Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-11

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)

Several Individuals say that in the modern era, theatres and cinemas are not essential because they can watch things online. Others believe that theatres and cinemas are important both economically and culturally. Watching things online helps to save money, but going to the cinema helps you to feel refreshed and stay away from today's stress.

In the digital age, everyone in the world has their own mobile phones and computers. If they want to watch movies and similar content, they use these electronic devices instead of going to theatres and cinemas. People do not like to go there because they feel hesitant and also do not enjoy the movie properly due to the massive audience. Furthermore, they think that going to cinemas and theatres is a waste of time and money. They believe that it is old-fashioned to watch movies in theatres.

Some people argue that theatres and cinemas should remain open nowadays because they help a lot, both economically and culturally. They build many essential traits in a person, like confidence and a way of talking, and also behavioural habits. It also helps a lot in the form of economically because people go to the theatre to watch movies, and they also pay for tickets, which increases the economy of the country. It also shows our cultural values. For example, in China, it builds a lot of 3D and 4D cinemas and theatres; not only local people but foreigners come there to watch movies. It creates a great revenue from this and also shows cultural values.

In conclusion, my opinion is that our young generation is too lazy and does not want to do things like going out and on picnics because of the internet. Theatres and cinemas should remain open for enjoyment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both views and give a personal position: online viewing is presented as cheaper, while your conclusion supports keeping cinemas open for enjoyment. However, the discussion is only partly developed. The online-viewing paragraph mainly lists reasons people avoid cinemas, such as large audiences and perceived expense, without explaining the wider claim that online entertainment can replace them. The economic and cultural case is also unclear: ticket payments are relevant, but the claim that cinemas build confidence and speaking habits is not explained, and the China example does not clearly show how cultural values are represented. Develop each side with specific, directly relevant reasoning and make your position consistent throughout; the opening suggests a balanced view, while the conclusion focuses mainly on young people’s laziness.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, and a conclusion. This helps the reader follow the broad direction of the discussion. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes weak: the point about confidence and behaviour shifts abruptly to ticket revenue and then cultural values, without explaining the links. Connectors such as “Furthermore,” “also,” and “For example” are used, but several ideas are joined mechanically or repeated rather than developed. References such as “It also shows our cultural values” are not fully clear because “it” could refer to cinemas, the industry, or the example. Group related points, explain how each supports the paragraph’s main idea, and use clearer referencing and transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “digital age,” “electronic devices,” “economically,” “culturally,” and “revenue.” There are also attempts to express more specific concepts, such as “massive audience” and “cultural values.” However, the range is limited by repeated general words and phrases, especially “things,” “helps a lot,” and “important,” and some combinations are unnatural or imprecise, such as “increases the economy of the country” and “builds a lot of 3D and 4D cinemas.” These choices sometimes make the intended point less clear. Aim for more precise topic vocabulary and natural collocations, for example when describing employment, local film industries, shared experiences, or cultural representation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use mostly straightforward sentence patterns and attempt some longer structures, including “If they want to watch movies …, they use these electronic devices” and “not only local people but foreigners come there.” The main meaning is generally understandable, but control is uneven, particularly in longer sentences. For example, “It also helps a lot in the form of economically” has an awkward grammatical construction, and “It creates a great revenue from this” has an unclear subject and structure. There are also shifts between general statements and direct address (“they” and “you”), which weaken consistency. Practise building complex sentences around one clear main clause, check subject–verb agreement and pronoun references, and use consistent third-person phrasing for general claims.

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