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)
Summer holidays are of two months or more in most of the countries for elementary and high schools. There is a balance between the positive and negative attributes of this. Longer school holidays mean more time for summer camps and a longer visit to grand parents . While shorter holidays have thier own benefits.
Long summer holidays are beneficial in two ways. Firstly, the weather in some of the countries is too harsh in summers. Childern can suffer heat stroke or get dehydrated. For the well-being of students, Long summer breaks are compulsory. As in pakistan last year there are alot of casulaities of school going kids in july due to heat stroke and number of students were admitted to hospitals due to severe dehydration. Secondly, in longer summer break, Kids have more time to learn extra-curricular activities. In summer camps, they get to learn many new things such as baking, gardening and designing different things. Apart from that childern can spend more time at their grand parents' ,where students can learn through their elder's experiences.
On the other hand, it is believed shorter summer breaks are best in the countries with mild weather as there will be no health issues related to harsh weather conditions. Some students find it very difficult to get back to thier routine if the summer breaks are longer. School management consider short breaks, in order to finish syllabus well in time. If holidays are longer they are unable to finish thier syllabus well in time.
overall, longer and shorter summer breaks both have their own benefits and depend on area to area and how well the school can manage their course.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0
The student addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the value of long summer holidays and the arguments in favour of shorter ones. A clear position is maintained throughout the essay. The ideas are supported with relevant examples, such as the mention of heat strokes and casualty rates in Pakistan last year, which adds specific context. However, some arguments lack deeper expansion; for instance, the point about finishing the syllabus could have been elaborated further to reach a higher band level. Nevertheless, the response covers all prompt requirements adequately, corresponding well to the Band 6.0 descriptors.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0
The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with a clear introduction and conclusion. Paragraphing is utilised to separate distinct ideas, such as the benefits of long holidays versus short ones. However, cohesive devices are sometimes mechanical or missing, and transitions between sentences can feel abrupt. For example, starting sentences with words like 'Firstly' and 'Secondly' is functional, but referencing and substitution could be more smoothly integrated. There are also occasional mechanical issues with paragraph breaks and punctuation. This places the response firmly in the Band 6 range.
Lexical Resource: Band 6.0
The student demonstrates an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using terms related to education and health, such as 'extra-curricular activities', 'dehydration', and 'syllabus'. There are several attempts to use less common vocabulary, though this is sometimes accompanied by spelling errors and minor inaccuracies, such as 'grand parents', 'casulaities', and 'childern'. While these errors do not impede communication, they highlight the limitations in lexical control, making Band 6.0 the most accurate descriptor for this criterion.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0
The response contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as conditional and relative clauses ('If holidays are longer they are unable to finish their syllabus well in time'). There are frequent errors in punctuation, capitalization (e.g., 'pakistan', 'Childern'), and basic grammar, such as agreement issues ('number of students were admitted' instead of 'a number of students were admitted'). However, these errors rarely impede overall communication, and the meaning remains clear throughout. This balance of mixed structures and persistent errors matches the Band 6.0 descriptors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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