Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-03
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 close for two months or more in the summer holidays. This essay will discuss value of long holidays and perspectives in favour of shorter school holidays.
On the one hand, single reason is that most of children enjoy there holidays with there grandparents or they go to visit any famous places in their country. Furthermore, this makes there mind fresh and release there study burdens. So after returning back to schools they feel relaxed and focus on their studies more comfortably.
Another significant factor is that, some of benefits of giving free periods to education is that teachers also feel relaxed during holidays. In addition, they can spent a quality time with there kids and enjoy memorable moments with their family after giving long attention to school children.
On the other hand, some of arguments in favour of shorter holidays is this that children cannot forget there lessons and other activities which their teachers have taught them in school. Secondary school children are quite mature than primary school students so, they can also develop new skills in free period. For example, they can do part time jobs in that time and can manage their school or college fees on there own. They would reduce the burden of fees on there parents and can help them use that money in other purposes.
As far I am concerned, there are many drawbacks and advantages of giving children free time during there studies this can improve there ability in learning and they will not face burden in there studies but shorter holidays also cause a convenient impact on there studies. So, long holidays could given them but also they should get summer pack so they don't forget there syllabus.
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 essay addresses both parts of the prompt: the value of long holidays and the arguments for shorter ones. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the point about teachers spending time with their children is relevant but lacks depth. The conclusion is a bit repetitive and does not clearly synthesise the arguments presented. To reach a higher band, you should aim to expand your supporting points with more specific examples or logical explanations. While the position is generally clear, the overall response feels slightly underdeveloped in its analysis of the educational implications of holiday length.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organised into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices like 'On the one hand', 'Furthermore', and 'In addition'. However, the use of these devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly inaccurate, such as 'single reason is that' or 'is this that'. Additionally, there are issues with referencing; for example, the use of 'there' instead of 'their' occurs frequently, which disrupts the flow and clarity of the text. Improving the variety and precision of your linking words and ensuring correct pronoun usage would significantly enhance the coherence of your writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it is quite repetitive and lacks sophistication. You frequently use basic terms like 'good', 'feel', and 'time'. There are also persistent spelling errors, most notably the confusion between 'there', 'their', and 'they are'. These errors are frequent enough to be noticeable. To improve, you should focus on using a wider range of vocabulary related to education and time management, and pay closer attention to spelling and word choice to ensure your meaning is conveyed precisely and professionally.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede readability. Common issues include subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'long holidays could given them'), incorrect article usage, and persistent confusion between homophones like 'there' and 'their'. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. You should focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy, particularly with verb forms and possessive pronouns, and try to incorporate more varied sentence structures with greater precision.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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