Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-11

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)

In many countries, primary and secondary schools close for two months or more in summer holidays due to excessive heat released by sun as te,perature rise drastically which unables school going pupils to tolerate such weather condition. This essay will dsicuss both questions in detail.

The primary reason for long summnmer holidays is the amount odf excessive heat of sun which is dangerous for human beings. For instance, if a person stand for about 1 hour in the sun exposure. they will become dehydrated and will become extremely sick. Moreover, direct exposure to sun in peak summer aslo cause many skin related issues which take years of medication to cure. Furthermore, students get chance to interact and spend time with their loved ones, because otherwise they are busy in their regular schol homeworks and tution works.

Some people argue for shorter school holidays, because even if school authorities assign homework to students during their break summer break, they complete that work witihn first 10 to 15 days of their break and do nothing in theri reat of the holidays. This is evident because many children are found using mobile phones and other electronic gadgets during a survey conducted by school teachers. mobile phones and others gadgets not only effect their mental and physical health but also ddistract them from studies.

In conclusion, every part should be taken into account and the span of holidays should be decided carefully. No doubt, students should be at home because of extreme summer conditions but their academics should also be considered.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

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. The argument regarding heat is repetitive, and the discussion on shorter holidays relies on a single, anecdotal point about mobile phone usage. To reach a higher band, you should provide more nuanced arguments, such as the impact on learning retention or the logistical challenges for working parents. While the position is clear, the ideas lack the depth required for a higher score. Ensure that each paragraph fully explores the implications of the points raised rather than simply stating them.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices like 'Moreover', 'Furthermore', and 'In conclusion' to link ideas. However, the flow between sentences is occasionally mechanical, and some transitions feel forced. The referencing is sometimes unclear, such as in the second paragraph where the link between the survey and the argument for shorter holidays is a bit abrupt. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of cohesive devices and ensuring that each sentence logically builds upon the previous one to create a more seamless progression of ideas.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but there are frequent spelling errors (e.g., 'te,perature', 'dsicuss', 'summnmer', 'odf', 'aslo', 'witihn', 'theri', 'reat', 'ddistract'). These errors are noticeable and detract from the overall quality of the writing. While you attempt to use some topic-specific vocabulary like 'dehydrated' and 'electronic gadgets', the range is limited. To achieve a higher band, you need to demonstrate a more precise and varied vocabulary and significantly improve your spelling accuracy, as these errors can occasionally impede the reader's understanding of your intended meaning.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text. Examples include 'excessive heat released by sun', 'if a person stand', 'sun exposure. they will', and 'mobile phones and others gadgets not only effect'. These errors involve subject-verb agreement, article usage, and word choice (e.g., 'effect' vs 'affect'). While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors limits the score. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic grammatical rules and practice using more complex sentence structures with greater accuracy.

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

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