Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-10-31

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)

Few individuals argued that in this era of emerging technology, there is insignificant role of theatre and cinema as adults are able to get entertainment online according to their choice while other schools of thought believe that they are still crucial financially and historically. I do not completely support one view because both have their own reasons and causes and in this essay I will demonstrate the reasons with examples of both views.

In contemporary society, if we look at the achievements of technology; it is clear that most citizens rely on the fastest means whether for communication, transport or entertainment. People are habitual of getting anything with one click, in spite of physically visiting a particular location. So, the first argument is right in this way, because individuals are losing interest in going to cinema or watching a play in theatre. For example, if a person gets free after work in the evening and his movie time was at noon, he can watch it online after the cinema according to his timetable.

Other groups believe that cinema and theatre are still important both economically and culturally because people are now more interested in going to the cinema, entertain themselves with latest movies and enjoy movies far from home which gave them sense of freedom and luxurie, if a person wants to enjoy a movie or a play he will prefer going to the big screen at the cinema

social, environmental, economic and technology

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.0

You introduce both perspectives and state that you do not completely support either, so the response is relevant to the discussion. However, the task is addressed only partially: the online-entertainment argument receives a brief example, while the economic and cultural importance of theatres and cinemas is asserted rather than explained. The second view is also left unfinished, and there is no developed conclusion clarifying your own opinion. The response contains 244 words, so it does not meet the required minimum of 250. To strengthen the answer, explain specific economic and cultural benefits, support each view with a clear example, and finish by stating which view you find more convincing and why.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response has an identifiable opening and begins to organise the two views into separate sections. Phrases such as “So, the first argument” and “Other groups believe” help signal the shift in focus. However, progression is limited: the second viewpoint ends abruptly, and the final line, “social, environmental, economic and technology,” is disconnected from the discussion. The long sentence about enjoying films at the cinema also contains several ideas without clear links. Develop a complete paragraph for each view, use transitions to show how examples support the claims, and add a concluding paragraph. This would make the overall arrangement clearer and reduce the impression of an unfinished response.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You attempt a range of topic-related vocabulary, including “emerging technology,” “crucial financially and historically,” and “means for communication, transport or entertainment.” These choices show an effort to discuss the issue beyond very basic terms. However, several expressions are unnatural or imprecise, such as “habitual of getting anything with one click,” “after the cinema,” and “enjoy movies far from home.” “Luxurie” is also misspelled, and “historically” does not clearly express the cultural value in the prompt. Aim for more accurate collocations and precise terms, such as describing online services as convenient or theatres as cultural institutions. This will make your meaning easier to follow and your vocabulary more appropriate to the topic.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including a conditional example beginning “if a person gets free after work” and a clause introduced by “because.” However, control is uneven, particularly in longer sentences. For example, “if a person wants to enjoy a movie or a play he will prefer going to the big screen at the cinema” needs clearer punctuation and sentence boundaries, while “which gave them” shifts tense within a present-focused argument. The opening sentence also combines several clauses in a way that makes the relationships difficult to track. Practise dividing long ideas into complete sentences, checking tense consistency, and using commas and full stops to mark clause boundaries.

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