Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-01
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 many countries, primary and secondary schools there is summer break for students about two months or even more. Many people argue that the shorter breaks from academics are preferable for pupils. while, long holidays has several benefits , this essay will discuss both perspectives.
To start with, long holidays help student to understand and identifying the hidden talent of them, on the other hand they have time to spend with family , relatives and close friends. This time allow students to explore new world, also learning distinct activities, for example swimming, volunteering and start a side job to earn and learn the value of money. In addition, summer camps provide the numerous leisure games for cognitive development like science experiments , debate competition , sports and dance.
Moreover, long period of holidays may break the flow and interest of scholars in studies which consequences hard to achieve the same pace in mathematics and science projects, where time and dedication requires mostly to acknowledge their concept and theory. Whereas, shorter breaks not disrupt the children's focus on academics, along with other projects. For example, in China, government made a law if student's exam is crucial then all school remain open on weekend and can be on national holiday .
To conclude with, long summer vacations can foster huge career path for pupil, due to this they can learn the society norms ,trade and other culture. On the other hand, small breaks can more contribute in neurological growth and make ordinary person into professional
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
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 of ideas is somewhat superficial. For instance, the point about 'hidden talent' is mentioned but not clearly explained or exemplified. The argument regarding shorter holidays is supported by a specific example from China, which is a positive feature. To reach a higher band, you should aim to expand on your points with more logical depth rather than listing several ideas in a single sentence. The position is clear, but the overall development is inconsistent across the two main body paragraphs.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear introduction and conclusion. You use some cohesive devices such as 'To start with', 'on the other hand', and 'Moreover'. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly inaccurate, such as the transition 'while, long holidays has several benefits , this essay will discuss both perspectives' in the introduction, which contains punctuation errors. Referencing is occasionally unclear, and the flow between sentences could be smoother. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring correct punctuation around them would enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
Your vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to convey your meaning. You attempt to use some topic-specific vocabulary like 'cognitive development', 'academics', and 'neurological growth'. However, there are several instances of awkward word choice and collocation errors, such as 'break the flow and interest of scholars' (instead of 'students') and 'foster huge career path'. Additionally, there are some minor errors in word form, such as 'consequences' used as a verb. To improve, focus on learning common collocations and ensuring that words are used in their correct grammatical context.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt complex sentences, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the reader's flow. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('long holidays has'), missing articles ('in many countries, primary and secondary schools there is...'), and incorrect preposition usage. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with comma placement. While these errors do not completely prevent understanding, they are frequent enough to limit the score. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for subject-verb agreement would significantly improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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