Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-10

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)

People have different views about school holidays. While some people believe that school must close for two months, others argue that school must have shorter holidays in summer. This essay will discuss both perspectives before explaining why I believe that longer holidays are more beneficial.

On the one hand, there are several reasons why people believe that school must have shorter holidays. The primary reason is that why people think that shorter holidays are more preferred because longer holidays put a gap between the students and studies also the long gap decreases the interest of the students, moreover it also affects the routine of the students. For example when schools are open students have good routine like they have to wake up early but in longer holidays they wake up late so this affects their routine.

On the other hand, others argue that school must close for two or more months. One major reason is that they can learn different kind of skills or they can participate in any sports activities during this period. For example during summer holidays students can learn how to play musical instruments , moreover they can learn painting, dance and other skills which help them in future. They can also participate in sports activities like they can join a football club in their summers holidays which is very good for their physical and mental health. Therefore, I believe that longer holidays have more benefits for the students.

In conclusion, although longer holidays affect the routine of the students. I believe that students have more options in longer holidays like they can participate in physical activities and also learn some new skills in their holidays

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The essay addresses both parts of the prompt: the value of long holidays and the arguments for shorter ones. However, the development is somewhat limited. While you provide examples like learning musical instruments or sports, the arguments regarding the 'value' of long holidays could be more deeply explored beyond just skill acquisition. The position is clear throughout, but the response lacks a more sophisticated analysis of the educational or psychological impacts of these schedules. To reach a higher band, ensure that your ideas are fully extended with more nuanced reasoning rather than relying on simple lists of activities.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, and there is a basic progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion'. However, the use of these devices is sometimes repetitive or mechanical. For instance, the phrase 'moreover' is used frequently, and some sentences lack smooth transitions, making the flow feel slightly disjointed. Referencing is generally clear, but the overall structure would benefit from a wider variety of linking words and more sophisticated paragraph transitions to improve the flow of your arguments.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic. You use common terms like 'good routine', 'learn skills', and 'participate in sports'. While these are accurate, they do not demonstrate the range or precision required for a higher band. There are some instances of repetitive phrasing, such as the repeated use of 'holidays' and 'students'. To improve, try to incorporate more topic-specific vocabulary related to education, child development, or time management, and focus on using more precise collocations to express your ideas with greater sophistication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as 'the primary reason is that why people think' (redundant 'that why') and 'in their summers holidays' (incorrect pluralization). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma usage after introductory phrases and before conjunctions. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and ensuring that complex sentences are constructed accurately.

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