Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-21

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 different countries, schools, including both primary and secondary, have summer vacations lasting two months or more. This essay favours longer summer holidays. Both students and teachers deserve longer summer holidays, especially in warmer regions, where going to school in the summer is very undesirable.

Longer summer vacations can be good for both teachers as well as the students. During summer vacations the teachers get some time to plan out the session ahead, and it can be very refreshing for them after working continuously for so long, especially considering the fact that teaching can get very stressful alot of the times. Furthermore, It also gives them time to invest with their family, during the regular school days it can be difficult to spend alot of time with their families, that's why summer vacations provide a very good opportunity for that. Meanwhile for students, summer vacations are also very enjoyable as they get time to enjoy with their friends and family. Furthermore, during the summer vacations the students have alot of time to reflect and work on their studies, without any pressure which they may have during regular school days. For instance, during my school days, I'd usually not study during the first few weeks of vacations, in order to get some refreshment. Afterwards, with a much clearer mind I would get back to studying.

Sometimes shorter school vacations may be preferred in some countries or regions. Shorter school holidays can be justified, especially in colder regions where the students also get longer winter vacations. For example, in many European countries, where the climate is much more cold, shorter summer holidays would ensure the completion of the students courses.

To conclude the above essay, both longer and shorter summer vacations may have their own justifiable reasons for it. Though it should be noted that the decision of longer or shorter summer vacations should be made while taking into consideration the climate of the region.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the value of long holidays and the arguments for shorter ones. The position is clear throughout. The ideas regarding teacher burnout and student reflection are relevant and supported by personal experience. However, the development is somewhat repetitive, particularly regarding the benefits for teachers and students, which are grouped together. To reach a higher band, the arguments could be more distinct and analytical. For instance, the discussion on shorter holidays is quite brief compared to the first section. Overall, the response is well-focused and meets the requirements of the task effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two main viewpoints. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'Meanwhile', and 'For instance' are used to link ideas. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally repetitive (e.g., the frequent use of 'summer vacations'). The flow between sentences is generally smooth, though the connection between the final paragraph and the preceding points could be more sophisticated. Overall, the progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow.

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, such as 'undesirable', 'refreshment', and 'justifiable'. However, there is a reliance on basic phrasing and some repetitive word choices, such as 'alot of' (which is informal and should be written as 'a lot of') and the repeated use of 'summer vacations'. To improve, the student should incorporate more precise academic collocations and avoid informal expressions. The range is adequate for the task but lacks the flexibility and sophistication required for a higher band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is good control over basic grammar, and the meaning is never obscured by errors. However, there are some minor grammatical slips, such as 'climate is much more cold' (should be 'colder') and 'the students courses' (missing apostrophe). Additionally, the use of 'alot' is a spelling error. While the student attempts complex sentences, the variety is somewhat limited. To achieve a higher score, the student should aim for more varied sentence structures and ensure greater precision in punctuation and comparative forms.

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

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