Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 13 · 2026-10-04

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Some people say that now we can see films on our phones or tablets there is no need to go to the cinema. Others say that to be fully enjoyed, films need to be seen in a cinema.

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)

It is often argued that it is better to watch movies on our mobile phones and tablets, while others believe that films should be seen in a movie theatre. This essay will discuss both perspectives before explaining why I believe that watching films on our own phones or tablets is best.

On the one hand, some individuals prefer to watch movies in a cinema. To elaborate, one reason for this is that cinemas have big screens which helps to get greater experience of watching a movie. For instance, peeps like to watch on big screens because the sound effect and the 3D and 4D experience make us more connected to the movies. Therefore, films in cinema are preferred due to a high level of cinematography and sound effects.

On the other hand, others think that watching movies on their own devices is better. To explain it, watching films in own devices gives a sense of independence and allows for fast-forwarding the movies if people find the movie boring. Moreover, it also eliminates the cost of movie tickets. To cite an example, according to a survey in "The Times of India", it is proven that 8 out of 10 individuals prefer to watch movies on phones because they prefer to stay alone and enjoy their own time. In my opinion, I believe that watching movies on phones is a better approach.

In conclusion, although films need to be seen in the cinema for a better experience, I believe that phones and tablets are more suitable, as people enjoy more when they watch movies in their homes on their own devices .

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing both views—the benefits of cinemas versus the advantages of personal devices—and clearly states a personal position throughout. The main ideas are generally relevant, fulfilling the baseline requirements for the task. However, some ideas feel somewhat under-developed rather than fully extended. For instance, the discussion regarding why cinemas provide a better experience relies on basic generalisations about sound and screen size, such as mentioning 'peeps like to watch on big screens', without deeply exploring the psychological or social aspects of communal viewing. Similarly, the counterargument supporting personal devices touches on cost and independence, but these points are supported by a somewhat simplistic survey example. To reach a higher level, the ideas would need more thorough expansion and more sophisticated real-world support.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with a clear logical progression from introduction to body paragraphs and a final conclusion. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, separating the two distinct viewpoints into dedicated sections. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' are employed to guide the reader through the structure of the argument. However, referencing and cohesion occasionally feel slightly mechanical or repetitive, such as the frequent reliance on 'To elaborate' and 'To explain it' to introduce examples and explanations. Additionally, referencing within sentences could be smoother, as seen in phrases like 'watching films in own devices', which disrupts the flow. Clearer logical transitions between sentences would elevate the cohesion of the response.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, providing sufficient range to discuss the topic of cinemas versus mobile viewing. The student attempts some less common vocabulary and phrases, such as 'cinematography', 'independence', and 'eliminates the cost', which successfully convey the intended meaning. However, there are noticeable limitations and occasional inaccuracies in word choice, collocation, and word form. For example, expressions like 'peeps like to watch' are too informal for an IELTS essay, and phrases such as 'in own devices' omit a necessary possessive pronoun ('their own devices'). Spelling and word-choice errors are present, but they do not impede communication. To achieve a higher band, the writer needs to demonstrate a more precise and natural control of less common lexical items with fewer stylistic lapses.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The response demonstrates a reasonable mix of simple and complex sentence forms, using subordinating clauses such as 'while others believe that' and 'if people find the movie boring'. There is evidence of good control over basic sentence structures and verb tenses. However, there are several errors in grammar and punctuation that prevent a higher rating. For instance, there is a singular and plural agreement issue in 'cinemas have big screens which helps', where 'helps' should be plural. Other structural errors include missing articles or determiners, such as 'films in cinema are preferred' instead of 'films in the cinema'. Punctuation and phrasing also show minor lapses, though these errors rarely impede overall communication. A higher band would require a wider variety of error-free complex sentences and more consistent grammatical accuracy across all structures.

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