Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-11

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 recent years, summer holidays have become a widely debated issue. Some people believe that primary and secondary schools should close for two months, more in the summer holidays, while others argue that, in favour of more benefit in short holidays. This essay will discuss the value of long holidays and the benefits of shorter holidays.

There are several important reason, why long holidays is more valuable . One of the most sigificant reason is that, childrens should have mental relaxation in the long holidays. There can spent time with their family and learning new skills that helps in future goals.Another reason is that, stdents can travel opportunity and spent time with friends.students can join summer camps or digital skills courses.

On the other hand, shorter school holidays have several advantages. The main benefit is continuous learning because students can remember their lessons and avoid forgetting important information. Moreover, regular classes help students maintain their study routines and improve their academic performance. Teachers also spend less time revising previous lessons, which allows them to focus on new topics. Furthermore, shorter holidays are helpful for working parents because they can manage their jobs and childcare more easily. For example, students can improve their mathematics and English skills through regular practice throughout the academic year.

Long holidays are valuable for relaxation, family time, and personal development.

However, shorter holidays can improve learning and help working parents.

A balanced holiday schedule is the best solution.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both questions: the first body paragraph gives reasons for long holidays, including relaxation, family time and learning skills, while the next explains how shorter breaks can support learning and working parents. The shorter-holiday argument is more fully developed, with explanations about retaining information and a mathematics and English example. By contrast, the long-holiday points are mostly listed rather than explained, and the opening does not establish a clear position on which schedule is preferable. The brief conclusion introduces a balanced solution but does not explain what that balance would involve. The response is also below the required minimum length, which limits the opportunity to develop and support the ideas. Add explanation or a relevant example for each main point and state your position clearly.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable overall structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two sides, and a conclusion. Phrases such as “On the other hand” and “Moreover” help signal relationships between ideas, and the shorter-holiday paragraph progresses from learning benefits to parents’ needs. However, the long-holiday paragraph contains several points in quick succession without clear development or linking, and the conclusion repeats earlier claims rather than drawing them together. The final three short statements also feel detached from the preceding discussion. Some transitions are mechanical, and punctuation and spacing occasionally interrupt the flow. Use one clear topic sentence per paragraph, connect each supporting explanation to that topic, and make the conclusion a cohesive summary of your position.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “mental relaxation,” “continuous learning,” “study routines,” and “academic performance.” These expressions help communicate the main ideas, and the response shows some ability to discuss both educational and family-related effects. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate, sometimes making the meaning less clear: “more benefit in short holidays,” “travel opportunity,” and “spent time with friends” are examples. There are also noticeable spelling errors, such as “sigificant,” and informal or imprecise wording such as “stdents.” Aim for accurate, natural combinations and check spelling carefully. More precise terms such as “extended break,” “retain information,” and “personal development” would help express the ideas more effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more developed sentence forms, and several sentences in the paragraph about shorter holidays are clear, such as “Teachers also spend less time revising previous lessons, which allows them to focus on new topics.” However, the range is limited overall, and frequent errors in sentence construction and agreement make parts of the response difficult to follow. For example, “There are several important reason” has a plural agreement error, while “childrens should have mental relaxation” and “There can spent time” show problems with plural forms and verb structure. Some sentences run together without appropriate punctuation, as in the long-holiday paragraph. Practise building accurate subject–verb patterns and complete sentences, then proofread for agreement, articles, plurals and sentence boundaries.

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