Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-06

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 5.0)

In many countries, primary and secondary schools close for two months or more in summer holidays let's discuss are these holidays beneficial for students or not.

The reasons that make long holidays valuable are, these holidays come only once in a year and in these days, it is too hot. Extreme heat can cause heat strokes, dehydration and many other serious health issues other than that students also need some activities that freshen up their minds, students go on trips with their families in the northern areas of Pakistan to see what amazing and satisfying views Allah almighty has created this brings them close to nature. Moreover, students visit to their relative's house which makes them feel easy to connect with peoples.

If we talk about shorter school holidays it is beneficial for their studies, they distract less and focus more on studies because a long-time gap in study can distract them, if someone ask form their parents, they will definitely prefer shorter holidays, short holidays play beneficial roll to connect students with studies. Better academic performance, easier routine is also a beneficial point for shorter school holidays students maintain their sleeping routine instead of rescheduling, less parental stress and many more benefits. Shorter holidays help students to focus academically.

I personally choose longer holidays over shorter holidays because longer holidays allow them to travel around the world, travelling teach a lot which school studies can't longer holidays help students to think out of the box which helps them in their upcoming practical life

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the value of long holidays and the arguments for shorter ones. However, the development is somewhat superficial. While you mention health benefits and family connection, these points are not fully extended with specific examples or logical depth. The position is clear, but the arguments lack the nuance expected at higher bands. For instance, the discussion on shorter holidays focuses heavily on 'distraction' without exploring the broader educational or societal implications. To improve, ensure each main idea is supported by a clear explanation and a concrete example that demonstrates a deeper understanding of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or repetitive. Phrases like 'Moreover' and 'If we talk about' are used, but there is a lack of sophisticated linking between sentences and ideas. Some transitions are abrupt, and the flow between the arguments for long holidays and the counter-arguments for shorter ones could be smoother. Additionally, the referencing is occasionally unclear, making the progression of ideas feel somewhat disjointed. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence would enhance the overall coherence.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary used is adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for a higher band. You rely on common, everyday language such as 'freshen up their minds', 'feel easy to connect', and 'amazing and satisfying views'. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, but these are sometimes used inaccurately or in a way that sounds unnatural. For example, 'play beneficial roll' (should be 'role') and 'rescheduling' are used in contexts that do not quite fit. To achieve a higher score, focus on using more precise academic collocations and synonyms to avoid repetition and improve the sophistication of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow. Issues include run-on sentences, such as in the first paragraph, and errors in subject-verb agreement and punctuation. For example, 'students visit to their relative's house' is grammatically incorrect, and the use of commas is inconsistent throughout the text. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on sentence boundaries and ensuring correct verb forms will significantly improve the accuracy and readability of your work.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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