Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-25

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 6.5)

Long summer holidays are common in many countries , with schools often closing for two months or more. While such extended breaks provide several benefits to students and teachers, there are also strong arguments for having shorter holidays.

There are several advantages to long school holidays. Firstly , they give students enough time to relax after a demanding academic year. Studying continously can be tiring , so a long break would be really helpful to relax mentally and physically. For example, students can spend more time with their families, travel, or participate in hobbies that they may not have time for during the school term. Secondly, long holidays can provide oppotunities for children to develope practical skills and gain new experiences outside the classroom. They may attend sports camp, learn musical instrument, or visit different places, which can contribute to their personal development.

However, shorter school holidays also have some important advantages. The main benefit is that students are less likely to forget what they have learned. After a two or three month break, children may need considerable time to remember previous lessons, which can slow down their progress at the beginning of a new term. In addition, shorter breaks can create a more consistent learning routine. For instance, regular study throughout the year may help students maintain their academic performance and develope better study habits. Shorter holidays can also be more convenient for working parents, as they do not need to arrange childcare for such a long period.

In conclusion, long school holidays are valuable because they allow students to rest,spend time with family and gain experiences outside school. Nevetheless, shorter holidays can help them maintain their learning and provide greater convenience for families. Therefore, a balanced school calendar with regular but reasonably short break may be the most effective approach.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt clearly. You have identified the value of long holidays (relaxation, personal development) and the arguments for shorter ones (academic retention, routine, childcare convenience). The position is clear throughout, and the ideas are well-supported with relevant examples, such as mentioning sports camps and the challenges of childcare for working parents. To reach a higher band, you could further extend your arguments by discussing the long-term impact on student mental health or the potential for 'summer learning loss' in more depth, but the current development is sufficient for a solid score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph focuses on a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use a range of cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'In addition', and 'However' to link your points effectively. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the transition between the benefits of long holidays and the arguments for shorter ones is smooth. The structure is coherent and supports the overall argument well.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'demanding academic year', 'personal development', and 'consistent learning routine'. However, there are some spelling errors, such as 'continously' (continuously), 'oppotunities' (opportunities), 'develope' (develop), and 'Nevetheless' (Nevertheless). While these do not impede communication, they prevent the essay from reaching a higher band. To improve, focus on proofreading for common spelling mistakes and try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items to show greater flexibility.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most sentences are clear and grammatically sound, such as 'While such extended breaks provide several benefits to students and teachers, there are also strong arguments for having shorter holidays.' There are minor errors, such as 'learn musical instrument' (missing an article: 'a musical instrument') and 'reasonably short break' (should be plural: 'breaks'). Despite these occasional slips, your control over grammar is good, and the meaning is never obscured. The punctuation is generally accurate throughout the text.

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