Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-08

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, schools are closed for a long period of time in summers, some are closed for as much as two months or more. This is because holidays play an important role in keeping the children safe from the heat and has a high value in keeping the students into different activities. However this essay will discuss both views and will argue about some individuals perspective about shorter holidays.

On the one hand, in some nations primary and secondary schools have long holidays. Because the summer in those countries are harsh and it causes severe problems to the students. Learners often find it difficult to attend school in the day time due to the extreme heat. Some students feel dizzy in classes and some loss consciousness. Meanwhile some learners develop headaches and many other problem. As a result due to the extreme summer schools do not have other choices left except of closing the schools which allow students to spent the hot days in their houses to stay protected.

On the other hand, some parents argue that the vacations should be shorter. Due to the fact that most of the children losses interest in studies and spend most of their time in playing outside, Some kids overuse phones or computers and play all day long. As a result, they do not study at home as well as their eye sight become weak.

In conclusion, Long holidays are beneficial but the schools should provide different facilities to students, so they can attend classes even in summers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both questions: you explain that long summer breaks can protect pupils from extreme heat, and you present parents’ concerns that children may lose interest in study or spend too much time on screens. The position is partly clear, especially in the conclusion, which says long holidays are beneficial but schools should offer facilities in summer. However, the discussion of the value of long holidays is mainly about avoiding heat, while the case for shorter holidays is limited to a few consequences and is not developed with examples or explanation. The conclusion also shifts towards providing summer classes rather than directly weighing the two options. Develop each argument further and make your overall view explicit throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, two body paragraphs signposted with “On the one hand” and “On the other hand,” and a conclusion. This makes the two sides easy to identify. Within the first body paragraph, the sequence from extreme heat to students’ physical difficulties and then school closure is generally logical. However, some links are mechanical or unclear, such as “Meanwhile” and “As a result due to the extreme summer,” and the second body paragraph moves quickly from loss of interest to screen use and eyesight without explaining the connections. The introduction promises discussion of “both views,” although the task asks for arguments rather than opposing views. Use clearer links between cause and consequence, and ensure each paragraph develops one connected line of reasoning.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “extreme heat,” “severe problems,” “vacations,” and “interest in studies.” There are also attempts at more specific expressions, such as “loss consciousness” and “overuse phones or computers,” but several choices or forms are inaccurate or unnatural and sometimes make the meaning less precise. For example, “keeping the students into different activities” does not clearly express the intended benefit, and “eye sight become weak” is an awkward way to describe a possible effect. Repetition of “students,” “schools,” and “some” also limits variety. Build a more precise range of collocations for education, summer conditions, and children’s routines, and check word forms and spelling.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including a reason clause beginning “Because the summer…” and a result clause introduced by “As a result.” However, complex structures are often faulty, and errors occur frequently enough to affect clarity. Examples include “the summer … are harsh,” “some loss consciousness,” “most of the children losses interest,” and “their eye sight become weak,” where agreement or verb forms are incorrect. The opening sentence also joins two independent ideas with a comma, and the final paragraph has inconsistent capitalisation after “In conclusion.” Practise subject–verb agreement, plural forms, and sentence boundaries, then proofread each sentence for a clear subject and correctly formed verb. More accurate control of these basics will make your ideas easier to follow.

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

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