Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-26

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)

Primary and secondary schools in many countries provide extented summer breaks to students. While these breaks serves as a resting period where students can work on themselves, a number of individuals argue that this should not be the case. Shorter school holidays, many people believe, is the optimum way of relaxing and maintaning study routine.

A number of schools adopt the idea that long summer breaks are a necessity. Long summer breaks serves as a time where a student can work on themselves and explore more about what they are, and what they want to be. Average school routine around the world is quite tough and demands alot. The focus of a student is entirely on what is begin taught. These breaks helps to take the edge of the studetns and students can focus on things other than study. Weather can also play a role in many countries where summer holidays are necessary as this could lead to a number of health concerns. For example, schools in South Korea adopts this strategy where they give ample time to students in the form of summer holidays to explore, as their everyday life in schools is quite hectic.

On the other hand, there is a strategy adopted by many schools where holidays are cut short. It is believed in many school systems that schools should provide the kind environment to its pupils that helps them with their personal development. In many countries around the world it is believed that a student should be given enough free time in school rather than leaving school entirely for holidays for long periods of time. This disrupts the connection of student with study entirely. Administration of schools should strategize their everyday routine to give ample free time in schools, and that should serve as a driver for exploring and would also maintain a routine where studies would not be compromised. In Japan, this ideaology is followed as students spend long periods in schools but are not mentally effected as they are provided with enough free time.

To conclude, long school holidays have their own benefits like providing students with ample time to explore and rest for the summer break. But strategic short breaks can also serve these purposes, without any compromise to a students study routine. Both arrangements therefore offer distinct benefits.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the value of long school holidays and the arguments in favour of shorter ones, citing relevant examples like South Korea and Japan. The student establishes a clear position throughout the essay. Ideas are generally extended and supported, though some points, such as the discussion on weather concerns, are somewhat under-developed and could benefit from further elaboration. The conclusion summarises the main points effectively. Overall, the performance aligns well with the requirements for Band 6.5 to 7.0, and a score of 6.5 is awarded as some ideas tend to over-generalise or lack deeper support.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay displays a clear overall progression and logical organisation. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, starting with the introduction, moving to long holidays, then shorter holidays, and concluding appropriately. Cohesive devices are used throughout, such as 'While these breaks serves', 'On the other hand', and 'To conclude', though some referencing is occasionally mechanical or repetitive. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately to separate distinct arguments. However, minor mechanical errors in cohesion prevent it from reaching a higher band. Therefore, a score of 6.5 is appropriate for this criterion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, attempting less common lexical items such as 'optimum', 'ideology', and 'strategize'. However, there are noticeable word choice and spelling errors, such as 'extented' instead of 'extended', 'serves' instead of 'serve' (subject-verb agreement), and 'maintaning' instead of 'maintaining'. While these inaccuracies do not impede communication, they restrict the lexical score. The use of phrases like 'take the edge of the studetns' contains minor lexical awkwardness. Based on these observations, a band score of 6.0 is well-justified.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating an attempt at varied structures. However, there are frequent grammatical and punctuation errors throughout the text, including subject-verb agreement issues ('this breaks helps', 'breaks serves'), spelling slips ('studetns', 'effected'), and awkward phrasing ('that schools should provide the kind environment'). While these errors rarely impede communication, their frequency prevents the essay from achieving a Band 7. The control of grammar is generally at a Band 6 level, where a mix of accurate and faulty structures is present.

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

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