Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-22

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 modern era, the digital age, online platforms and websites provide entertainment more accessible than even before. While some people believe that watching cinema and theatre is no longer necessary, others argue that cinema and theatre are more entertaining and economically and culturally valuable. In my opinion, cinema and theatre are more enjoyable, traditional and valuable to society .

Firstly, many people believe that cinemas and theaters are less accessible because of the growth of modern technology; nowadays, people can watch any film and live performance on any website, and they can also enjoy live streaming shows without any hassle, in their comfort zone. This option is more convenient and also affordable, as there is no travel cost and no expensive tickets. Furthermore, the online platform provides a wide variety of websites, and these are easy to access. For example, many students are not able to afford to spend a large amount of money on buying tickets, and also most people do not have enough time to watch theater and cinema in a specific and selected time period.

On the other hand, cinema and theaters provide significant benefits to culture and tradition. Economically, they create employment opportunities for actors, directors, staff members, ticket sellers, and other workers. They also supports nearby shops and stalles. Culturally they are essential bea

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You introduce both views and state a clear preference for cinemas and theatres, while the first body paragraph gives relevant reasons for online entertainment, including convenience, affordability and flexible access. However, the response does not fully develop the cultural and economic case: the final paragraph begins to mention employment and support for nearby businesses, but ends mid-sentence at “Culturally they are essential bea…”. As a result, your own position is asserted rather than supported with a complete explanation or example, and the discussion of the second view is especially incomplete. The response is also 30 words below the required minimum. To strengthen the answer, complete both sides of the discussion and explain why shared, in-person experiences matter culturally, using a relevant example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, a paragraph presenting the online-entertainment view, and a paragraph beginning the case for theatres and cinemas. “Firstly,” “Furthermore,” and “On the other hand” help signal the direction of the argument. However, the progression is cut short when the final paragraph ends mid-sentence, leaving the discussion and conclusion unfinished. Some links are also mechanical, and the relationship between ideas could be clearer—for example, the point about students’ limited budgets is joined to the separate point about people’s lack of time. Develop each paragraph around a clear main idea, use linking phrases selectively, and finish with a conclusion that restates your view and draws the discussion together.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of topic vocabulary, including “live streaming,” “employment opportunities,” “culturally valuable,” and “affordable,” which makes the main subject clear. There are also attempts at more specific phrasing, such as “in their comfort zone” and “a specific and selected time period,” though these are not natural or precise in context. Spelling and word-form choices such as “stalles” and “theater” alongside “theatre” reduce consistency, while repeated use of “cinema and theatre” limits variety. Aim for accurate collocations and consistent spelling, and choose concise expressions such as “at home” and “at a fixed time.” The unfinished final phrase also prevents you from demonstrating the vocabulary needed to complete the cultural argument.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including a subordinate clause in “because of the growth of modern technology” and a longer sentence explaining the convenience of online viewing. Most of the meaning remains understandable, but some grammatical errors are present. For example, “they also supports” has a subject–verb agreement error, and “more accessible than even before” has an inaccurate comparative construction. The opening sentence also lacks a clear grammatical link between “the modern era” and “the digital age.” Punctuation and spacing around sentence endings are inconsistent, and the final sentence is incomplete. Review agreement, comparative forms and sentence boundaries, then proofread to ensure every sentence is complete. More accurate control of these structures would make your argument easier to follow.

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