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 numerous countries, primary and secondary schools are closed for up to two months and schools are closed for more than two months especially in summer. School holidays play a significant role in the life of a child. From my perspective longer vacations are essential and beneficial for children. In thiss essay i will discuss the advantages and some arguments in favour of shorter school vacations

There are several reasons why i believe school holidays are advantageous for children. One major reason for this is children can relax. School vacations are for childrens so they can feel free from the exhausting and tuff routine. Such as Children wake up early in morning for school. They have to be punctual and ready. It is very stressful for them to do this on daily basis. In holidays children get some time to recover their energy especially in summer because of hot weather vacations are longer so children can stay in home rather than getting dehydrated. It saves their energy for later in schools they can study with enthusiasum. This why i think vacations are essential.

Most of the arguments are from parents they contemplate children should go to school rather than wasting time at home. They argue children do nothing at home. All they can do is create problems for parents. It is hard to keep control of them especially above all when they have nothing to do. Parents are not fond of vacations because it increase their work in home.

In conclusion my opinion is still the same vacation are helpful for children it refreshes them.

However parents should understand the significance of holidays. They are supposed to play with them instead of criticising them on what they do in 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 limited. While you mention that holidays allow children to 'relax' and 'recover energy,' these points are not fully extended with specific examples or deeper analysis. The arguments for shorter holidays are focused primarily on parental convenience rather than educational or societal benefits, which makes the response feel slightly one-sided. To reach a higher band, ensure that each point is supported by a clear explanation or a concrete example that demonstrates a deeper understanding of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, which helps the reader follow your argument. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. For example, you frequently start sentences with 'They' or 'It is,' which limits the flow of your writing. There is a lack of sophisticated transition words to link ideas between and within paragraphs. While the overall progression is clear, the connections between sentences could be smoother. Improving the variety of linking words (e.g., 'consequently,' 'furthermore,' 'conversely') would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for a higher band. You rely on basic terms like 'good,' 'essential,' and 'problems.' There are also some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'tuff routine' (should be 'tough') and 'increase their work in home' (should be 'increase their workload at home'). To improve, try to incorporate more academic collocations and less common vocabulary related to education and child development. Avoid informal phrasing and focus on using words that convey your meaning with greater accuracy and sophistication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

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., 'vacation are helpful'), missing articles, and punctuation errors. For instance, 'In thiss essay i will discuss' contains a spelling error and capitalization issues. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the writing from reaching a higher band. Focus on proofreading your work to correct basic errors in tense, pluralization, and sentence construction to ensure your writing is more polished and accurate.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.