Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

In many countries, children have a summer holiday of two months or more. Although this long break is sometimes considered excessive, it can provide students with valuable opportunities outside the classroom. At the same time, there are several arguments for having shorter school holidays.

Long school holidays are valuable because they give students enough time to recover from the pressure of a full academic year. Instead of constantly studying, children can relax, spend time with their families and take part in activities that they may not have time for during term time. For instance, students can travel, attend sports camps or learn skills such as cooking or playing a musical instrument. Such experiences can contribute to their personal development and allow them to return to school feeling refreshed.

There are also several reasons why shorter holidays may be beneficial. One major argument is that students are less likely to forget what they have learned when the breaks between school terms are shorter. This is particularly important for subjects such as mathematics and foreign languages, which require regular practice. Teachers can also spend less time reviewing old material when students return to school. In addition, shorter holidays can be more convenient for working parents, as arranging childcare for several months can be difficult and expensive.

In conclusion, long school holidays allow children to rest, spend time with their families and develop interest outside school. However, shorter breaks can help students maintain their academic progress and can reduce childcare difficulties for parents.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by exploring both the value of long school holidays and the arguments in favour of shorter ones. A clear position is maintained throughout the essay. The ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as mentioning specific activities like sports camps and travel for the first part, and academic retention in mathematics and foreign languages for the second. The arguments are logical and directly answer the prompt requirements. Based on the band descriptors, this performance easily meets the criteria for Band 7.0, as all parts of the prompt are addressed with clear extension and support.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with a balanced introduction, moving to the value of long holidays, then the arguments for shorter breaks, and finishing with a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are used effectively without being intrusive, such as 'At the same time,' 'For instance,' and 'In addition.' Paragraphing is managed appropriately to separate the distinct strands of the argument. Referencing throughout the text is clear and easy to follow, making this a solid representation of Band 7 for coherence and cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates an adequate to sufficient range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common items with general precision. Examples such as 'excessive,' 'personal development,' 'academic progress,' and 'regular practice' show a good awareness of collocations. There are occasional slight awkwardness in phrasing, such as 'develop interest' (which should be pluralised as 'interests'), but these errors do not impede communication. The vocabulary is generally accurate and natural, aligning comfortably with a Band 7 descriptor.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response features a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, including conditional and subordinate clauses like 'Although this long break is sometimes considered excessive, it can provide...' and '...activities that they may not have time for during term time.' There are frequent error-free sentences, and punctuation is handled well. Grammatical control is strong overall, with only minor lapses, demonstrating a solid command of grammar that fits the Band 7 criteria.

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