Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-10

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 most of the countries, primay and secondary schools choose to close for the period two months or more at the time of summer holidays. There are pros and cons of long summer holidays.

Long holidays is really necessary for the childrens as it rejuvinates their mind and unwind the school stress. This free time can be utlisied for their more attention towards hobbies as on normal days beacuse of study load it is not possible to allotte more hours to extra curriculam activities. This is the correct time for them to practice their interest of hobbies. For overall development this can play crucial part. As everyone doesnt choose to lean towards studies so someone's could be to be a cricketer or Model. This time is like a space to explore their true self and hidden talents.

Though this can make it harder for kids to rejoin the school after holidays and study at the same pace. Because the routine might have changed completely and they may feel less interested to study. As i personally have experienced same scenario when i was a child. It really effects us mentally and school hours start feeling longer then usual. This can impact in longer run as it can result to not continuing schooling. Education is really important nowadays. To persue any field knowing basis about it can be helpful which is generally taught in schooling levels.

In conclusion, longer hoidays can be relaxing for students but it comes with its own consequemces.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address the value of long holidays by explaining that students can rest, pursue hobbies and discover talents, and you introduce a drawback: difficulty returning to school routines. The personal example helps make that concern relevant. However, the task also asks specifically for arguments in favour of shorter holidays, and this side is only implied through the problems of long breaks. Develop it directly—for example, explain how shorter breaks may help students retain learning, maintain routines or reduce the pressure of catching up. The conclusion mainly repeats that long holidays have benefits and consequences, so it does not clearly summarise the case for shorter holidays or establish a balanced final position. Some ideas are relevant but need fuller explanation and support.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, a paragraph on benefits, a paragraph on drawbacks and a conclusion. This gives the reader a basic route through your ideas, and transitions such as “Though” and “In conclusion” signal changes in direction. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear. The second paragraph moves from returning to school to personal experience, then to the possible end of schooling and the importance of education without fully explaining the links. Several sentences begin with “This,” whose reference is not always precise. The conclusion is also very brief and does not bring both sides together. Group related points more tightly and use explicit links to show how each example supports your argument.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “rejuvenates,” “school stress,” “extra-curricular activities,” “hidden talents” and “overall development.” These choices show an attempt to discuss more than basic holiday arrangements. However, spelling and word-choice errors are noticeable and sometimes make the reader pause, as in “primay,” “utlisied,” “persue” and “consequemces.” Some phrases are also unnatural or imprecise, such as “practice their interest of hobbies,” “lean towards studies” and “in longer run.” Aim for accurate collocations and check spelling carefully. A more precise range would also help you explain the shorter-holiday argument, using terms such as “retain learning,” “maintain a routine” and “learning continuity.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more extended sentence forms, including a reason clause in “as on normal days…” and a contrast introduced by “Though.” The main ideas are generally understandable, but errors in sentence construction and agreement recur. For example, “Long holidays is” should use a plural verb, while “the childrens” has an incorrect plural form and article. “As i personally have experienced same scenario” is missing an article and has awkward clause structure; “It really effects us mentally” also needs a clearer grammatical subject and construction. Punctuation and sentence boundaries need attention, particularly where “Because” starts a fragment. Practise building accurate complex sentences and checking agreement, articles and complete clauses before adding further detail.

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