Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-11-02

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)

It is often argued that in the digital age, theatres and cinemas are no longer important as people can watch all the entairtainment they want online but others says that theatres and cinemas are still important both economically and culturally. In my opinion, they are still important.

To begin with, the online streaming platforms are more convenient and cheap. In cinemas and theatres we have buy tickets and travel from one place to another for watching movie which also led to a wastage of time but if we are watching the movies and dramas online then we do not have to buy tickets and no need of travelling. We can watch anything, when we are in bed and it led to less waste of time. We can watch anything at anytime which is more comfortable. However, in cinemas and theaters there are fewer movies to watch while if we are watching online movies and dramas, we have unlimited choices. We can watch any drama and movie in any language. The rise in streaming platform has made entertainment more accesible.

Moreover, theatres and cinemas are crucial for both economically and culturally. Economically it provides local jobs to many individuals such as director, manager, actors, and other workers. If they are closed, many people loses their jobs which led to unemployment. Through theatres and cinemas, government gets taxes which is also benefical for economy. They are important for social experience for family and friends go together, laugh together and enjoy which is not provided by online platforms.

In conclusion, the online platforms are more convinient and comfortable but I Believe that theatres and cinemas are dispensable economically and culturally.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You discuss both perspectives and state your view in the introduction, then return to it in the conclusion. The convenience and choice offered by streaming, and the employment, tax and social benefits of venues, are relevant points. However, these ideas are mostly asserted rather than explained with specific examples or fuller reasoning, so the response only partially develops the task. Your final claim that theatres and cinemas are “dispensable” contradicts your stated opinion that they remain important; this makes your position unclear at the end. The response is also 248 words, two words below the required minimum; the 29 words copied from the prompt were not counted. Develop each side with a concrete example and ensure the conclusion matches your position.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, a paragraph on online entertainment, a paragraph on venues, and a conclusion. Linking phrases such as “To begin with,” “Moreover,” and “In conclusion” help signal the stages of the discussion. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes repetitive: the first body paragraph repeats that online viewing is convenient and offers many choices without clearly grouping or extending these points. Some connections are also awkward, as in “However, in cinemas and theaters there are fewer movies to watch,” where the contrast with the preceding point is not fully explained. The conclusion’s opposing claim disrupts the overall line of argument. Use clearer topic sentences, connect each supporting detail to its main point, and keep the position consistent.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “streaming platforms,” “local jobs,” “unemployment,” and “social experience.” There is some variation in phrasing, but the range is limited and several word-choice, collocation and spelling errors are noticeable. For example, “a wastage of time” is unnatural, “more accesible” is misspelled, and “dispensable” does not express your intended view that venues remain important. Repetition of “watch,” “movies,” and “important” also limits precision. These issues do not prevent the reader from understanding the general argument, but more accurate collocations and a wider range of terms for viewing, employment and cultural value would make the response clearer and more effective.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including conditional structures such as “If they are closed, many people loses their jobs” and a contrast between online and in-person viewing. However, the range is limited, and errors occur frequently enough to affect clarity. Subject–verb agreement is faulty in “others says” and “many people loses”; the sentence “In cinemas and theatres we have buy tickets” has an incorrect verb form; and “for family and friends go together” is not a complete grammatical construction. Articles and sentence boundaries also need attention. Practise accurate agreement and verb patterns, and revise longer sentences into clear clauses. Greater control of these basics will make your ideas easier to follow.

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