Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-03

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)

For many students, few things are more crucial than primary and secondary schools being close for summer holidays. In many developed and developing countries, a substantial amount of money is allocated to the education sector, as it often necessitates the use of various resources, such as parks, museums, national zoos, family visits, and online games. However, there are obviously several reasons for this trend, and I believe it has both good and bad sides.

Naturally, primary and secondary schools, in the form of academic development, are considered more essential for school holidays, creating reliable opportunities for summer holidays that are not available from other sources. Moreover, it demonstrates unparalleled benefit for online marketing learning, permeating and enhancing every conceivable sector of society. Since students seek better career opportunities and fulfillment through a shorter academic vacation, ample investment in online materials is imperative to elevate modern living standards. If this is adopted by governments and individuals alike, many students stand to benefit significantly. Extended summer holidays in nations such as Japan, for instance, have emerged as a pivotal model for students' vacations, delivering enhanced services for their students.

On the other hand, shorter school holidays may shy away from the academic calendar due to a range of challenges, including limited resources, financial constraints, lack of time, and family responsibilities. While the duration of holidays is widely embraced in many major cities worldwide, students impoverished in developing nations frequently contend with profound financial limitations and deteriorating conditions when striving to implement this approach. Therefore, the notion of extended summer holidays is not always appealing. From an economic, social, and national perspective, if the goals of students dictate that long academic breaks are not merely an option but an imperative, primary and secondary schools may choose to embrace it.

In conclusion, as this issue may seem difficult to resolve and its impact is too great to ignore, it is good for governments, schools, and parents to take an active interest in balancing adequate holiday time with continuous learning, thereby supporting both students' well-being and academic success.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt, but the development of ideas is inconsistent and often lacks clarity. While you mention the value of holidays and arguments for shorter ones, the supporting points are frequently vague or tangential. For example, the mention of 'online marketing learning' and 'national zoos' does not clearly link to the educational value of summer breaks. The position is somewhat obscured by abstract phrasing, such as 'primary and secondary schools... are considered more essential for school holidays.' To improve, ensure each paragraph focuses on a clear, logical argument that directly answers the 'why' behind the value of long holidays or the benefits of shortening them, rather than using generic academic-sounding filler.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, and there is an attempt to use cohesive devices like 'Moreover,' 'On the other hand,' and 'In conclusion.' However, the logical progression within paragraphs is often weak. Sentences frequently feel disconnected, and the relationship between ideas is sometimes confusing, such as the transition between the benefits of holidays and the mention of 'online marketing.' Referencing is occasionally unclear, making it difficult for the reader to follow your line of reasoning. To reach a higher band, focus on ensuring that each sentence flows naturally from the previous one and that cohesive devices are used to highlight logical relationships rather than just acting as mechanical signposts.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary, attempting to use more sophisticated terms like 'imperative,' 'pivotal,' and 'deteriorating.' However, there are several instances where word choice is imprecise or collocations are unnatural, such as 'schools being close' (should be 'closed') or 'students impoverished in developing nations' (should be 'impoverished students'). The phrase 'shy away from the academic calendar' is also used incorrectly in this context. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the general meaning, the lack of precision and occasional misuse of academic terminology limits your score. Focus on learning the specific contexts in which these 'academic' words are used.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt complex sentences, they often contain grammatical errors that hinder clarity, such as 'primary and secondary schools... are considered more essential for school holidays,' which is syntactically confusing. There are also issues with subject-verb agreement and word forms, such as 'schools being close' instead of 'closed.' Punctuation is generally functional, but the complexity of your sentence structures often leads to awkward phrasing. To improve, prioritize accuracy in your complex structures and ensure that your sentence construction clearly reflects the intended meaning.

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