Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-16

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 6.0)

It is a common practice for primary and secondary schools to have extended holidays in some countries. However, long holidays are frowned upon by other governments. Let's dive into the practical aspects of different holiday arrangements and their impact on the society.

It is not a secret that the dream of many students is having long holidays. And the primary reason is reluctance to study and meet all those deadlines. Neverthless, many believe that having long holidays may in reality have positive imact not only on students' but also teachers' physical and mental health, as it gives enough time for them to recover from the mental overload and spend more time on their hobbies and physical activities. In addition, longer holidays give familieis more flexibility to travel, visit friends and relatives. We all know how crucial social contact is on the child's development. Lastly, after having a long break, there is a high possibility students will miss studying, thus they will get back to school well rested and motivated.

Despite many advantages that long holidays offer, many governments are in favor of shorter school holidays. They argue that during short holidays students will get a head start in school studies and consequently be more competitive when choosing a university. Additionally, people with less time availability tend to manage their time more efficiently. Shorter holidays can have some benefits for parents as well. When students get long breaks, many parents still have to work, therefore they have to hire a babysitter to look after their kids while they are at work.

I don't think there is right or wrong answer. I personally am a big fan of longer holidays, but there are times I miss the fast pace as it gives me a sense of fulfillment.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt directly, discussing the value of long holidays as well as the arguments in favour of shorter ones. The writer maintains a clear position, presenting balanced views on both sides of the issue. Ideas are supported with relevant examples and explanations, such as the impact on mental health, family flexibility, and childcare costs. However, some arguments, particularly in the final body paragraph regarding short holidays, remain slightly under-developed and could have been extended with further examples. Nevertheless, the task is adequately fulfilled and all prompt requirements are met.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with a clear logical progression from introduction to body paragraphs and conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas, such as the benefits of long breaks versus shorter ones. Cohesive devices are used reasonably well, including transitional phrases like 'In addition', 'Lastly', and 'Additionally'. However, there are minor issues with referencing and linking at times, such as the informal opening sentence 'Let's dive into', which detracts slightly from the academic tone and cohesion expected in an IELTS essay.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common items such as 'mental overload', 'flexibility', and 'competitive'. However, there are a few lexical inaccuracies and typos, such as 'Neverthless' instead of 'Nevertheless', 'imact' instead of 'impact', and 'familieis' instead of 'families'. Furthermore, some word choices and phrasing, such as 'Let's dive into', lean towards an informal register rather than the neutral or formal academic tone required for Task 2. Despite these errors, communication is not impeded.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including conditional and relative clauses. There are several instances of error-free sentences and good control over basic grammar. However, a few grammatical errors are present throughout the text, such as missing articles ('right or wrong answer' instead of 'a right or wrong answer') and punctuation slips. While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the essay from achieving a higher band score that requires a greater frequency of error-free complex sentences.

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