Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

In many countries, schools provide students with a summer vacation that lasts for two months or even longer. While these extended holidays offer several benefits, some people argue that shorter breaks would be more advantageous. This essay will discuss both viewpoints.

Long school holidays provide students with an opportunity to relax after months of academic pressure. Continuous studying can lead to stress and mental exhaustion, whereas a lengthy break allows children to recharge both physically and emotionally. Moreover, students can spend valuable time with their families, especially those whose parents have demanding work schedules. Summer holidays also encourage children to develop hobbies, travel, participate in sports, or attend skill-development courses, all of which contribute to their personal growth beyond the classroom.

On the other hand, there are strong arguments in favour of shorter school holidays. One major concern is that students tend to forget a considerable amount of what they have learned during long breaks, making it difficult for teachers to resume lessons efficiently. In addition, working parents often struggle to arrange childcare during extended holidays, which can create financial and emotional burdens for families. Shorter holidays, spread throughout the academic year, would help students maintain their learning habits while providing regular opportunities for rest.

In my opinion, although long holidays are beneficial for students' well-being and personal development, they should not be excessively long. A balanced academic calendar with shorter but more frequent breaks would allow students to relax without losing touch with their studies. Such an approach could improve both educational outcomes and family convenience.

In conclusion, long summer holidays offer important benefits, including relaxation and opportunities for personal development. However, shorter holidays can help students retain knowledge and reduce challenges faced by working parents. Therefore, a balanced holiday schedule appears to be the most effective solution.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response fully addresses both parts of the prompt. You have clearly identified the value of long holidays, such as mental rejuvenation and personal development, and provided logical arguments for shorter breaks, including knowledge retention and childcare convenience. Your position is consistent throughout the essay and is well-supported by relevant points. The ideas are extended sufficiently to meet the requirements of the task. To reach a higher band, you could provide more specific examples or real-world scenarios to further illustrate your points, such as mentioning the 'summer slide' phenomenon in education or specific extracurricular activities that benefit from extended time.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the benefits of long holidays and the arguments for shorter ones is smooth, using effective signposting like 'On the other hand'. Cohesive devices are used naturally and accurately throughout the text. The paragraphing is logical, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion that summarizes your stance effectively. The flow of information is easy to follow, and there is no evidence of repetitive or mechanical linking.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for an academic context. Phrases such as 'academic pressure', 'mental exhaustion', 'resume lessons efficiently', and 'balanced academic calendar' show a strong command of topic-specific language. The word choice is precise and natural throughout the essay. While the vocabulary is sufficient and accurate, incorporating a few more sophisticated or less common collocations could elevate the response further. Overall, the lexical range is more than adequate to convey your ideas clearly and effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay displays a high level of grammatical control. You use a variety of complex sentence structures, such as conditional-like clauses ('whereas a lengthy break allows...') and subordinate clauses ('although long holidays are beneficial...'), with very few errors. Punctuation is used correctly to manage sentence flow. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the few minor slips that might occur are non-systematic and do not impede communication in any way. Your control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent and reliable.

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