Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-19

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 5.5)

In some nations, due to long summer holidays schools are not open for primary and secondary school's students. Long school holidays give students break from the studies and also keep their minds fresh. However, if long holidays given, people also believe that students may loose interest in studies. The narrative ahead shall articulated in the paragraphs given below.

To begin with, large breaks give students temporary leave from the studies. Students are free from homeworks and classes for certain time period. As a result, longer holidays frehen up their minds. It also reduce stress and anxiety of exams and studies in breaks. For example in long vacation, students can spend time in travel to far destinations and explore new places without any stress of school. Moreover, children can learn new skills in long vacations. To explain, learning new skill or hobby can develop children's overall personality. For instance, in large vacation period, children can learn new sports such as golf or learn new skill likewise horse-riding.

Although, people also think short holidays are more benefical than long holidays. According to people who believe in shorter holidays think, students in long vacations may loose interest in studies. To elaborate, due to long break in studies, interest in studies may decrease in children. As a result, their education may affect negatively by large vacations. For instance, many time students refuse to go to the school after long vacations. In addition, rhythum of the studies can be affected by long holidays. Large break can fluctuate the studies of children.

In conclusion, long holidays not only give children temporary break from studies but also reduce pressure. Furthermore, in long holidays children can develop new skills. However, it may loose children's interest in studies and may affect their structure of studies.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt, discussing both the value of long school holidays and the arguments in favour of shorter ones. The position is generally clear throughout, and relevant ideas are presented, such as mental refreshment and skill acquisition for the first part, and potential learning loss for the second. However, some ideas are somewhat repetitively expressed and under-developed, falling short of full extension. For instance, the discussion on losing interest in studies is reiterated without introducing significant new dimensions or deeper analysis. Consequently, the response aligns best with a Band 6, as it addresses all parts of the task with relevant ideas, but some points lack the necessary depth and development expected at higher bands.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with a clear paragraph structure, utilizing an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Logical progression is generally maintained, and basic cohesive devices are employed, such as 'To begin with', 'Although', and 'In conclusion'. However, referencing and cohesion are sometimes faulty or mechanical. For instance, the phrase 'The narrative ahead shall articulated in the paragraphs given below' is awkward and unnatural for an IELTS essay. Additionally, transitional phrases within the body paragraphs can feel repetitive or slightly disjointed. Paragraphing is used sufficiently, but overall organizational control and flexibility in referencing place this performance firmly at Band 6.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting some less common items such as 'overall personality', 'temporary leave', and 'fluctuate the studies'. However, there are noticeable inaccuracies in word choice, collocation, and phrasing, such as 'loose interest' (instead of lose), 'homeworks' (uncountable noun used as plural), and 'rhythum' (spelling error). Other expressions like 'frehen up' and 'many time students refuse' contain errors that detract from precision. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the general message without impeding communication, the frequency of lexical errors and awkward collocations limits the score to a Band 5.5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.0

The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing conditional structures ('if long holidays given, people also believe...') and various subordinate clauses. However, grammatical control is inconsistent. There are several frequent errors in grammar and punctuation, including missing articles ('in long vacation'), subject-verb agreement issues ('education may affect negatively' instead of be affected), and awkward passive constructions ('if long holidays given'). Although these errors rarely impede overall communication, they occur frequently enough across the text to prevent the response from achieving a Band 6, pointing instead toward a Band 5.

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

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