Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-27

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)

There has been a growing argument that in this digital age, theatres and cinemas are no longer siginificant since people get access to all the entertainment they want through internet while, some people disagree and express that theatres and cinemas are still crucial both economically and culturally. In my opinion, I believe that theatres and cinemas play a major role for the country's economics and culture due to its origin and history.

In this digital age, with advanced technology, people can watch any form of entertainment online so that theatres and cinemas are not as important as they were. For example, Netflix subscription can give people a variety of entertainments such as movies, series, dramas and shows. Hence, it is more convenient for people as they won't need to leave their home and they can enjoy an entertainment more comfortably in their room.

On the other hand, theatres and cinemas are still contributing toward a country's economics and culture because through the operas play in theatres, people can learn about the history of their mother country and it is the most way to preserve the cultures and traditions. Furthermore,purchasing movie tickets can benefit financially for the country and goverment can invest such money in sector like healthcare and education.

In conclusion both are

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You address both views and state a position: you explain the convenience of online entertainment and argue that cinemas and theatres contribute to culture and the economy. However, the response only partially develops the discussion. The Netflix example supports convenience, while the claims about preserving culture and funding public services need clearer explanation or a specific example. The conclusion, “In conclusion both are”, is unfinished and does not restate your opinion, leaving the final position incomplete. The response contains 205 words, so it is 45 words below the required minimum; the eight words copied from the task prompt are not counted. Develop each side with a reason and example, then complete the conclusion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, a paragraph for each view, and an attempted conclusion. Linking phrases such as “For example,” “Hence,” and “On the other hand” help signal relationships between ideas. However, progression is limited because each main paragraph contains only a few points, and the final paragraph stops after “In conclusion both are,” rather than bringing the argument together. Some connections are also unclear: the shift from cultural preservation to ticket revenue and government investment is abrupt. Build each body paragraph around one main idea, explain it, and connect the example directly to it. A complete conclusion would give the essay a clearer overall progression.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some topic-relevant vocabulary, including “digital age,” “subscription,” “preserve,” and “traditions,” and the meaning is generally understandable. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing, such as “contributing toward a country's economics and culture.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, including “country's economics,” “the most way,” and “operas play.” “Entertainment” is also used as a countable noun in “a variety of entertainments” and “an entertainment,” where a more natural form is needed. Spelling errors such as “siginificant” and “goverment” further limit accuracy. Aim for precise, natural collocations and check spelling during revision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and complex sentences, including a subordinate clause beginning “since” and a contrast introduced by “On the other hand.” Most ideas can be followed, but errors in sentence construction and grammatical forms recur. In the opening sentence, “while” joins contrasting clauses awkwardly, and the comma before it disrupts the structure. In “theatres and cinemas play a major role … due to its origin and history,” the pronoun does not agree clearly with the plural subject. The phrase “through the operas play in theatres” also has a faulty grammatical pattern, and “government can invest such money in sector” needs articles and clearer structure. Practise accurate clause joining, agreement, and article use while retaining your attempts at complex sentences.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.