Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-18

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 countries, primary and secondary schools close for two months or more in summer holidays. Some people think that these long holidays are useful for students, while others believe shorter holidays would be more better. This essay will discuss both views.

There are many benefits of long school holidays. The first benefit is that students get enough time to relax after a long period of studying. They can reduce their stress and come back to school with a fresh mind. Another advantage is that children can spend more time with their families. For example, they can visit relatives, travel to different places, or doing activities which they cannot do during the school year. Long holidays also give students time to develop their hobbies, such as playing sports, reading books or learning new skills. These activities can makes students more active and confident.

On the other hand, shorter holidays can also be beneficial. If students stay away from studies for a very long time, they may forget some things which they have learned. Teachers then need to spend extra time for revising old topics when school starts again. Shorter holidays can help students to maintain their study routine and keep their knowledge fresh. Moreover, they can be more convenient for working parents because finding a childcare for two or three months is difficult.

In my opinion, students should have a reasonably long summer holiday because they need time for rest and family activities. However, the holiday should not be so long that students loses their learning habits. I think a balanced holiday period is the best option for both students and parents.

Overall, long holidays are useful for relaxation and personal development, while shorter holidays can help students continue their academic progress. Therefore, having a balance between study and holidays would be the most suitable choice.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, discussing both the value of long holidays and the arguments for shorter ones. The position is clear throughout, and the ideas are relevant. However, the development of ideas is somewhat basic. For instance, the point about 'childcare' is a good, practical argument, but it could be expanded further to reach a higher band. The essay maintains a consistent focus on the topic, and the conclusion effectively synthesizes the arguments presented. To improve, ensure that each supporting point is fully explored with more depth or specific examples.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'The first benefit', 'Another advantage', 'On the other hand', and 'Moreover' are used effectively to link sentences and ideas. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different viewpoints. The flow is generally smooth, though the transition between the final opinion and the overall summary could be slightly more integrated to improve the overall cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended meaning clearly. There is an attempt to use a range of vocabulary related to the topic, such as 'academic progress', 'personal development', and 'maintain their study routine'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on simpler terms. Some collocations are slightly unnatural, such as 'more better' (which is grammatically incorrect) and 'finding a childcare'. To achieve a higher score, you should incorporate more precise, academic vocabulary and ensure that word choices are consistently accurate and sophisticated.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is always clear, there are several grammatical errors that prevent a higher score. Examples include 'doing activities' (should be 'do activities'), 'These activities can makes' (subject-verb agreement error), and 'students loses' (subject-verb agreement error). Additionally, the phrase 'more better' is a double comparative error. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to suggest a lack of full control over complex structures. Focusing on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and comparative forms will significantly improve your accuracy.

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