Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-07-31
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 several nations, primary and secondary schools give holidays for more than 2 months in the summer. In this essay, I will discuss the importance of long vacations and also the benefits of giving shorter vacation.
On the one hand, schools giving long vacations to the students allows them to relax and take a break from studies which they have been engaged with for a whole year. In addition, this will help students to stay fresh and improving their academic performance when they return from a holiday with their family and loved ones. As a result, holidays are beneficial for the students itself.
On the other hand, many parents and teachers believes that if students are given a very long period of holiday they may lose interest in studies when returning back and leading to worsening the academic performance. Moreover, students may misuse the leisure time in playing videogames and impacting their ability to concentrate in other activities such as basketball, football etc.
In conclusion, different countries have different opinions and students are of separate qualities as well. Therefore, based on the advantages and disadvantages schools should evaluate the usefulness of giving long holidays and decide wisely.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
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-length at 197 words, which prevents the development of ideas to the required depth. The arguments are presented in a very brief manner, lacking specific examples or detailed explanations. To achieve a higher band, you must expand on your points with concrete illustrations or personal experiences. Because the response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement, the score is limited as the task is not fully developed.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is logically organised into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct focus. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In addition' to guide the reader. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical, and the transitions between sentences could be more sophisticated. The conclusion is brief and does not fully synthesise the arguments presented. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a more robust internal structure with supporting evidence.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but remains quite basic and repetitive. Phrases like 'give holidays', 'lose interest in studies', and 'misuse the leisure time' are functional but lack the precision and variety expected at higher bands. There are also minor collocation issues, such as 'students itself' (should be 'themselves'). To improve, try to incorporate more academic collocations and topic-specific vocabulary related to education and child development. Avoid repeating the same words in close proximity.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement ('parents and teachers believes' should be 'believe') and awkward phrasing ('leading to worsening the academic performance'). Punctuation is generally acceptable, but the sentence variety is limited. To reach a higher band, focus on reducing these frequent minor errors and incorporating more complex grammatical structures, such as conditional sentences or passive voice, with greater accuracy.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.