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 lots of nations, the middle and higher institutions pauses for 60 days or extra in the warm season for a break.

In my opinion, extended leave in the unpleasant weather plays a significant role because it helps the little learners to stay indoor and avoid certain illness for example dehydration or upset stomach.

I agree with this idea from learning centre's as it makes the scholars to stay at home and do different kind of fun activities indoor with their siblings and parents. I remember when I was young I would look forward to this time of summer only to enjoy water games like swimming and water fighting it was the best time of my childhood and I cherish all the memories I can recall from that time.

Teachers can also spend some time for staying home to reflect on themselves before the new academic year begins and working through out the year. Therefore, I suggest instructors deserve this period to spend quality time with there families.

This is the only time of the twelve months where everyone plan to have a trip overseas, because no one can manage to leave the country while on job or going to schools. I took my kids to the UK at this time of the year and it was only this break where I was able to plan vacation for them. They explored all the tourist places and made lots of memories to cherish when adults.

Consequently, this vacation period is very beneficial for the well-being of the tutors and the little leaners at the same time. All different sorts of tasks can take place only at this duration out of all the other months.

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 is somewhat uneven. While you provide personal examples regarding family trips and childhood memories, the arguments for shorter holidays are missing entirely; you only focus on the benefits of the current system. To reach a higher band, you must provide a balanced discussion by explicitly stating why some might argue for shorter breaks, such as academic continuity or childcare convenience. The position is clear, but the lack of counter-arguments limits the depth of the response.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the progression of ideas. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and occasionally inaccurate. For example, the transition 'Therefore, I suggest' does not logically follow the previous sentence about teachers reflecting. Additionally, some sentences are loosely connected, making the flow feel disjointed. To improve, focus on using a wider variety of linking words (e.g., 'furthermore', 'consequently', 'on the other hand') more naturally to connect your ideas and improve the overall logical flow between paragraphs.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks precision and sophistication. You rely on basic phrasing such as 'lots of nations', 'little learners', and 'fun activities'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'unpleasant weather' to describe summer and 'water fighting'. To achieve a higher score, you should aim for more academic and precise terminology, such as 'educational institutions', 'recreational activities', or 'professional development'. While your meaning is clear, the limited range of vocabulary prevents a higher assessment.

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 distract the reader. Examples include subject-verb agreement issues ('the middle and higher institutions pauses'), incorrect preposition usage ('spend some time for staying'), and word choice errors ('there families' instead of 'their families'). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are persistent throughout the text. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring the correct use of possessive pronouns and prepositions.

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

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