Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-05

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 majority countries primary and secondary schools provide two months or more summer vacations, however it is argued that what is the value of long school vacations, and why other people believe shorter school holidays are more suitable.

As student study whole year gives monthly test , mid terms , anual papers, assignment , quizes so they got tired so is it necessary for them to have a break to get relaxed and refill their energy and momentum.So after 10 months of continous hardwork they deserve this 2 months vacations. In almost all countries academic calander is scheduled in such a way that after their final papers they get their summer vacations also these vacations are not just a free vacation school assign some home task which are of critical thinking level and of their next class course so they got fimilar with new subjects.

On the other hand most of the people believe that yes vacations are necessary but not that much one or two week vacations without any home tasks are enough, in long vacations student gets bored , forget their old concepts and become . So when school reopens after the long time student becomes at zero level again.

Also by wasting two months in vacations their academic calander becomes to complicated not providing any space for medical leaves. So it is adviced to provide short vacations in two or three parts to in one long duration by this student will not get distracted and can easily manage their schedule.So short vacations are enough for providing relax.

In conclusion both have solid points but in general long vacations are more practical and common providing a long relax duration for child.

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 of ideas is somewhat superficial. For example, the argument regarding 'critical thinking' tasks during holidays is mentioned but not explained in detail. The position is clear, but the supporting arguments lack depth and specific examples. The conclusion is brief and does not fully synthesize the points made. To improve, you should expand on your arguments with more detailed explanations and concrete examples to ensure a more thorough exploration of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is often mechanical or missing. For instance, the transition between the benefits of long holidays and the drawbacks is abrupt. There are also issues with sentence-level cohesion, such as the run-on sentences in the first paragraph. The logical progression of ideas is sometimes hindered by repetitive phrasing and a lack of varied linking words. Improving the use of transition signals (e.g., 'furthermore', 'consequently', 'on the contrary') would significantly enhance the flow of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for a higher band. There are several instances of awkward word choices, such as 'refill their energy' (recharge) and 'at zero level' (forgotten everything). Additionally, there are spelling errors like 'anual', 'calander', and 'fimilar'. The vocabulary is somewhat repetitive, relying on basic terms. To achieve a higher score, you should focus on using more precise academic collocations and ensure accurate spelling of common words.

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 clarity. Issues include missing articles ('in majority countries'), subject-verb agreement errors ('student study'), and punctuation mistakes, such as missing spaces after commas and periods. The sentence structure is often fragmented or run-on, which affects the readability of the text. To improve, focus on mastering basic sentence construction, ensuring proper subject-verb agreement, and using punctuation correctly to separate distinct ideas.

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

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