Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-07-30

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)

In many countries, primary and secondary schools are closed for two months or more in the summer holidays. There are some good reasons for long holidays, but many people think that shorter holidays are better for students.

On the one hand, long summer holidays have many values for young students. First of all, students study very hard during the school year and they get tired because of many exams and homework. Therefore, a long holiday gives them enough time to rest and enjoy their free time with family and friends. Secondly, students can learn other useful skills during this time. For example, they can join sports clubs, travel to new places, or practice hobbies like drawing. This is very good for their growth.

On the other hand, there are strong arguments for shorter school holidays. The main problem with long holidays is that students forget what they learned in school. When they come back after two months, they cannot remember many lessons in math or english, so teachers have to spend many weeks reviewing old lessons again. Another reason is that long holidays are difficult for parents who work every day. Parents must find someone to take care of their children, and this can be very expensive.

AI examiner evaluation

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 essay is significantly under the 250-word minimum requirement, which limits the depth of the arguments. While the ideas presented are relevant, they are somewhat underdeveloped due to the brevity of the response. To achieve a higher band, you need to expand on your points with more detailed explanations and specific examples. For instance, when discussing the financial burden on parents, you could elaborate on the specific costs of childcare services or the impact on family work-life balance to provide a more comprehensive analysis.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction and two distinct body paragraphs. The use of cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'First of all', and 'Therefore' helps to guide the reader through your arguments. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical, and the transitions between sentences could be more sophisticated. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the overall structure feels a bit abrupt due to the short length of the essay. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a more robust concluding sentence to tie the ideas together.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task and allows for clear communication. You use some topic-specific terms like 'school year', 'childcare', and 'growth'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on basic vocabulary. To reach a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more precise and academic collocations. For example, instead of saying 'students study very hard', you could use 'students face an intensive academic workload'. Expanding your range of synonyms and using more sophisticated phrasing will help demonstrate a more flexible command of the language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are grammatically correct, and errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. For example, 'When they come back after two months, they cannot remember many lessons in math or english' is clear, though 'English' should be capitalized. You have a good grasp of basic grammar, but to improve, you should attempt to use a wider variety of complex structures, such as conditional sentences or passive voice, to show greater control. Ensure you check for minor punctuation and capitalization errors before finishing.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.