Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-08

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)

Yes, in many countries, primary and secondary schools close for two months or more in the summer holidays.

From my perspective, long school holidays hold a significont value. From my standpoint there are two major reasons that enhance the value of long school holidays: First one is tiredness. As after the busy schedule for the whole year students need some rest for their body and also for their amusement. Two months or more are enough for students to have some rest mentally and physically and be ready for the upcoming hectic schedule. Moreover the second reason is that in summer temperatures are very high and these temperatures can be unbearable for many children, and they can suffer from dehydration and heat stroke. So in holidays, children can stay in their homes and can stay safe and hydrated.

There is also a debate in favour of shorter school holidays. The main factor behind this is that after a longer holidays studensts loose their rythm of study and they get more involve in the recreational things like cricket, football or ony other sports. Subsequently they get detoch with studies. The other foctor is that when they spend a lot of time in their homes during longer holidays they loose interest in the school.

Overall, there are pos cons and pros of both the shorter holidays and longer holidays. So its the duty of the parents to engage they and encourage their children to not loose interest in studies whether in shorter or longer holidays.

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 these ideas is quite limited. The points regarding rest and heat are relevant but lack depth or specific examples to fully support the argument. Similarly, the arguments for shorter holidays are mentioned but not explored in detail. The conclusion is brief and does not fully synthesize the points made. To reach a higher band, you should aim to expand your arguments with more detailed explanations or real-world examples, ensuring each paragraph provides a comprehensive view of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. You use some cohesive devices such as 'Moreover', 'Subsequently', and 'Overall' to link ideas. However, the flow between sentences is sometimes mechanical, and the logical progression within paragraphs could be smoother. For instance, the transition between the benefits of rest and the issue of high temperatures is abrupt. Additionally, some referencing is slightly unclear, such as 'engage they' in the final paragraph. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence logically follows the previous one will 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 higher bands. There are several spelling errors, such as 'significont', 'studensts', 'loose' (used instead of 'lose'), 'ony', 'detoch', and 'foctor'. These errors are frequent enough to be noticeable. While you attempt to use topic-specific vocabulary like 'dehydration' and 'recreational', the overall lexical range is limited. To improve, focus on mastering the spelling of common words and try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations and academic vocabulary to express your ideas with greater precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay uses a mix of simple and some complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede the flow of reading. Examples include 'get more involve' (should be 'involved'), 'get detoch with' (should be 'detached from'), and 'its the duty' (should be 'it is'). Subject-verb agreement and preposition usage also show inconsistency. While the meaning is generally clear, the frequency of these errors limits the score. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy, particularly verb forms and word endings, and practice constructing more complex sentences with correct punctuation.

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

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