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, the students of primary and secondary grades get a vacation of about two months. However, there is some conflict on this matter about how valuable long holidays are, and also why giving short vacation is meaningful.

Firstly, the argument about long holidays is that it give a lot of time to students, so that they can recharge themselves. Studying continuously for months, without any break can be really harmful for a student's health. it has a major impact on both physical and mental health of the student. The student gets overwhelmed by the homework, exams and the daily routine of getting up really early in the morning. Therefore, a longer summer break gives the student time to unwind and gain fitness and health. Also, it gives them the opportunity to try out new skills, and travel to enjoy their holidays.

However, there is an argument in favour of shorter summer holidays. People argue that long summer break is a waste of time. They believe that students only enjoy their holidays and act carelessly towards their schoolwork or learning a new skill. So, by giving them a limited number of days to rest, and have time to overcome their stress, it is sufficient.

They believe shorter holidays are more than enough for any student, as they will be able to utilize this period efficiently. Also, the student will know he has not much time left to again go to school, so he will be more ready for it.

In conclusion, both arguments give valid points. Long summer break has its own benefits, while it also has its drawbacks. Same is for shorter holidays.

it is more up to the student how well he is going to manage his time in any type of school holidays.

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 mention physical and mental health benefits, the explanation remains quite general. To reach a higher band, you should provide more specific examples or deeper analysis, such as the impact on academic retention or the socio-economic implications for working parents. The conclusion is a bit brief and does not fully synthesize the arguments presented. The position is clear, but the overall depth of the response is more characteristic of a Band 6.0 level.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. You use basic cohesive devices like 'Firstly', 'However', and 'In conclusion' to guide the reader. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the use of referencing could be more sophisticated. For instance, the transition between the benefits of long holidays and the drawbacks could be smoother. Paragraphing is used appropriately, but the internal cohesion within paragraphs could be improved by using a wider variety of linking words and better pronoun referencing to avoid repetition.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing you to express your ideas clearly. You use some relevant terms like 'unwind', 'overwhelmed', and 'efficiently'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and there is a reliance on simpler vocabulary. There are also minor issues with word choice, such as 'gain fitness' (which is slightly unnatural in this context) and 'act carelessly towards their schoolwork'. To improve, try to incorporate more precise collocations and academic vocabulary related to education and time management.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are several grammatical errors, such as subject-verb agreement issues ('it give a lot of time') and missing articles ('a vacation', 'the student'). Punctuation is generally functional, but there are some errors with capitalization (e.g., 'it has a major impact' starting with a lowercase 'i'). The control of complex structures is inconsistent, which prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on proofreading for basic errors would significantly improve your score.

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

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