Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-16

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 4.0)

The debate contrasting cinema and theaters has led to contrasting views. On the one hand, it is believed that, in this digitalized world theatres and cinemas are no longer essential as citizens can watch all the entertainment they want online. Other argue that, playhosue and cineplex are still important simaltaneously commercially and traditionally. This essay will discuss both perspectives and explain why, I believe that, In the digital age, the rise of online streaming has led some to question the relevance of physical cinemas and theatres.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The opening identifies the two broad positions: online entertainment may reduce the need for venues, while theatres and cinemas retain commercial and cultural importance. However, the response does not go on to discuss either view, provide reasons or examples, or establish a clear personal opinion. The final clause about streaming merely restates the topic rather than explaining your position. The response is also largely incomplete in relation to the task: at 78 words, it is 172 words below the 250-word minimum, and 8 words copied from the prompt were not counted. To address the task, develop each side in separate paragraphs, support the points with relevant examples, and state and explain your own view.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.0

There is a basic attempt to organise the response by introducing opposing views and using the signposts “On the one hand” and “Other argue.” This gives the reader some indication of the intended discussion. However, the essay has no developed sequence of ideas or conclusion, and the final sentence does not clearly follow from the preceding contrast. The opening also repeats the idea of “contrasting” views, while the long first paragraph combines the introduction and the only attempted discussion. Use separate paragraphs for the two perspectives and your opinion, and connect each claim to its explanation or example. Clearer progression and more purposeful paragraphing would make the argument easier to follow.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The response attempts some topic-specific vocabulary, including “digitalized world,” “online streaming,” “commercially,” and “traditionally,” showing an effort to discuss the subject beyond very basic terms. However, several choices are inaccurate or misspelled, such as “playhosue,” “simaltaneously,” and “Other argue.” “Contrasting” is also repeated in the opening, and “all the entertainment they want” closely echoes the prompt rather than demonstrating a wider range. These issues limit precision and naturalness, although the general topic remains recognisable. Aim to use accurate collocations such as “streaming services,” “live performance,” and “cultural significance,” and check spelling and word forms carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response includes both a simple opening statement and longer sentences with subordinate clauses, for example, “it is believed that … theatres and cinemas are no longer essential as citizens can watch…” This shows an attempt to vary sentence structure. However, control is inconsistent: “Other argue” has a subject–verb agreement error, and the sentence beginning “On the one hand” lacks a comma after the introductory phrase. In “explain why, I believe that, In the digital age,” punctuation interrupts the grammatical structure, and the capitalisation within the sentence is incorrect. The final sentence also does not clearly complete the promised explanation. Practise accurate clause boundaries, agreement, and punctuation, then proofread each sentence for a complete and clear structure.

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