Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-28

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 6.5)

In the 1900s, entertainment meant buying tickets to a circus or a movie being projected onto a white cloth in a theatre. People used to travel from far away places to watch a drama or a black and white movie.

But in today's world, entertainment is easily available on people's fingertips. All they have to do is grab their phones or laptops and lookup a movie/series to watch. There is not even the need to have subscription to a TV channel or media player like Netflix; as people nowadays can easily watch movies for free via piracy. Still I believe theatres and cinemas are an integral part of the art of movies or dramas. Theatres give you an immersive experience of the show which the director intended for the consumer. Without them you cannot get the full experience of the show and cannot do justice to the visuals and the sound design. Yes, people can still watch the same content for free in the comfort of their houses but they would never get the immaculate taste of watching it in a cinema full of enthusiasts. The energy you get in there is unparalleled.

If cinemas were not relevant in today's time, then media companies wouldn't have invested so much in cinema compatible tools and directions. It is also the reason why they release new movies in cinemas first and later on OTT channels. People who genuinely want to support the art, the artists and the overall experience, watch movies in cinemas instead of their homes. If everybody watched it at homes, the revenues won't be enough to sustain the art and artists would stop wanting to creating more movies and shows. By watching their work in cinemas, we not only help them with monetary support but also with emotional support by respecting their work.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

Your position is clear: although online viewing is convenient, you believe cinemas and theatres remain important for the experience and for supporting artists. You develop the cultural and economic case with relevant points about immersive sound and visuals, audience energy, and ticket revenue. However, the two views are not discussed equally. The advantages of online entertainment are mainly described as convenience and free access through piracy, without considering legitimate streaming’s affordability, choice, or accessibility. The economic argument is also somewhat broad: the claim that artists would stop creating films if audiences watched at home needs qualification or a specific example. Develop the opposing view more fully and support key claims with clearer reasoning.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a generally coherent progression: it introduces the change in viewing habits, states your position, and then explains the experiential and economic value of cinemas. Paragraphing helps separate the introduction from the main argument, and links such as “Still,” “If,” and “By watching” make relationships between ideas clear. However, the discussion of online entertainment is folded into the same paragraph as your opinion, so the two sides are not clearly balanced. Some connections are also abrupt: the move from piracy to the cinema experience, and then to companies’ investment in cinema-compatible tools, could be explained more explicitly. Use a separate paragraph for the opposing view and clearer topic sentences to guide the reader through each stage of the discussion.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use a suitable range of vocabulary and some effective expressions, including “immersive experience,” “sound design,” “unparalleled,” and “monetary support.” These choices help convey your enthusiasm and show some flexibility beyond basic wording. A few phrases are less natural or precise, however: “available on people’s fingertips” is an awkward collocation, while “cinema compatible tools and directions” does not clearly express the intended idea. “Immaculate taste of watching it” is also unclear in this context. Aim for precise, conventional collocations, especially when discussing technology and the film industry. The meaning remains understandable, but more consistent control of phrasing would make the argument sound more fluent and appropriately academic.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex structures, including conditional sentences (“If cinemas were not relevant…”) and clauses explaining purpose and contrast. Most sentences communicate their meaning clearly, and punctuation generally supports the flow. Some grammatical errors remain. For example, “There is not even the need to have subscription” is missing an article, and “artists would stop wanting to creating” has an incorrect verb pattern; use “a subscription” and “would stop wanting to create.” In “the revenues won't be enough,” the shift from the past hypothetical “If everybody watched” to “won’t” is inconsistent; “wouldn’t” would fit the conditional. Review articles, verb patterns, and tense consistency to make your complex sentences more controlled.

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