Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

In multiple countries primary and secondary schools are providing longer holidays of two months or more during summer. I strongly believe that longer school holidays will benefit the children but also have some drawbacks.

Firstly, large number of schools provide long holidays for students to have a break during their studies. These holidays will benefit them by doing extra curricular activities which is essential for young generations in this modern times. The students will participate in activities and improve their physical and mental health respectively. Meanwhile students can plan a trip with their parents to explore religious and traditional places which will strengthen their history as well. For instance, if i was a student i would prefer to participate in football tournaments which will boost my physical health and explore states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to advance my knowledge in history.

Secondly, when considering drawbacks of longer holidays children will not be able to remember their skills and routine which will impact their studies for longer period. Consequently, shorter school holidays should be provided to students by which they can upgrade their physical health and complete their homework in the given time period as well. They will not be able to neglect their skills after joining the school. For example, if i got shorter holidays i would complete my homework and join the coaching center to develop my skills.

In conclusion, schools should provide shorter holidays to students to give them a break from studies and also to boost their physical health respectively.

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 is somewhat limited. While you provide examples like football tournaments and travel, the explanation of why these are valuable is brief. The argument for shorter holidays focuses primarily on 'forgetting skills,' which is a valid point, but it could be expanded with more depth regarding academic continuity or parental work-life balance. Your position is clear throughout, but the essay would benefit from more detailed supporting evidence to reach a higher band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, each with a central topic. You use basic cohesive devices such as 'Firstly,' 'Secondly,' and 'In conclusion' to signal the structure. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the use of referencing is occasionally repetitive. For instance, the transition between the benefits of long holidays and the drawbacks could be smoother. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words and ensure that pronouns or synonyms are used effectively to connect ideas across sentences rather than relying on simple conjunctions.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for a higher band. You use some relevant terms like 'extra curricular activities' and 'modern times,' but there is a reliance on simpler language. Some word choices are slightly unnatural, such as 'strengthen their history' or 'neglect their skills.' To improve, focus on using more sophisticated collocations and precise academic vocabulary. For example, instead of 'doing' activities, you could use 'engaging in' or 'pursuing.' The vocabulary is sufficient to communicate your meaning clearly, but it does not demonstrate a wide range of less common items.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'if i was a student i would prefer' (conditional mood usage) and 'in this modern times' (article usage). Additionally, the use of 'respectively' at the end of sentences is often redundant or misused in this context. While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement, correct article usage, and ensuring that complex sentence structures are used accurately.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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