Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

In many parts of the world, in summer, there is a long school holidays. Some people believe children should get longer vacation while some argue that they should not get longer vacation. I agree with the view for children should get long holidays as my view point is discussed further.

Primary and secondary school students should get long holidays because during the vacation children can rest for their mental well-being and personal development. As a result, students need a substantial break after months of studying. It also reduce academic stress, fatigue and burnout. Students can learn skills that are not taught in classrooms . For instance, After a demanding academic year, students can spend several weeks relaxing and pursuing hobbies instead of constantly studying. In addition, children can spent more quality time with their family and can also travel or visit relatives which strengthen family relationships,

However, during shorter holidays children do not get much time to relax or not be able to spent more time with the family. Although, it may prevent learning loss as students may forget information and skills learned during the academic year. Moreover, it is also better for working parents as it creates difficulties for parents who work full-time. As a result, they have have to pay for childcare or summer camps, which can be expensive.

In conclusion, a moderately long holiday is beneficial, particularly for children's mental health and personal development. However, extremely long breaks can cause learning loss and create difficulties for working parents. Therefore, I believe that schools should maintain reasonably long holidays.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the value of long holidays and the arguments for shorter ones. The position is clear throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention mental well-being and family time, these points could be expanded with more specific examples or deeper analysis to reach a higher band. The argument regarding shorter holidays is also brief. To improve, ensure that each body paragraph provides a fully developed explanation rather than just listing points. Overall, the task is addressed, but the depth of discussion is consistent with a mid-range performance.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. You use some cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'However', and 'As a result' to link ideas. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly repetitive. There are also minor issues with punctuation and sentence flow, such as the comma splice at the end of the second paragraph ('...strengthen family relationships,'). Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring smoother transitions between sentences would enhance the overall flow and coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'mental well-being', 'personal development', and 'academic stress'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and form, such as 'children can spent' (should be 'spend') and 'my view point is discussed further' (which is slightly unnatural). You rely on fairly common vocabulary; to achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more precise, less common lexical items related to the topic, such as 'rejuvenation', 'curriculum', or 'socio-economic implications'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors that occur throughout the text. For example, 'children should get long holidays' (the prompt uses 'a long holiday'), 'It also reduce' (subject-verb agreement error), and 'they have have to pay' (repetition). While these errors do not impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on subject-verb agreement and consistent verb tense usage will significantly improve your accuracy.

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

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