Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

There is an ongoing debate that in this modern age theatres and cinemas don't hold the same importance as people can easily access entertainment online. Although it is very true that unlike a few decads ago entertainment is now very easily accessible but I belive that theatres and cinemas still contribute a lot both economically and culturally.

One major arguement for the sustainability and development of these entertainment spots is that it promotes an idea of experiencing new things and ideas propagated by these movies and plays together rather than watching a movie or serial online sitting alone or with the same like minded people you happen to be around with. In theaters people from all age groups and socio-economic backgrouds come together and share their perspective and views on that movie or play. So sharing it with different people helps understand different approaches and opinions regardless of what we think or believe. Morever, it can also help people make new friends and developing meaningful connections according to our taste and personality. Additionally, cinemas also contribute significantly to the economy and development of entertainment industry by providing employment to a lot of people helping maintain that theatre or cinema. Additionally, these entertainment sites also pay a substantial amount of tax helping the economy thrive and also encouraging the entertainment industry.

On the other hand, the many people prefer watching entertainment at the comfort of their home rather than buying a ticket and reaching the cinema at perfect time to watch something they could've easily accessed sitting on their couch. So, going to cinema feels more like a hassle as you have to purchase a ticket first then use a cab or some other commute to go and come back from cinema and also clearing out your whole schedule as you can't watch it in parts or whenever you're free. This costs a lot more than watching or experiencing same movie online which is also leading to abandonment of cinemas and theaters.

In conclusion, theatres and cinemas hold a significant place in our culture and economy and develop community bonding and stronger relations among people but development of too many theatres and cinemas might lead to a loss of investment. So in my view a balanced approach of going hand in hand with both arguements would prove more suitable and sustainable rather than choosing either of the two extremes.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You address both sides of the discussion and state a clear view: cinemas and theatres retain cultural and economic value, while online viewing offers convenience. The points about bringing people from different backgrounds together and providing jobs and tax revenue are relevant, and the home-viewing paragraph explains practical disadvantages of attending a cinema. This meets the task well, with some elements of a more fully developed response. However, the cultural benefits are explained mainly in general terms, and the economic point would be stronger with a specific example. The conclusion introduces the idea that building too many venues could waste investment, but this concern is not developed earlier. Extend the key claims with concrete examples and make the final position more directly reflect the discussion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, a paragraph supporting the continuing value of venues, a contrasting paragraph on online viewing, and a conclusion. The progression between the two views is easy to follow, and phrases such as “On the other hand” and “In conclusion” signal the main stages. Within paragraphs, however, cohesion is sometimes mechanical: “Additionally” is repeated, and several ideas are joined in long sentences, making their relationships less clear. In the first body paragraph, the move from shared perspectives to making friends and then to employment could be signposted more precisely. Some references, such as “these entertainment spots” and “it,” could also be clearer. Use a wider range of linking methods and organise each paragraph around a more explicit sequence of claims and support.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range for the topic, including phrases such as “socio-economic backgrounds,” “meaningful connections,” “substantial amount of tax,” and “abandonment of cinemas.” These choices help communicate both cultural and economic arguments, and the meaning remains clear. There are also several spelling errors and inaccurate or awkward word choices, including “decads,” “arguement,” “belive,” and “backgrouds.” Some collocations are not natural, such as “promotes an idea of experiencing new things” and “clearing out your whole schedule.” Aim for more precise, idiomatic phrasing and check spelling carefully. For example, you could describe venues as “fostering shared cultural experiences” and say that attending requires “planning around a fixed screening time.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You attempt a mix of simple and complex structures, including a concession in the introduction (“Although it is very true…”) and a contrast between in-person and online viewing. Most ideas remain understandable, but some grammatical errors and punctuation problems are noticeable. For example, “Although it is very true … but I believe” combines two contrasting structures that should not be used together; “it promotes” does not agree with the plural subject “these entertainment spots”; and “helps people make new friends and developing” mixes verb forms. The sentence beginning “So, going to cinema feels more like a hassle” also shifts into a long sequence of clauses that would be clearer if divided. Practise accurate agreement, parallel verb forms, articles, and sentence boundaries while retaining your attempts at complex sentences.

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