Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-14
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 there is a practice of summer holidays which last for two to three months. In most of the countries the summer vacations of primary and secondary schools are just for the considerable increase in temperature.
On the one hand, value of the long school holidays are categorized in two main points one for the well being of students in the extremely hot days of summer and the second is to give them a time where they can relax themselves, enjoy the holidays, learn other aspects of life and pay a visit to their maternal or paternal sides. For exmaple in the hot weather due to heat stroke there are many cases reported in the hospitals. In addition there are also dehydration cases. Therefore it is important to think about student physical and mental health as well. Long summer vacations is also important for the growth of students.
On the other hand proponents of the shorter school holidays express that student spend all the time in extra co-curricular activities instead of paying attention to studies in long summer holidays. Shorter holidays allow student to return to their studies and remain consistent. In shorter holidays parent don't need to put much effort in parenting their children when they are on work.
Overall, long holidays are valuable because they allow students to rest, spend time with their families and develop interests outside school. Nevertheless, shorter holidays can help students maintain their academic progress and make childcare easier for working parents.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
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 of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention health benefits and family time, these points could be expanded with more specific examples or deeper analysis. For instance, the argument regarding childcare is mentioned but not fully explored in terms of its impact on society or the economy. The position is clear throughout, but the essay would benefit from more detailed supporting evidence to reach a higher band level.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each focusing on a specific aspect of the prompt. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'In addition', and 'Nevertheless' to link ideas. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes a bit mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally repetitive. To improve, try to vary your linking words and ensure that the transition between your main points is smoother. The overall structure is sound, but the use of cohesive devices could be more sophisticated and flexible.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'proponents', 'co-curricular', and 'consistent'. There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice, such as 'maternal or paternal sides' which is slightly informal, and 'pay a visit' which could be more precise. While you attempt to use less common vocabulary, the range is somewhat limited, and there is occasional repetition of basic words. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and academic phrasing to express your ideas with greater clarity and 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 subject-verb agreement issues ('value of the long school holidays are', 'student spend all the time') and missing articles ('at work' instead of 'at their work'). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are some minor errors that persist. To achieve a higher score, focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and ensuring that your complex sentences are constructed accurately without errors that distract the reader.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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