Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-24

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 5.0)

People have different opinions to watch movies on online platforms or to experience at cinema screens. While some believe that cinemas are no longer crucial. Others argue that theatre are still significant both economically and culturally. In my opinion, although both perspectives have their merits. I believe that watching movies in cinemas give more realistic and thrilling experiences.

On one hand, those who support to watch all entertainment on online websites argue that they get same experience in their television. This is largely because people can see any entertainment source in one click of their screens with their family and closed ones. Furthermore, they watch it any time of the day and pause the movie scenes to watch it later after complete their crucial works. For example, there are several

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

The response begins to address both views and gives a personal position: you mention the convenience of online viewing and state that cinema offers a “more realistic and thrilling” experience. However, the discussion is only minimally developed. The online-viewing paragraph gives a few benefits, but the example stops at “there are several,” and the response does not explain the economic or cultural importance of theatres and cinemas, which is central to the opposing view in the prompt. Your opinion is stated but not supported with reasons or examples. The response also falls 120 words short of the required minimum, leaving major parts of the task unanswered. Develop each side with specific explanations and examples, then justify your own view.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

There is a basic attempt to organise the response: an introductory paragraph is followed by a paragraph beginning “On one hand,” and the ideas within that paragraph are broadly related to online viewing. The opening also signals that contrasting views will be discussed. However, there is no completed discussion of the other side, and the unfinished example (“there are several”) interrupts progression. The contrast signalled by “On one hand” is not followed by a corresponding “On the other hand” paragraph, so the essay lacks a clear overall development. Some linking is also awkward, such as “While some believe… Others argue…”. Complete the example, use separate paragraphs for each view, and connect the ideas with clear, accurate transitions.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “digital age” ideas such as “online platforms,” “entertainment,” “economically,” and “culturally.” These choices make the general subject understandable, and “realistic and thrilling experiences” communicates your preference. However, the range is limited in this short response, and several phrases are unnatural or imprecise, including “support to watch,” “same experience in their television,” and “closed ones.” Repetition of “watch” and “experience” also limits flexibility. Aim for more precise collocations and topic-specific language, such as describing convenience, shared viewing, ticket revenue, or cultural events. Check that each chosen phrase sounds natural in context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response attempts some complex sentence forms, including “While some believe…” and “This is largely because…,” and the main ideas can generally be followed. However, the range remains limited, and errors recur in both sentence structure and basic grammatical patterns. For example, “theatre are” has subject–verb disagreement, while “watch it any time… and pause… to watch it later after complete their crucial works” contains an incomplete verb pattern and unclear subject reference. The sentence beginning “In my opinion, although…” is also incomplete because the although-clause is not joined to a main clause. Practise complete sentence construction, agreement, and verb forms, then proofread punctuation and clause connections.

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