handy and cost efficient. One can enjoy it anywhere anytime; at home, during traveling and does not require carrying a big screen instead a smartphone with internet is enough. The cost spent is just an internet bill and since smartphone has become a common tool in modern digital age where people need it for communication and work, so its not calculated in cost. It does not require sitting in a specific time slot and waiting for the LED screen to turn on. Hence its more convenient.

Theatres and cinemas play role in keeping culture alive, making human connections,and contributing towards economic development of a society. Digital age is making humans distant from its cultural roots and human fellows. Theatres and cinemas custom have been inherited through generations of humans and have been contributing to economics of a nation but the digital age is seeming to extinct this custom. The world has become a global village and fast paced, everyone is busy with their schedule, people are connected with each other through internet but are lacking real human connections. Theatres and cinemas provide a golden opportunity for people to meet each other and make real connections.

Despite the cultural and economical benifits of theatres and cinemas, in my opinion onine

entertainment is of great benifit in digital age as we have alot of piled up tasks for a day. In such situations going to cinemas and booking tickets would become an extra to do when one can have it at their home convenience. Last time I went to cinema located in neighbouring city with my friend and missed up preparing nect day due presentation at university.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You discuss both perspectives and state a clear preference for online entertainment, so the response addresses the main parts of the question. The convenience argument is supported with relevant details about watching anywhere and avoiding fixed screening times, while the cinema paragraph recognises cultural, social and economic value. However, the two sides are not developed evenly: the economic benefit is asserted rather than explained, and the cultural claim that cinemas keep traditions alive remains broad. Your personal example about missing preparation after a cinema trip supports your preference, but its link to the wider argument could be made clearer. Develop each main point with a specific explanation or example, and make your position more consistently explicit as you discuss the opposing view.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, a paragraph on online viewing, a paragraph on cinemas, and a concluding opinion. This gives the reader a basic route through the discussion. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes loose, and connections between ideas can feel mechanical. For example, “Hence its more convenient” repeats the preceding points rather than advancing the argument, while the shift from cultural roots to globalisation and then social connection is not fully explained. The opening sentence is also very long, and the conclusion begins with a contrast but ends abruptly with the personal anecdote. Use clearer topic sentences, organise each paragraph around one main claim, and link examples explicitly to that claim.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant topic vocabulary, including “digital age,” “cultural roots,” “human connections,” and “economic development,” and you attempt more formal expressions such as “a golden opportunity.” However, the range is limited by repeated general words such as “people,” “benefit,” and “convenient,” and several choices or collocations are inaccurate or awkward: “contrastive view,” “contributing towards economics,” and “extinct this custom.” Spelling errors such as “benifits,” “onine,” and “alot” also reduce accuracy. These issues do not prevent the main ideas from being understood, but more precise, natural phrasing would strengthen the discussion. Build topic-specific vocabulary and check spelling and collocations during revision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mixture of simple and complex sentences, including a contrastive opening and clauses introduced by “as” and “since.” However, complex structures are often difficult to control, and errors occur frequently enough to affect fluency. For example, “a group of people believes … While the other group” creates an incomplete sentence, and “where people need it … so its not calculated” has an unclear clause structure. There are also problems with articles, agreement and punctuation, as in “play role,” “humans distant from its cultural roots,” and the missing space after “connections,”. Aim for shorter, complete sentences first, then add subordinate clauses carefully. Proofread for sentence boundaries, subject–verb agreement, articles and apostrophes.

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