Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-14

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)

The debate over the benefits of long school holidays, usually two or more months, during summers has sparked a heated debate. Many people believe that shorter holidays are better but, In my opinion, the longer ones are more beneficial as it provides the exposure to extra-curricular activities and prevention from damaging summer heat to children.

The period for summer holidays usually lies between late May to end of July. During this period, Earth has the highest sun exposure as it is closest to it out of whole year. The ultraviolet radiations are intensive and can cause skin disease like burn, damage and cancer. To avoid these damages, the children of primary and secondary schools are allowed to stay at home. Moreover, the children get more time to spend with their family and participate in extra curriculars like sports, chores, etc.

Whilst the supporters of shorter summer holidays argue that their children waste their time at home and become clumsy. Though the assignments are given to students for this holiday period, they still do not study. But this infrastructure is designed to give parents sense of responsibility about their children studies along with other needs fulfilment. Another stipulation by parents is they pay the fee to institutes for this period even when they don't serve their children. If it is applicated, the teachers will leave their professions and leaving the schools with no one to teach.

I believe the longer term of summer holidays are of great value. They are more advantageous as it helps to prevent skin disease, develops sense of connection among family and participation in non-academic activities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both questions and state a clear preference for longer holidays, giving reasons related to children’s safety, family time and extracurricular activities. You also present arguments for shorter breaks, including concerns that children waste time and that parents pay fees while schools are closed. However, the discussion is only partly developed: the claim that summer heat causes skin damage is not clearly connected to why schools should close, and the point about teachers leaving if fees are not paid is difficult to follow. Explain each argument more fully and support it with a specific example or clearer reasoning. Your conclusion repeats your position but does not add much synthesis.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the benefits and counterarguments, and a conclusion. This helps the reader identify the main stages of your discussion. However, progression within paragraphs is sometimes unclear, and some linking expressions do not show the intended relationship. For example, “Though the assignments are given…” is followed by “But this infrastructure…,” where the connection between homework, parental responsibility and school fees is hard to trace. The final sentence also repeats earlier points rather than bringing the discussion together. Use clearer topic sentences, organise each paragraph around one main idea, and make references such as “this infrastructure” explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some topic-related vocabulary, including “ultraviolet radiations,” “extra-curricular activities,” “stipulation” and “non-academic activities,” and the reader can generally understand your intended meaning. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, which makes parts of the argument difficult to interpret. Examples include “Earth has the highest sun exposure,” “children…are allowed to stay at home,” “become clumsy,” and “this infrastructure is designed.” “Applicated” is also not the appropriate form in this context. Aim for more precise, natural combinations such as describing intense sunlight or saying that students become less active. Check word forms and collocations, especially when using less familiar vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including a concession with “Though” and a conditional structure beginning “If it is applicated.” Meaning is usually recoverable, but errors in agreement, articles, verb forms and sentence construction occur often enough to make some sentences awkward. For example, “the longer ones are more beneficial as it provides” has a plural subject with a singular verb and pronoun, while “the longer term…are of great value” has a similar agreement problem. In “the teachers will leave their professions and leaving the schools,” the verb forms are not parallel. Review subject–verb agreement, consistent verb forms, and sentence boundaries, then proofread complex sentences for clarity.

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