Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-28

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 this unpredictable world, it is often argued that primary and higher institutions allow shorter period summer holidays. I largely believe that it would lead to cognitive development and get time to take part in other curriculum activities which will be articulated in the subsequent paragraphs.

To commence with, there are a myriad of aspects in favour of shorter school holidays. The most predominant one is that it is helpful to boost the cognitive skills of scholars. In other words, whenever they will participate in mind-related activities, then this will lead to holistic development of their mind and body. Another notable aspect is that students can indulge their interest in other curriculum activities. To be more precise, it is the greatest opportunity for those learners who want to make their career in other fields instead of academic field. For instance, in India, during summer vacations every school organise divergent kind of camps where singing, sports, swimming and many other activities are available for their growth. As a consequence, it has greater value during school holidays.

On the paradoxical side, there are an umpteen of aspects how it is valuable in student's life. The first and the foremost is that it is helpful to boost their confidence. To be more clear, students can meet up with new scholars of other region and it will improve their communication skills and can become confident. Another considerable aspect is that it is greater time to spend time with their family members. To elaborate it, they can get relief from academic stress and fatigue with their family to spend valuable time. For instance, according to Times of India newspaper which reveals that around 10% travel experienced during summer vacations. As a ramification, scholars do not miss this kind of opportunity in their school life.

To conclude, even though it is only for shorter duration, I firmly believe that it is necessary for their overall growth.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response attempts to address both parts of the prompt regarding the value of long holidays and arguments for shorter ones, but there is some confusion in the student's stance and interpretation of the prompt. The introduction and body paragraphs contain contradictory messaging, initially stating that shorter holidays lead to cognitive development, while later body paragraphs mix up the benefits of holidays. Ideas are presented, such as camps for extracurricular activities and family time, but they lack full extension and are sometimes obscured by awkward phrasing. While the writer has a clear personal belief by the conclusion, the overall development of ideas corresponds to a Band 6.0 level due to under-developed supporting points and slight misinterpretation of the prompts core dichotomy.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay displays a generally coherent overall arrangement with a clear paragraph structure, including an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Transitional markers such as 'To commence with', 'In other words', and 'To conclude' are employed to guide the reader through the text. However, cohesion is sometimes mechanical or faulty, as seen in repetitive transitional phrases like 'To be more clear' and 'Another considerable aspect'. Referencing can also be imprecise, leading to slight confusion in paragraph progression. Paragraphing is used sufficiently to separate main ideas, earning this response a solid Band 6.0 for coherence and cohesion.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student attempts to use a varied vocabulary, incorporating terms such as 'cognitive development', 'holistic development', and 'ramification'. However, there are numerous lexical inaccuracies and awkward collocations that hinder precision. Examples include 'higher institutions allow shorter period summer holidays', 'divergent kind of camps', and 'an umpteen of aspects'. The word choice frequently feels unnatural or misused, characteristic of a Band 5.0 or 5.5 performance, though the vocabulary remains adequate to communicate the basic meaning, keeping it firmly at a Band 5.5.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as relative clauses and conditional-style constructions. However, grammatical inaccuracies are frequent and occasionally cause strain for the reader. Notable errors include subject-verb agreement issues ('every school organise'), awkward phrasing ('there are an umpteen of aspects how it is valuable'), and incorrect prepositions or articles. While complex sentences are attempted, they are frequently faulty, placing this response at a Band 5.0 for grammatical range and accuracy.

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

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