Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

It is widely debated that whether primary and secondary school students should be given longer summer vacations or not? I personally believe that there are alot of benefits of longer weekend, however some people consider it a waste of time.

Firstly, long vacations give students time to take part in healthy activities. Long school hours cause burn-out and left children with no energy and time to participate in other more enjoable activities. For instance, Many students get enroll in swiming classes during summer vacations and learn a valuable surviving skills. Some learn driving, cooking etc. Long weekend give students a chance to explore hobbies outside a conventional class-room.

Secondly, Its a time for children to spend quality time with their families. Many families wait whole year to plan a trip with their kids. Forexample, many children visit their grandparents house only during summer vacations, while some travel abroad. Kids learn about family dynamics, values and how to talk to each other. Moreover, they get time to play outside and interact with neighbours. This can cultivate a good habit in them on how to behave and respect others.

On contrary to this, many critics argue that summer holidays should be shorter. According to them longer vacation are nothing but a waste of time. They think that children learn more in classroom than in home. To them few weeks are enough for children to feel refreshed and get back to studies. However, according to me until secondary school it is essential and healthy for students to have a long summer break.

In conclusion, Some might argue over shorter summer holidays, i believe that long vacations serve as a time for children to cultivate good habits, explore new hobbies, learn a skill and spend time together with family and friends.

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 repetitive. For instance, the discussion on 'healthy activities' and 'family time' is relevant, but the arguments for shorter holidays are less developed, relying on general statements like 'waste of time' rather than exploring academic or economic implications. To reach a higher band, you should provide more nuanced examples, such as the impact on learning retention or the challenges for working parents, rather than repeating the idea of 'refreshment'.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is logically organized into paragraphs, each with a clear central topic. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'On contrary to this', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical or misused, such as 'On contrary to this' (should be 'In contrast' or 'Contrary to this'). Referencing is generally clear, though the flow between sentences could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words to avoid a repetitive structure. Paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall clarity of the argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task, allowing you to express your ideas clearly. You use some topic-specific terms like 'burn-out', 'family dynamics', and 'cultivate'. However, there are several spelling errors ('enjoable', 'swiming', 'class-room') and minor collocation issues ('get enroll' instead of 'enroll', 'long weekend' used to refer to summer holidays). To improve, focus on using more precise academic vocabulary and ensure correct spelling of common terms. The range is sufficient for the task but lacks the sophistication required for higher bands.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While your meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement ('long vacations give' vs 'long weekend give') and article usage ('at home' instead of 'in home'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas and the capitalization of 'Forexample'. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. Focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and article consistency.

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