Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-29

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)

Some people say that watching movies in theaters are waste of money and time. However, there are some people who prefer watching them in cinemas. I will discuss briefly on both points and share my opinion.

There are many websites and apps through which we can watch movies or tv shows. Some people belief that watching movies in theaters are no more entertaining. We can watch movies while sitting at home. Some websites are providing free subscription for people to watch movies. So why should we waste money and go to the cinemas for same kind of experience. People are more comfortable while sitting at home and watching entertainment online.

However, there are some people who still thinks that watching movies in cinemas or theaters should not be avoided. They argue that, it will give people more exposure and social attraction. People can watch entertainment on big screen which will give them a great experience. Additionaly, it has many benefits for economy and culture. Through many sales, it will give a great revenue to industry.

To exemplify, there is survey conducted by Netflix shows us that most of the people want to watch entertainment online rather than watching in a cinema. In my opinion, cinemas should not be avoided as they give us many facilities like watching movie on a big screen but in this digital age, most of people will recommend watching movies online.

In conclusion, both of these views are important and we cannot deny them. Cinemas are still important in this digital age but watching entertainment online is more comfortable and less money consuming.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both views and give a personal position: online viewing is more comfortable and economical, while cinemas offer a large-screen experience and contribute to the economy and culture. This is relevant to the prompt, but the discussion is uneven and several points remain general. For example, the claim that cinemas provide “social attraction” is not explained, and the economic and cultural benefits are asserted without a concrete illustration. Your opinion also shifts slightly: you say cinemas “should not be avoided,” but conclude that most people will recommend online viewing, without clearly weighing these positions. Develop each side with specific reasons or examples and state your own judgement consistently throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, a paragraph for each view, and a conclusion. Basic linking expressions such as “However,” “To exemplify,” and “In conclusion” help readers follow the discussion. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes mechanical, with repeated references to watching movies online or in cinemas rather than a clear sequence of distinct supporting points. The survey sentence is not well connected to the preceding discussion, and its relevance to the writer’s own position is unclear. Some references, such as “it” in “it will give people more exposure,” are also difficult to interpret precisely. Organise each body paragraph around one main claim, then explain and illustrate it before moving to the next point.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

Your vocabulary is sufficient to communicate the main ideas, using relevant terms such as “subscription,” “big screen,” “revenue,” and “digital age.” However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations sound unnatural, which makes parts of the argument less precise. Examples include “social attraction,” “more money consuming,” and “free subscription”; these do not express the intended meanings naturally. There are also spelling errors, including “Additionaly,” and repeated use of “watching movies” and “entertainment.” Build a wider set of topic-specific expressions and check how words combine in context. More precise language for audience experience, cultural value, and financial impact would help you explain the ideas more effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use mostly straightforward sentence patterns and attempt some longer structures, including “Some websites are providing free subscription for people to watch movies” and the contrast introduced by “but” in your opinion. Meaning is generally understandable, but errors in agreement, articles, and sentence construction recur. For example, “watching movies in theaters are” should use a singular verb, and “there are some people who still thinks” has a subject–verb agreement error. The opening also needs an article in “are waste of money and time.” Work on checking the subject of each verb, singular and plural forms, and article use. Practising accurate complex sentences will let you express comparisons and reasons with greater control.

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

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