Band 5.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-15
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 5.0)
Primary and secondary schools are shut down for two or more months in summer vacation in many countries. There are some points in favor for long holidays as well for short holidays.
In the current scenario, as we know that the global warming has increased significantly over the decades, as result of that the heat waves in summer has increased drastically. Student should be provided long vacation during summer because it's hard for them to tolerate the heat as many students may fall sick that may affect their education. Long holidays is also a source of relaxation for them, they gets saved from the heat as well as get some time free from school which refreshes them and lessen their burden and make them more active and attentive.
Although a long holiday is better but still it has some cons, and the length, of the holidays can be shortened. A short holiday helps the school to finish the course on time, and also some students by staying at home for long time during vacation may resist to go school when they are are opened. Shorter holiday are beneficial for the student as well as for the school also. Longer holiday makes student lazy as well as not attentive which may harm its future.
Although many countries, primary and secondary schools provide two or more months in summer vacation. There is is benefit in both long vacation and short vacation both influence student in both the positive as well as negative way.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the value of long holidays and the arguments for shorter ones. However, the development is quite limited. The ideas, such as heat waves and academic progress, are mentioned but not fully explored or supported with specific examples or detailed reasoning. The position is clear, but the essay lacks depth and the conclusion is repetitive, merely restating the prompt rather than synthesising the arguments. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your points with more specific evidence or logical consequences to demonstrate a more thorough understanding of the topic.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical. While there are some cohesive devices used, such as 'Although' and 'In the current scenario', they are sometimes used in a way that feels repetitive or slightly unnatural. The referencing is occasionally unclear, and the transition between the benefits of long holidays and the arguments for shorter ones could be smoother. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus would significantly enhance the flow of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.0
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You rely on basic terms like 'good', 'bad', and 'things', and there are some issues with word choice and collocation, such as 'resist to go school' instead of 'reluctant to return to school'. There is also some repetition of words like 'vacation' and 'holiday'. To improve, try to incorporate more academic collocations and precise synonyms to express your ideas more effectively without relying on simplistic phrasing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('they gets saved', 'holiday makes student lazy'), missing articles ('go school'), and awkward phrasing ('as result of that the heat waves in summer has increased'). While the meaning is generally clear, these persistent errors in basic grammar and punctuation prevent the writing from reaching a higher band. You should focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and ensuring consistent use of articles and plural forms.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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