Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-30

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)

Opinions are devided on weather in this digital era traditional cinemas and theaters are not important anymore because of online platforms while some people say cinemas and theatres are important in both aspects economically and culturally. I support the latter view because of movies and serials still earn a lot of revanue from theatres and cinemas.

On the one hand, those who support the idea that cinemas and theaters are no longer important because of digital platforms argue as they think people do not have time to go to cinemas. And people can watch any movie or season at their homes on digital platforms. They base this on the view that cinemas are time consuming and time restricted. For example you have to book your tickets for your movie and have only few choices while on online you have multiple options.

On the other hand many believe traditional cinemas are still relevant and i support this point of view. The main reason behind this belief is whole film industry earning structure which is still based upon cinemas and theatres. films are still rely on cinemas to generate income. For example if a movie is released in cinemas and digital platforms then it can earn a lot of money. Many people earn from movies and people still go to cinemas with family .

In conclusion, although there valid arguements that now a days cinemas are no longer important. But i am of the opinion that the view of importance and relevance of cinemas is a stronger stance because a lot of people still prefer going to cinemas for entertainment rather than sitting at home watching movies on their own tv.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both views and state your position clearly: you support the continued importance of cinemas, mainly because of their economic contribution. The opposing view is also relevantly represented through convenience, limited time, and the wider choice available online. However, both sides are developed only briefly. The online argument would benefit from explaining more fully why home viewing is attractive, while the economic case needs clearer support—for example, how cinema releases create income for filmmakers, venues, and workers. The cultural importance named in the prompt is not really discussed, so the response does not fully develop all aspects of the question. A more balanced discussion with specific examples would make your position more convincing.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two views, and a conclusion. Phrases such as “On the one hand,” “On the other hand,” and “In conclusion” help readers follow the discussion. The progression is generally understandable, but some connections are mechanical, and ideas within paragraphs are not always linked precisely. For instance, the claim that films rely on cinemas is followed by the example that a film released in both cinemas and online can earn money, without explaining the relationship between those points. The conclusion also repeats the preference for cinemas rather than drawing together the economic and cultural arguments. Use clearer referencing and develop each paragraph around a connected sequence of claim, explanation, and example.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “digital platforms,” “film industry,” “generate income,” and “relevant,” so the main ideas are usually clear. However, the range is limited and some wording is repetitive, particularly repeated references to “cinemas,” “movies,” and “important.” There are also noticeable spelling and word-choice errors, such as “devided,” “weather,” “revanue,” and “arguements,” which reduce accuracy. Some phrases are awkward or imprecise, including “whole film industry earning structure” and “on online.” Aim for more natural collocations and a wider range of precise terms, while checking spelling carefully. This would help you express the economic and cultural arguments more clearly and avoid relying on the same general vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including a contrast in the opening and clauses introduced by “because” and “while.” Meaning is generally recoverable, but errors in sentence construction, verb forms, agreement, articles, and punctuation occur often enough to affect fluency. For example, “films are still rely on cinemas” combines incompatible verb forms, while “although there valid arguements” is missing a verb. The opening sentence is also difficult to control because several ideas are joined together without clear punctuation. Capitalisation is inconsistent, as in “i” and “films.” Practise building accurate sentences with one main idea and a supporting clause, and check subject–verb agreement, articles, and sentence boundaries during revision.

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.