Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-30

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 most reigns, primary and secondary schools close for approximately for two months or more in the summer holidays. In this essay, I will explain why governments provide two or more months in the summer for holidays. In one hand, in every country the governments provide student's vacation for three months. I think they provide them vacation especially in summer season because it must be hot outside. For example, in our country the summer season usually become very hot outside or inside and people want to stay home instead of doing anything. Furthermore, everyone wants some rest because they do their jobs in every day. In that case they at least have some time to spend with their friends and family. On the other hand, personally I think giving that much vacation sometimes became a serious issue such as kids lost their interest in study, playing useless games, and join useless kids' groups. For instance, when I was a kid, I was an intelligent student who knew as a topper in class. Sometimes I also faced problems going to school after vacation. Moreover, I would prefer the governments should give them one month holiday in the hottest month in the summer. They also do lectures through online apps and check their activities. Nevertheless, Parents and teacher shouldn't force them to do work hard because the freedom is everyone's justice. In conclusion, having some break time in the whole year isn't a bad thing but don't putt an eye on them could be.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The essay addresses both parts of the prompt: the value of long holidays and the arguments for shorter ones. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited and relies on personal anecdotes rather than broader societal analysis. The position is clear, but the arguments are not fully extended. For instance, the point about 'useless games' is mentioned but not explained in terms of educational or developmental impact. To reach a higher band, you should provide more detailed reasoning and explore the implications of these holidays on academic performance or social development more thoroughly.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or inaccurate. Phrases like 'In one hand' (should be 'On the one hand') and 'In that case' are used incorrectly, which disrupts the flow of ideas. While there is a logical progression from the benefits to the drawbacks, the transitions between sentences are occasionally abrupt. Improving the variety and accuracy of linking words will help create a more natural and cohesive argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for higher bands. There is some repetition of basic words like 'useless' and 'vacation'. Some word choices are unnatural, such as 'reigns' (likely meaning 'regions') and 'justice' (used in a context where 'right' would be more appropriate). The essay relies on simple, everyday language. To improve, you should incorporate more topic-specific vocabulary related to education, such as 'curriculum', 'academic retention', or 'extracurricular activities', and focus on using words in their correct collocations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'student's vacation' (plural/possessive error), 'they do their jobs in every day' (preposition/article error), and 'don't putt an eye on them' (informal/incorrect phrasing). Subject-verb agreement and article usage are inconsistent throughout the text. While the meaning is generally understandable, the high frequency of errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for common errors would be beneficial.

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