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)

The tradition of long summer holidays for schools is a practise that is commonly followed by the education system in many countries, with the primary and secondary schools closing down for at least two months, sometimes more.

One of the notable reasons is that a few countries have extremely high temperatures in summers, which makes it unfavourable for the staff and students alike to attend the school during the morning and afternoon hours. Adding on, these long holidays also make time for any infrastructural addition or modification to the school campus. Furthermore, it also gives students' the time to explore themselves, to take up different hobbies and skills, moreover it also gives them space to spend hours with their families which is, as a matter of fact, a challenge during school hours.

Although it is true that long summer holidays are favourable, it goes without saying that there are a few arguments that shed light on keeping the timeline of these vacations shorter. To begin with, such a long gap which lacks the school routine and studies makes it difficult for the students' brain and body to adapt to it again. For instance, if a student tries to fall back into the school routine after a long gap, it becomes a challenge for them, because not only do they have to adapt to the environment, but they also have to compete with fellow students, which consequently puts a lot of stress and pressure on the student. It goes without saying that cutting the summer holidays shorter would also give teachers' ample amount of time to properly teach the study material rather than skimming through the lectures, this would not only be beneficial for the pupils to retain the study material, but also give the teachers' a chance to focus more closely on the weaker students.

Concluding this essay, while long summer holidays are non-negotiable when it comes to environmental grounded problems. Conversely, cutting them short would not only do the students good, but the teachers as well.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response successfully addresses both parts of the prompt, exploring the value of long school holidays and the arguments for shorter ones. In the second paragraph, you highlight valid points such as extreme summer weather, infrastructural updates, and valuable time for personal exploration and family bonding. The third paragraph effectively presents counter-arguments, noting the disruption to routines, the stress of readjustment, and the academic benefits of having more teaching time. Your position is clear throughout the essay. However, to push toward a higher band, some of the ideas could be extended with more specific examples or deeper explanation, particularly regarding how teachers manage the curriculum. Overall, all parts of the prompt are well covered.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organization and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving from an introduction to the value of holidays, followed by the arguments for shorter breaks, and concluding with a summary. Cohesive devices are used adequately to connect ideas, such as 'To begin with,' 'Furthermore,' and 'Consequently.' However, paragraphing and referencing can occasionally feel a bit mechanical, and the final concluding paragraph is grammatically incomplete and reads like a sentence fragment ('Concluding this essay, while long summer holidays are non-negotiable when it comes to environmental grounded problems. Conversely, cutting them short...'). Improving the transition and integration of your final thoughts will enhance the overall flow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You display an adequate and generally appropriate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common items such as 'infrastructural addition,' 'non-negotiable,' and 'skimming through.' There are, however, a few minor lexical errors and awkward word choices, such as spelling 'practise' with an 's' (practice is the noun form) and using the phrase 'environmental grounded problems,' which sounds unnatural. Additionally, there are punctuation slip-ups with apostrophes (e.g., 'students'', 'teachers''). Despite these occasional inaccuracies, your vocabulary is sufficient to convey your arguments clearly without impeding the reader's understanding.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, successfully employing subordinate clauses and relative structures like 'which makes it unfavourable' and 'if a student tries to fall back.' There is good control of complex sentences overall; however, grammatical errors and punctuation issues persist. For instance, the second sentence in the second paragraph ('Adding on, these long holidays also make time...') is somewhat informal and loosely connected. Furthermore, the concluding sentence is a fragment rather than a complete clause. While errors do occur, they rarely impede communication, allowing the reader to follow your arguments without significant difficulty.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.