Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-02

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 different countries, The primary and the secondary schools are closed for two months and also in summers schools closed duration are more lengthy as compared to other holidays. I prefer to give the students a gap of months from academic pressure it keeps them relax and also we should take care of their mental health.

However, the durable school holidays are proved beneficial for students because it provides the mental peace of the students and also educational institutes should give break from academic lessons. Moreover, when students take a long gap from academic pressure it generally make them happy and also keep them energetic all day. Also in gap months students complete their pending work like assignments e.t.c. For example: when i was in 7 grade then my school give us a 3 months of holidays in this holidays I completed my pending home work or assignments and also I finished my summer pack and then after finished my academic lessons I went to northern areas for enjoyment and keep my mind fresh.

Therefore, when the educational institutes provides short days of holidays it becomes students stressful because in these short break teachers assigned a lot of home work and also a projects it seems to be more difficult to complete it in a less time. So it proved more anxious for students. When i was in grade 5 then my school give us a 1 week holidays and also they assigned us a lot of homework to complete in one week it proved very difficult for me and also i did not go any where for chilling so its the most hectic week for me.

I prefer to give the students 3 to 4 months holidays for their better health. It make them happy and also keep the, relax and energetic all day. Also many pending works are done in these holidays

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt, discussing the value of long holidays and the arguments for shorter ones. However, the development of ideas is somewhat repetitive and lacks depth. For instance, the argument for shorter holidays is primarily focused on the student's personal experience with homework load rather than broader educational or societal perspectives. The position is clear, but the supporting arguments are limited in scope and rely heavily on personal anecdotes rather than a balanced discussion of the topic. To improve, you should explore more diverse arguments, such as the impact on working parents or the potential for learning loss during extended breaks.

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 often mechanical or repetitive (e.g., 'Also', 'Moreover', 'Therefore'). There are instances where the logical progression between sentences is weak, such as the transition between the benefits of long holidays and the drawbacks of short ones. Referencing is sometimes unclear, and the flow of ideas feels disjointed in places. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph has a clear, singular focus would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You rely on basic terms like 'happy', 'relax', and 'difficult', and there are some awkward collocations, such as 'durable school holidays' (instead of 'extended' or 'long') and 'give break' (instead of 'provide a break'). There are also minor errors in word choice, such as 'short days of holidays' and 'it becomes students stressful'. To achieve a higher score, focus on using more academic vocabulary and precise collocations related to education and time management.

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 the flow. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'my school give us'), missing articles (e.g., 'in 7 grade'), and incorrect verb tenses (e.g., 'when i was in 7 grade then my school give us'). Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly with the use of commas and capitalization. While the meaning is generally clear, the high frequency of errors prevents the text from reaching a higher band. Focusing on basic sentence construction and proofreading for subject-verb agreement will help.

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