Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-14

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 6.5)

In many countries, schools close for two months or more during the summer. Long school holidays can provide several benefits for children and their families, although shorter holidays also have some advantages.

One major benefit of long school holidays is that students have enough time to rest after a long academic year. They can relax, spend time with their families and take part in activities that they enjoy. For example, children can visit relatives, travel to different places or play sports during the summer break. Long holidays can also give students an opportunity to learn outside the classroom. They may develop useful skills by joining sports clubs, learning a new language or helping their parents at home. Therefore, a long break can support both their physical and personal development.

On the other hand, there are some strong arguments in favour of shorter school holidays. Firstly, students may forget some of the information they have learned if they stay away from their studies for a very long time. A shorter break could help them remember important knowledge and make it easier to return to their normal routine. Secondly, shorter holidays can be more convenient for working parents. Parents may find it difficult to look after their children for two or three months while they are working. Schools could provide a more regular schedule, which would reduce this problem.

In conclusion, long school holidays give children time to rest, spend time with family and develop skills outside school. However, shorter holidays can help students maintain their knowledge and make life easier for working parents. In my opinion, a balanced school calendar with reasonably long breaks would be the best option.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully addresses all parts of the prompt by discussing both the value of long school holidays and the arguments in favour of shorter ones. The writer presents a clear position throughout the essay and supports their ideas with relevant explanations and examples, such as children visiting relatives, learning a new language, and helping parents. The ideas are well-developed and easy to follow, aligning closely with the Band 7 descriptor for addressing all parts of the task with a clear position and extended, supported ideas.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct and well-managed focus: the introduction outlines the scope, the second paragraph details the benefits of long holidays, the third explores the counterarguments for shorter breaks, and the conclusion summarises the main points. Cohesive devices such as 'One major benefit', 'On the other hand', 'Firstly', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader through the text, making the overall arrangement very coherent.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The student uses an adequate and appropriate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully incorporating topic-related terms such as 'academic year', 'personal development', 'routine', and 'balanced school calendar'. While the vocabulary leans toward standard functional phrases rather than highly sophisticated or rare lexical items, it is used accurately and clearly conveys the intended meaning without causing any communication breakdown, fully matching the requirements for Band 6.5 or a solid Band 6.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response features a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, demonstrating control over grammatical forms. Examples such as 'Although shorter holidays also have some advantages' and 'Parents may find it difficult to look after their children for two or three months while they are working' show the ability to write complex sentences correctly. Grammar and punctuation are well managed throughout the text, with only minor errors or limitations, resulting in high clarity and supporting a Band 7 score.

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