Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-05

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

In many countries, primary and secondary schools close for two months or more in the summer holidays.

What is the value of long school holidays?

What are the arguments in favour of shorter school holidays?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 5.5)

In summers , primary and secondary schools in most of the countries around the globe close for summer vacations. these holidays last for two months. There are many important interests behind this structural yearly closing of schools as it opens ways to many essential activities that are only possible in this season of the year.

In countries with severe cold winters arrival of summer is welcomed warmly. In winters people get stuck in a fixed routine of work and home. Kids are also the part of same cycle. Because of harsh weather conditions its very difficult to do any outdoor activity which is very necessary for health. In summers the weather allows to have outdoor activities that play role in better physical and mental health. For this purpose summer camps are organised in childern holidays so that they can enjoy the nature at its peak. families organise picnics to have quality time togather.

The duration of these holidays is also a point to be noted as two moths is an enough time to help children regain energy for the upcoming whole year . Around the year the short breaks are being under arguments because they donot provide enough time for families to have a fun tme togather. but shorter holidays have there own importance giving kids a little break from there bore routine. this freshens them up for the next term.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You address both questions: you explain the value of a long summer break through outdoor activity, health, camps and family time, and you mention that shorter breaks can refresh pupils. However, the second part is much less developed: the response gives only one brief benefit of shorter holidays and does not explain why schools might favour them. The opening also refers to the holidays lasting two months without establishing a clear overall position. Your ideas are relevant, but several remain general—for example, the claim that two months helps children regain energy is not supported with a specific explanation or example. The response is 19 words below the required minimum, which limits the space available to develop both sides fully. Add a developed argument for shorter holidays and a relevant example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, a paragraph about the benefits of summer, and a final paragraph that introduces the duration and shorter-break argument. This helps the reader follow the main topic. However, progression is uneven because the final paragraph moves from the value of a two-month break to shorter holidays without clearly signalling the contrast or developing the new point. Connections such as “For this purpose” and “but” are used, but the relationships between some ideas remain loose, and the conclusion is absent. Paragraphing is broadly appropriate, though the response would be clearer with a separate, fully developed paragraph on arguments for shorter holidays and a brief concluding summary.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant topic vocabulary, including “outdoor activity,” “summer camps,” “quality time,” and “routine,” which allows you to communicate the main ideas. There are also attempts at less common phrasing, such as “regain energy” and “harsh weather conditions.” However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are awkward, including “important interests behind this structural yearly closing” and “the short breaks are being under arguments.” Spelling errors such as “childern,” “togather,” and “moth” are noticeable, as are inconsistent forms such as “there” for “their.” These issues do not prevent understanding, but they reduce precision. Aim for natural, accurate phrases and check spelling carefully.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, for example, “Because of harsh weather conditions its very difficult to do any outdoor activity which is very necessary for health.” This shows an effort to connect reasons and explanations. However, control is inconsistent: the sentence needs a subject and apostrophe in “it’s,” and the relative clause is awkwardly attached. Other examples include “In summers the weather allows to have outdoor activities,” which lacks a clear object or subject for “allows,” and “two moths is an enough time,” where the plural noun and verb do not agree. Capitalisation and punctuation are also inconsistent, particularly after full stops. Use a wider range of accurately controlled sentence patterns, and proofread for agreement, articles, sentence boundaries and apostrophes.

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