Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-06

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)

Prolonged school vacation, especially during summers is commonly prevailing throughtout the globe. Although, this trend has undeniable merits, it also brings serious consequences as well.

In the countries where the weather becomes unbearably hot in summers, the only solution for schools to survive heat wave is to close school for a month or two and resume later when the conditions optimize. Also, in case of any natural environmental disaster like tsunami, earthquack or flooding, schools are legible to stay close longer than usual. Long school holidays can have an optimistic impact on overall mental and physical wellbeing of children. By spending quality time with family and visiting relatives can strenghthen affection towards kinship. Moreover, travel trips to new places and regions during holidays can certainly expand cognitive dimension which could prove to be a beneficial skill after when the school has resumed. Preparation for the next session by completing vacation homework will also make children responsible.

However, the advantages of shorter school holidays outweigh those of longr school vacations. Few days are enough for children to relax from the daunting and stressfull workload of school curricula. These shorter summer vacations can make children in touch with the concepts tought, which they can easily be forgotten during longer holidays with more gaps due to their weak primary or working memory. Children can effortlessly unlearn the school routine particularly the wake-up and bed-time during prolonged vacations. For instance, the schools in the Punjab province of Pakistan use to have a 3-month summer holidays which always resulted in their poor grades in the final term.

In conclusion, long school summer holidays can be affected in regions with extreme weathers or any natural disaster. However, on the other hand, short school holidays are prefered for children to excel academically.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

You address both questions and maintain a clear preference for shorter holidays, especially in the final paragraph. The first body paragraph gives relevant reasons for long breaks, including extreme heat, disasters, family time and travel; the second explains how shorter breaks may help pupils retain learning and maintain routines. This coverage meets the task well, and the Pakistan example adds useful support. However, some points are asserted rather than fully explained: for example, the link between travel and a “beneficial skill” is unclear, and the claim about poor final-term grades needs more explanation or evidence. The conclusion also focuses mainly on academic performance rather than briefly weighing the wider benefits discussed. Develop these links more explicitly to make the response more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, one paragraph for each side of the discussion, and a conclusion. The contrast signalled by “However” helps readers follow your shift from the value of long holidays to the case for shorter ones, while “For instance” introduces a relevant example. The progression within paragraphs is generally understandable, though several different benefits are grouped together without a clear order, and the first paragraph moves quickly from weather and disasters to family and travel. Some linking is also mechanical, particularly “Moreover” and “However, on the other hand.” Group related ideas more deliberately and use referencing or transitions that show the precise relationship between them. This would make the progression smoother and cohesion less noticeable.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for the topic, including phrases such as “mental and physical wellbeing,” “school curricula,” and “working memory.” These attempts to use less common language show ambition, and the main ideas remain understandable. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “schools to survive heat wave,” “expand cognitive dimension,” and “unlearn the school routine.” Spelling errors, including “throughtout,” “earthquack,” and “stressfull,” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise, natural combinations rather than more elaborate wording: for example, explain that travel can broaden children’s knowledge or that long breaks may disrupt routines. Proofreading for spelling and checking collocations would strengthen control.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex forms, including conditional phrasing (“In the countries where…”) and a relative clause (“which they can easily be forgotten…”). This gives the response some structural variety, and the overall meaning is usually clear. Some grammatical errors remain, however. In “By spending quality time with family and visiting relatives can strengthen…,” the opening phrase does not connect correctly to the subject; write “Spending quality time… can strengthen…”. The sentence about concepts that “can easily be forgotten” also has an unclear reference and faulty construction. There are further issues with articles, plurals and verb forms, as in “a 3-month summer holidays” and “schools… use to have.” Review sentence boundaries and ensure each clause has a clear subject and correctly formed verb.

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