Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-16

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)

For students, few things are more crucial than school holidays. In many developed and developing countries, a substantial amount of money and resources are allocated to teaching institutes for vacation as it often necessities for students refreshment . Now a days , many would agree that , a contemporary society has evolved beyond its traditional boundaries and has become increasingly reliant on school breaks for the benefits of students. Nevertheless, it it undeniable that , long holidays are essential for every students but there are some people who also in favour of short-term school holidays. In this essay I will discuss both view .

Naturally, long school holidays in the form of development is considered essential for school going children creating invaluable opportunities , so that they can unwind and recharge that are seldom elsewhere. Moreover, it demonstrate unparalleled benefits for children, permeating and enhancing to spend quality time with their family.It gives children enough time to travel distant places peacefully. Since pupils seek refreshment and fulfilment through longer holidays, ample investment from their parents are imperative for their enjoyment and betterment of life. If this measures are adopted by parents and school authorities alike many students would benefit significantly. Long school holidays in nations such as Italy and Sweden have emerged as a pivotal model for their students entertainment, delivering enhance services for them.

On the other hand, there are some people who prefer shorter school holidays because they think that it is more convenient and cost-effective. Students can take a short days off and without spending too much money and falling behind at school. Under certain circumstances, schools may shy away from longer holidays due to some challenges such as, more time consuming, students may falling behind at schools, difficulties to complete lesson before exam, lack of interest among students to joining classes after long break. While long holidays are widely embraced in many major cities world wide, students in impoverished and developing countries frequently contend with profound financial limitations and deteriorating conditions when striving to implement this approach. Thus, the notion of long School holidays are not always appealing. From, social, national perspectives, if it is dictate that for students short holidays are not marely an option but an imperative, they may choose to embrace it.

However, it is the responsibility of schools authority to evaluate the role of shorter holidays and determine whether it will do more harm than good. Thus, fostering an interest in short holidays are always beneficial .

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 of ideas is somewhat uneven. While you mention benefits like 'unwinding' and 'family time', the arguments for shorter holidays are slightly repetitive, focusing heavily on financial and academic concerns. The position is clear, but some points, such as the reference to Italy and Sweden, lack specific explanation regarding why they are a 'pivotal model'. To improve, ensure each paragraph contains a clear topic sentence followed by a fully developed explanation and a concrete example.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, and there is a logical progression of ideas. You use cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'On the other hand', and 'Thus' to link your thoughts. However, some transitions feel mechanical or slightly forced, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the sentence 'If this measures are adopted...'. Additionally, the punctuation around your cohesive devices (e.g., 'Now a days , many would agree that ,') is inconsistent and disrupts the flow of the text. Improving the precision of your linking words will help the essay read more naturally.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting some less common items like 'imperative', 'pivotal', and 'contend with'. However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors, such as 'teaching institutes for vacation', 'students entertainment', and 'it is dictate that'. Some words are used incorrectly, such as 'necessities' instead of 'necessary'. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your main points, they do limit the precision of your expression. Focusing on learning word families and common collocations will help you reach a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors throughout the text. Common issues include subject-verb agreement ('this measures are', 'fostering an interest... are'), article usage, and sentence fragments or run-on sentences. For example, 'students may falling behind' should be 'students may fall behind'. While the meaning is generally clear, the high frequency of these errors means that the control of grammar is inconsistent. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring that verb forms are used correctly after modal verbs.

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