Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-08
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)
People have different opinions about whether primary and high level educational institutions close for two months or more in the summer vacations.While both perspectives have their own merits. I believe that shorter school holidays can be more beneficial than long school holidays. This essay will discuss both viewpoints before explaining my position.
To begin with I will like to discuss about long school holidays and its advantages. In favour of long academic breaks we can spend more time with family and visit many places. For instance in vacations we can go northern sides of Pakistan like Swat and explore new things about nature. Due to this your mind will make you fresh. Furthermore in extended school holidays you can learn new skills which particularly beneficial for your long term career. For example if you are computer science student you can learn the skills about fiver, eBay and Etsy which can help in learning in practical life and you can live happy life.
On the other hand shorter school also offer several benefits. In this controversial topic, I will like to talk about that you can touch with friends and learn those things from teacher which you do not understand. To illustrate that, sometimes you do not understand some conceptual topics then you need the concepts to understand the topic. Long holidays can disturb daily routines and to maintain discipline. Shorter holidays can help to maintain discipline like you can engage in all extra-circular activities.
To sum up, although long school holidays provides opportunities to relax, develop new skills and spend time with their families, shorter school holidays maintain academic consistency.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The response addresses both questions and gives a clear overall preference for shorter holidays, especially in the introduction and conclusion. It also offers relevant examples, such as visiting Swat and using a break to learn online skills. However, the two sides are not developed equally: the benefits of long holidays receive more explanation, while the case for shorter holidays relies mainly on staying in touch with friends, understanding lessons and maintaining routines. Some points are unclear, such as “you need the concepts to understand the topic.” Explain more directly how shorter breaks support learning, for example by reducing the amount of material pupils forget. More specific development of both sides would make the response more complete.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0
The essay has a recognisable structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two viewpoints, and a concluding summary. Signposts such as “To begin with,” “On the other hand,” and “To sum up” help readers follow the overall direction. However, some connections are mechanical or unclear. For example, “In this controversial topic, I will like to talk about that” interrupts the argument rather than linking the point smoothly, and the shift from maintaining routines to extra-curricular activities is not fully explained. The conclusion summarises the main contrast but does not restate the writer’s preference as clearly as the introduction. Use clearer links between each claim and its explanation, and make references such as “this” or “that” more precise.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The response uses enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate its main ideas, including “extended school holidays,” “daily routines,” “academic consistency,” and “practical life.” It also attempts some more specific language, such as “conceptual topics” and “extra-curricular activities.” However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or awkward, including “high level educational institutions,” “northern sides,” “make you fresh,” and “learn the skills about fiver.” These choices sometimes make the intended meaning less clear. Spelling and word form also need attention, as in “fiver” for “Fiverr” and “extra-circular” for “extracurricular.” Aim for natural combinations such as “refresh your mind,” “learn practical skills,” and “maintain contact with classmates.”
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
There is an attempt to use both simple and more complex sentences, including a contrast clause beginning “While both perspectives…” and a conditional example beginning “if you are computer science student.” However, control is uneven, and errors occur in sentence boundaries, verb forms, agreement, articles and prepositions. For example, “While both perspectives have their own merits” is a fragment, “I will like to discuss” uses an incorrect verb form, and “long school holidays provides” has a subject–verb agreement error. The opening also runs “vacations.While” together, while “you can touch with friends” has an incorrect grammatical pattern. Practise complete sentence construction and check each sentence for a clear subject and correctly formed verb; this will make the argument easier to follow.
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