Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-30
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 many countries, school close for two months or more during the summer holidays.Some people believe that long hoidays are important for students, while other support shorter school holidays.Both have advantages for students and their families.
Long school holidays give student enough time to relax after a busy year.During the school term, students have to attend clasess,complete homework and prepare for exams.Therefore,holidays help them to reduce stress and feel refreshed.Moreover, students can spent their time with their families and friends.For example, they can travel, visit relatives, play sports and lern new skills.These activities can help them develop confidence and independence,
On the other hand, shorter school holidays can be beneficial.When students stay from school for a long time, they may forget some of the information they have learned.Regular classes can help them maintain their study habbits and improve their academic performance.In addition, shorter holidays may make it easier for working parents to arrange childcare.Students can also receive more regular guidance and support from their teachers.
In conclusion, long summer holidays provide students with time to relax, enjoy hobbies and spend time with family.However. shorter holidays can support regular learning and help students maintain their academic routines.Both appproaches have benefits, and a suitable balance between study and rest is important.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The response addresses both parts of the prompt, discussing the value of long school holidays (relaxation, family time, independence) and the arguments in favour of shorter holidays (maintaining study habits, reducing learning loss, easier childcare). However, because the text contains only 209 words, falling short of the 250-word minimum requirement, the ideas are somewhat limited and under-developed. The position is clear throughout, and the main arguments are relevant to the prompt, but the lack of extended development due to the length restriction prevents it from achieving a higher score. Task Achievement is penalised specifically for the under-length requirement as per the marking guidelines.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The essay displays a coherent overall arrangement with logical paragraphing. Each paragraph has a clear central topic, moving from an introduction to the benefits of long holidays, then shorter holidays, and a concluding summary. Cohesive devices are used reasonably well, such as 'On the other hand', 'In addition', and 'In conclusion', though some referencing is basic. There are minor punctuation and spacing errors throughout the text (such as missing spaces after periods and commas, e.g., 'summer holidays.Some', 'independence, On the other hand'), but the logical progression of ideas remains clear enough to satisfy the requirements for a Band 6.0.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, containing relevant topic-specific terms like 'academic performance', 'childcare', and 'independence'. However, there are several spelling errors throughout the text, including 'hoidays', 'clasess', 'habbit', 'lern', and 'appproaches'. The range of vocabulary is somewhat limited and repetitive, with frequent use of basic words. While these lexical errors and limitations do not completely impede communication, they restrict the score to a Band 6.0.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
The student demonstrates a mix of simple and some complex sentence forms, such as 'When students stay from school for a long time, they may forget some of the information they have learned.' There are several grammatical and mechanical errors, including incorrect preposition use ('stay from school' instead of 'stay away from school' or 'be away from school'), missing articles, and recurrent spacing errors between sentences and after commas. Despite these errors, the structures are generally understandable and communication is rarely impeded, placing the response firmly at a Band 6.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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