Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

In some countries, schools remain closed during the summer season for two to three months. As, it has the benefits and disadvantages as well. The school holidays bring freedom from the toughest school routine, and student feel relaxed during these holidays.

One of the benefits is, students are able to participate in the co-curricular activities which helps them in personality and character building. For example, The students wish to join the athletic clubs, such as football and cricket clubs which make them physically and mentally strong and active during these holidays. As a result, students wouldn't be get bored at the home and stay healthy by engaging themselves in such activities.

On the other hand, there are several arguments in favour of shorter school holidays. Long breaks may cause them to forget some of the information they learned during the previous academic year, meaning that teachers need to spend additional time reviewing old lessons. Secondly, shorter holidays can provide a more consistent routine for children. This is particularly beneficial for working parents, who may struggle to arrange childcare when schools remain closed for several weeks. Furthermore, regular attendance can help students make steady academic progress throughout the year.

In conclusion, although long summer holidays allow students to rest, spend time with their families and develop new interests, shorter holidays can support continuous learning and make childcare easier for working parents. Both options have benefits, but the most suitable approach should balance students' academic progress with their need for rest.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both questions and maintain a relevant overall position: long holidays offer rest and opportunities to develop interests, while shorter breaks support learning and working parents. The arguments for shorter holidays are more fully explained, particularly the need to review forgotten material and arrange childcare. By contrast, the value of long holidays is mainly illustrated through co-curricular activities; the opening and conclusion mention rest and family time, but these benefits are not developed with examples or explanation. The response is also one word below the stated minimum. To strengthen the answer, explain more fully how a longer break benefits students and support that point with a specific example, while ensuring the response meets the required length.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, a paragraph on the benefits of long holidays, a contrasting paragraph on shorter holidays, and a conclusion. The progression is easy to follow, and signposts such as “On the other hand,” “Secondly,” and “In conclusion” help readers recognise the stages of the argument. The shorter-holiday paragraph also develops a logical sequence of reasons. However, the first body paragraph is less smoothly connected: “One of the benefits is” is followed by a comma, and “As a result” does not clearly follow from the preceding example. The conclusion introduces family time without developing it earlier. Use linking phrases more precisely and ensure each paragraph’s supporting points connect clearly to its main idea.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for the topic, including “co-curricular activities,” “personality and character building,” “consistent routine,” and “steady academic progress.” These expressions help communicate relevant ideas, and the meaning is generally clear. There are, however, some awkward or imprecise choices that limit naturalness, such as “freedom from the toughest school routine,” “at the home,” and “make them physically and mentally strong and active.” “Athletic clubs” is also less natural for the examples of football and cricket clubs. Aim for more precise collocations and avoid repeating broad terms such as “benefits” and “holidays”; this would make the vocabulary more flexible and accurate without requiring unnecessarily complex words.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including a relative clause in “activities which helps them” and a longer explanation beginning “This is particularly beneficial for working parents.” Most ideas remain understandable, but some errors in sentence structure, agreement, verb forms, and punctuation reduce accuracy. For example, “As, it has the benefits and disadvantages as well” is an incomplete, awkwardly punctuated sentence; “student feel” has a subject–verb agreement error; and “wouldn't be get bored” uses an incorrect verb construction. In “activities which helps,” the verb does not agree with its plural antecedent. Practise forming complete introductory sentences and checking agreement and verb patterns, while retaining the complex structures you already attempt.

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