Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-17

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)

Primary and secondary schools often stay closed for two or more months during the summer vacation in many countries. It gives students a break from their studies to relax, learn new things, and spend time with their families. If two months are not utilized properly, it can lead to overconsumption of electronic gadgets, which in turn invites several mental and physical issues.

Two-month summer vacations are implemented worldwide because of the benefits they can provide. Firstly, it allows students to have a break from their heavy coursework and to relax their minds until they start the next term. Secondly, summer vacation is the prime time families plan their trips to spend quality time together, which is often not possible because of students' ongoing school and parents' busy schedules. Thirdly, it is also an ample time to adopt new skills or hobbies such as singing, reading, or dancing, etc. Finally, in some countries such as Pakistan, temperatures go above 45 degrees, causing health issues such as sunstroke. Because of the monsoon, storms and heavy rainfall are often common, so this break is a practical time to ensure student safety.

However, some people argue that schools should not give such long vacations. Firstly, such a long break from school coursework and environment can disconnect students from learning activities. As a result, when they go back after two months, it becomes hard for teachers to grab their attention and for students to focus on their classroom activities. Similarly, some families believe that when students have so much free time, they often waste it, especially when they are not learning something. To pass the time, students often engage with electronic gadgets such as laptops, televisions, or smartphones, resulting in cognitive issues and also affecting their eyesight.

To conclude, summer vacations are a practical implication to ensure students' safety during extreme weather and a break from their studies to explore more. However, it depends completely on students how they utilize it. If they use it to learn, explore, and enjoy, then it turns out to be the best time of the year. But if they waste the time, then it can also lead to overdependence on technology and cause health issues.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The student has successfully addressed all parts of the two-part prompt, discussing both the value of long school holidays and the arguments in favour of shorter ones. A clear position is maintained throughout the response. In the second paragraph, the writer provides several well-developed points regarding the benefits of long breaks, such as relaxation, family trips, skill development, and protection from extreme weather conditions like intense heat in Pakistan. The third paragraph effectively explores the counterarguments, touching upon learning loss and the overuse of electronic gadgets. Ideas are relevant and extended, meeting the requirements for a Band 7 performance under this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a clear overall progression and logical organisation. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the introduction, the arguments for long holidays, the arguments for shorter holidays, and the conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'Furthermore', and 'However' are employed to guide the reader through the text, although some transitions feel slightly mechanical. Referencing is generally clear, and each paragraph maintains a distinct central topic. The progression from benefits to drawbacks and finally to a balanced summary is handled smoothly, fitting the Band 7 descriptor well.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student displays an adequate to good range of vocabulary suitable for an academic task. Phrases like 'overconsumption of electronic gadgets', 'heavy coursework', 'prime time', and 'practical implication' show a commendable attempt at less common lexical items. There are occasional slight awkwardnesses in word choice or phrasing, such as 'practical implication' instead of 'practical measure', but these do not impede communication. Spelling and word formation are generally accurate throughout the essay, supporting a solid Band 6.5 or 7.0 score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response features a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. The student successfully incorporates conditional clauses, such as 'If two months are not utilized properly, it can lead to...', and relative clauses with good control. Grammatical accuracy is generally high, with frequent error-free sentences. Minor slips do occur, such as pronoun reference ambiguity in 'if they use it to learn... and if they waste the time', but punctuation and sentence boundaries are handled effectively. The control of grammar aligns well with a Band 7 level.

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