Cambridge IELTS 21 Test 2 Writing Task 2: Theatres and Cinemas
Cambridge IELTS 21 · Test 2 · Academic Writing Task 2Discuss both viewsCulture & lifestyle
The question presents two views: that theatres and cinemas are no longer important because people can watch all the entertainment they want online, and that they remain important both economically and culturally. Candidates must discuss both views and give their own opinion.
The question
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. WRITING TASK 2 You should spend about 40 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic: 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. Write at least 250 words. Write at least 250 words.
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How to read the question
- This is a discussion essay: Discuss both these views and give your own opinion means each view needs a developed body paragraph, and your own position must be stated clearly, ideally in the introduction and conclusion.
- The first view rests on a specific reason: people can watch all the entertainment they want online. Address this reason directly, for example streaming services, convenience and cost.
- The second view names two dimensions, economically and culturally. A strong answer covers both: jobs, tourism and city-centre businesses on the economic side; shared experience, live performance and national identity on the cultural side.
- Theatres and cinemas are different: theatre is live performance that cannot be fully replicated online, while films can be streamed. Recognising this difference shows a precise response.
- Your opinion can agree with one side or take a balanced position, but it must be clear; simply describing both views without a conclusion limits the Task Response score.
- Avoid writing a general essay about the internet or about whether films are good for society.
Suggested position
Although online platforms have made watching films at home more convenient than ever, I believe that theatres and cinemas remain important, because they support local economies and offer a shared, live experience that streaming cannot replace.
Paragraph plan
- 1
Introduction
Paraphrase the two views: one side thinks online streaming has made theatres and cinemas unnecessary, while the other believes they still matter economically and culturally. State your opinion that they remain important.
- 2
Body paragraph 1: the case that they are no longer important
Explain the convenience and low cost of streaming services, the huge choice available at home, the falling cinema attendance in many countries and the speed with which new films now appear online.
- 3
Body paragraph 2: their economic and cultural importance
Give the economic value (jobs for actors, technicians and staff, tourism such as London's West End, and spending in nearby restaurants) and the cultural value (live performance, the shared experience of an audience, and venues for local and national stories).
- 4
Conclusion
Restate that, despite the convenience of online viewing, theatres and cinemas remain valuable, and suggest they will survive by offering experiences that cannot be reproduced at home.
Ideas and arguments
- Streaming services offer thousands of films and series for a monthly fee that is often lower than the price of one cinema ticket for a family.
- Watching at home is convenient: viewers choose the time, can pause and avoid travel, crowds and expensive snacks.
- The gap between a film's cinema release and its online release has shortened, reducing the reason to go out.
- Theatres and cinemas employ actors, directors, technicians and front-of-house staff, and support nearby restaurants, bars and transport.
- Theatre districts such as London's West End and New York's Broadway attract millions of tourists and bring significant revenue to their cities.
- Live theatre cannot be reproduced online: the presence of the actors and the reaction of the audience create a unique experience.
- Watching a film with hundreds of people creates a shared emotional experience and remains a popular social activity, for example for families and friends.
- Local theatres preserve cultural traditions and give space to new writers and performers who may not reach large streaming platforms.
Band 8+ model answer
304 words · An original model answer written for ieltswrites, not an official answer. It stays in English, as in the exam.
With streaming services now offering thousands of films at the touch of a button, some people claim that theatres and cinemas have become unnecessary. Others maintain that these venues still matter both to the economy and to cultural life. In my view, although online viewing is undeniably convenient, theatres and cinemas remain important because they provide a shared, live experience that cannot be replicated at home.
Those who regard these venues as obsolete have a reasonable argument. A monthly subscription to a streaming platform often costs less than a single cinema ticket, yet it gives access to an enormous library of films and series that can be watched whenever and wherever viewers wish. Moreover, the time between a film's cinema release and its appearance online has shortened considerably, so many people see little reason to travel, queue and pay for overpriced snacks. Falling cinema attendance in several countries suggests that this view is widely shared.
Nevertheless, the economic contribution of theatres and cinemas is substantial. They employ not only actors and directors but also technicians, designers and front-of-house staff, and they support nearby restaurants, bars and transport services. Theatre districts such as London's West End attract millions of visitors every year and are a cornerstone of the night-time economy. Beyond the economic argument, these venues have a cultural value that streaming cannot match. Watching a play performed live, or laughing alongside hundreds of strangers in a cinema, creates a communal experience that is quite different from viewing alone on a laptop. Local theatres also give a stage to new writers and preserve traditions that might otherwise disappear.
In conclusion, while online entertainment has clearly changed how people watch films, I believe theatres and cinemas remain valuable economically and culturally, and they are likely to survive by offering experiences that a screen at home cannot.
Why this answer scores highly
- Task Response
- Both views are discussed fully with specific support, the economic and cultural aspects of the second view are each addressed, and the writer's opinion is clear in the introduction and confirmed in the conclusion.
- Coherence and Cohesion
- Each body paragraph presents one view with a clear topic sentence, and ideas progress logically with devices such as moreover, nevertheless, beyond the economic argument and in conclusion.
- Lexical Resource
- Topic-specific vocabulary such as streaming platforms, release window, the night-time economy and communal experience is used precisely, and the question's wording is paraphrased rather than copied.
- Grammatical Range and Accuracy
- The essay controls complex structures, including relative clauses, concessive clauses, passive forms and comparatives, with accurate punctuation and a variety of sentence types.
Useful vocabulary
- the digital age
- the present period, in which digital technology is central to daily life
- streaming platform
- an online service that lets people watch films and series over the internet
- on demand
- available whenever the viewer wants it
- live performance
- a show performed in front of an audience in real time
- communal experience
- something enjoyed together by a group of people
- cultural heritage
- the traditions, art and buildings that a society values and passes on
- box office
- the place where tickets are sold; also the money a film or show earns from tickets
- the creative industries
- businesses based on art, film, music, design and performance
- generate revenue
- produce income
- the night-time economy
- businesses such as restaurants, bars and theatres that operate in the evening
- immersive
- making the audience feel completely involved in what they are watching
- obsolete
- no longer useful or needed
- release window
- the period between a film's cinema release and its availability elsewhere
Common mistakes
- Discussing both views but never stating your own opinion, or stating it only in the final sentence.
- Covering only the cultural importance and ignoring the economic side, which the question explicitly mentions.
- Treating theatres and cinemas as exactly the same, without noticing that live theatre cannot be streamed in the same way as films.
- Writing a general essay about the internet or the effects of watching television.
- Giving one view a full paragraph and the other only a sentence, which makes the discussion unbalanced.
- Overgeneralising with claims such as nobody goes to the cinema anymore.
Frequently asked questions
- Which Cambridge book is this question from?
- This question about whether theatres and cinemas are still important in the digital age is Writing Task 2 of Test 2 in Cambridge IELTS 21 Academic.
- Where should I give my opinion in a discuss both views essay?
- State it in the introduction, discuss both views in the body, and restate it in the conclusion. Your opinion may also be signalled in the paragraph for the view you support.
- Do I have to write about both theatres and cinemas?
- Yes, the question mentions both, so refer to both. You can point out the difference that live theatre cannot be fully replaced online, which strengthens your argument.
- How many words should I write for this Task 2?
- Write at least 250 words; about 270-310 words is usually enough to develop both views and your opinion in 40 minutes.
Free and timed, with a live word count, just like the computer-delivered test. Then get an instant AI band score.
The exam simulator runs on a computer. Open this page on a laptop or desktop to practise.