Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-07-27
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 6.0)
**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?**
In many countries, students have long summer holiday every year. Some people think it is very good for children. Other people think the holiday should be shorter. This essay will discuss both views and give my opinion.
On the one hand, long school holidays have many good things. Students can rest after long time of studying. They can spend more time with their family and friends. Some students travel to other places and some stay at home. Because of this, many students feel happy and have less stress. They come back to school with more energy.
On the other hand, there are some reasons why people want shorter holidays. First, students can forget many things they learned at school. Also, some children only play games or watch videos all day. This is not good for their study. In addition, many parents are busy with work and they cannot always look after their children during long holiday.
In my opinion, long school holiday is good, but two months are too long. I think students need more rest, but they also need continue learning. A shorter holiday is better because students can relax and still remember what they learned in school.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response addresses both parts of the prompt, discussing the value of long holidays and the arguments for shorter ones. However, the development of ideas is quite limited; for instance, the point about parents being busy is mentioned but not fully explored. Furthermore, the essay falls short of the 250-word minimum requirement, which significantly impacts the depth of the response. To improve, you should aim to provide more detailed explanations and specific examples to support your arguments, ensuring you meet the length requirement to allow for a more comprehensive discussion of the topic.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, with an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The use of cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In addition' helps to guide the reader through the argument. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical, and the links between sentences could be more sophisticated. To reach a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that the transition between ideas feels more natural and less formulaic.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'good things', 'very good', and 'not good' lack precision and academic tone. While the meaning is always clear, there is little evidence of less common lexical items or idiomatic language. To improve, try to incorporate more specific vocabulary related to education and child development, and avoid overusing simple adjectives. Expanding your range of synonyms will help you express your ideas with greater nuance and sophistication.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The essay uses a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'after long time of studying' (missing article) and 'they also need continue learning' (missing infinitive marker 'to'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, particularly the use of articles, prepositions, and verb patterns. Increasing the variety of your sentence structures, such as using more subordinate clauses, will also help demonstrate better control.
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