Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-12

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)

Primary and secondary schools allows the students to spend two or more months in the summer holidays in several countries. Though it has some benefits to have long holidays, there are some debate on the favour of shorter shcool holidays and the longer one. In this essay, I will discuss about the values of long school vacation and the arguments in favour of shorter shcool vacation.

Longer shcool holidays gives the students time for recreation because they can spend their leisure in doing something they really love to do like playing football, fishing, making sugar-fueled rocket, and whatever they wants to explore. It will mold their mind with creativity and make them really good problem solver. Besides, they will get the opportunity spend more quality time with their family and loved ones, which will refresh their mind and release the tons of pressure of studies from their brain. Furthermore, spending good amount of time at home is necessary because it helps them to achieve the morality, honesty, and manner from their family members.

In contrast, shorter school holidays also has some advantages. Students are fully engaged in study while they are in the strict rules of school and their formal education can be improved through that. Moreover, they lead a disciplined life when the classes are in their daily routine, they get up early in the morning, take their breakfast, go to school, then return home after the classes. Also, engaging and socializing with new people and making friends are essential to become culturally enriched.

In conclusion, though the students gets benefits from longer summer holidays, their formal education is hampered a little bit, which is also necessary to cope up with the modern world full of technological advancements.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response addresses both questions: it explains the value of longer holidays through recreation, family time and learning values at home, then gives reasons for shorter breaks, including continued study, routine and socialising. The contrast is clear, and the conclusion recognises a possible educational cost of long holidays. However, several points are asserted rather than explained. For example, the link between leisure activities and becoming a “good problem solver” needs a clearer explanation or example, while the benefits of shorter holidays are listed without showing how they compare with the benefits already discussed. The position is also not fully explicit: the conclusion notes that education may be hampered, but does not clearly state which holiday pattern the writer considers preferable. Develop and support the main ideas more evenly, and make the overall view clear throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay has a coherent overall arrangement: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two sides, and a conclusion. Signposts such as “Besides,” “Furthermore,” “In contrast” and “In conclusion” help readers follow the discussion. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the main focus of each body paragraph is identifiable. At times, however, the links between ideas feel mechanical or unclear. The opening sentence of the introduction is awkwardly connected to the task, and the conclusion introduces the idea of technological advancement without developing it in the body. Some points in the longer-holiday paragraph are also placed in a list-like sequence rather than being linked through explanation. Use clearer references and transitions between related claims, and ensure the conclusion synthesises the arguments already presented.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response uses a range of relevant vocabulary, including “recreation,” “leisure,” “morality,” “disciplined” and “culturally enriched,” and these choices help convey the main ideas. There are also attempts at more vivid phrasing, such as “sugar-fueled rocket.” However, noticeable spelling, word-form and collocation problems reduce precision: “shcool” is repeatedly misspelled, “spend their leisure in doing” is unnatural, and “release the tons of pressure” is an imprecise expression. “Formal education is hampered a little bit” is understandable but vague in this context. Aim for accurate, natural combinations of words and check spelling carefully. More precise vocabulary for educational effects and holiday arrangements would also help express comparisons without relying on broad claims.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

There is some variety in sentence structure, including a concessive opening (“Though it has some benefits…”), a reason clause (“because they can spend…”) and a relative clause (“which will refresh their mind…”). The overall meaning is generally understandable, but errors in agreement, verb forms and sentence construction occur across the response. For example, “schools allows” should use a plural verb, “Longer … holidays gives” has the same agreement problem, and “whatever they wants” should be “whatever they want.” The phrase “they get the opportunity spend” is missing “to,” while “the students gets benefits” has incorrect agreement. Some long sentences also combine several ideas without clear grammatical control. Review subject–verb agreement and infinitive patterns, and edit each sentence for a clear, complete structure.

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