Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-14

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 6.5)

The summer break in primary and secondary schools can extend to two months or even more in multiple countries around the world. This essay will discuss the value of long shool holidays and it will give arguments supporting shorter school breaks.

Long school holidays are a great oppotunity for pupils to concentrate on extracurricular activities. In other words, it is their chance to practise their hobbies and to sharpen their skills in things outside school, such as doing internships or travelling in order to discover new cultures. For example, I personally take advantage of my three months summer holiday to play volleyball and to practise playing Oud and Nay. Therefore, the value of these long holidays is to be able to try out activities outside school that might take more time that short holidays.

Although long shool breaks have their advantages, this does not prevent shorter breaks to be beneficial as well. To begin with, conversely to long holidays, shorter ones prevent students from forgetting the materials studied before the break. As a result, the pace of study after shorter break is faster than after a longer one. Moreover, the tight period of the short holidays makes time much more valuable. This is because in longer holidays, tasks are easier to report, therefore pupils become lazy, and they even might not be able to achieve any thing during the break. For instance, I tend to find that I am considerably more productive when I am assigned a project on a tight schedule, than when I have extra time on my hands. Thus, shorter holidays have its own merits regarding productivity and effective time managing.

In conclusion, whether the holiday is long or short, the most important thing is to know how to take advantage of it in order help developing oneself's skills and make them achieve more goals without wasting their time.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You address both questions and maintain a relevant focus: the first main paragraph explains how longer breaks allow pupils to pursue hobbies, internships and travel, while the next gives reasons for shorter breaks, including retaining learning and encouraging productivity. The personal examples make the discussion more concrete. However, the value of long holidays is developed more fully than the case for shorter ones, and some claims need clearer explanation—for example, how a shorter break specifically helps students retain material. The conclusion offers a general principle about using time well rather than drawing together the two arguments. To strengthen the response, explain the effects of each benefit in more detail and make the final comparison more explicit.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, one paragraph for each side of the question, and a conclusion. Ideas generally progress logically, and signposting such as “For example,” “Moreover,” and “In conclusion” helps readers follow the discussion. The contrast between long and short breaks is also clear. Some linking is less natural or precise, however: “Although … this does not prevent shorter breaks to be beneficial” and “To begin with, conversely to long holidays” make the relationships between ideas awkward to follow. The final sentence also combines several points without clearly connecting them to the two arguments. Use simpler, more accurate transitions and ensure each paragraph develops one central point in a deliberate sequence.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for the topic, including “extracurricular activities,” “sharpen their skills,” “productive,” and “tight schedule.” These choices help express the main ideas, and the meaning remains clear despite some inaccurate or unnatural wording. There are several spelling errors, including “shool,” “oppotunity,” and “any thing,” as well as word-choice or collocation problems such as “tasks are easier to report” and “effective time managing.” “Three months summer holiday” is also an awkward phrase. These slips limit precision and naturalness, particularly when you attempt less common expressions. Proofread spelling and check collocations; choose familiar, accurate phrasing where a more ambitious expression is uncertain.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including subordinate clauses with “Although” and “This is because,” and most ideas can be understood without difficulty. Some grammatical errors remain. For example, “shorter break” needs an article or plural form, “shorter holidays have its own merits” has a subject–verb agreement problem, and “in order help developing” has an incorrect infinitive pattern. The final phrase “oneself’s skills and make them achieve” also shifts awkwardly between pronouns and structures. These errors do not generally prevent communication, but they reduce control in longer sentences. Review articles, agreement, and verb patterns, and check that pronouns consistently refer to the intended people.

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