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)

Primary and secondary schools close for more thn 2 months in holidays. In my opinion there is nothing wrong with giving students this break. It is very important as a heatwave or in winters snowstorms may strike the area and its better for children to stay at home and be safe under the supervision of their parents. In longer school holidays kids can reflect on themselves and can persue a hobby. They can do something creative and find their talents and interests. This way they also get to spend time with their families. In my area which is Karachi, Pakistan school holidays are more than 2 months. Now it is up to the students if they want to waste this precious time of their lives or they learn a new skill in the area of their interest. Students also need time to relax but sometimes this makes them lazy and unproductive which can be avoided if the school holidays are shorter. If school holidays get too long the student gets very distant with their studious self and they might procrastinate alot when the school reopens, so to break this cycle shorter school holidays can be considered too, so the students is in a constant productive mode and doesnt get too relaxed. Both approaches can be considered by the school. There should be a survey taken by the parents of the primary schoolers and high schoolers on whether they want short school holidays or long and which suits their child the best.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both questions and give a clear preference for allowing long breaks, while also recognising that shorter holidays may help students remain productive. The points about rest, family time, hobbies and seasonal safety are relevant, and the Karachi example makes the discussion more personal. However, several ideas are asserted rather than explained: for instance, the claim that children can stay safe at home during heatwaves or snowstorms is not clearly connected to why schools should close for two months. The case for shorter holidays is also brief and mainly focuses on procrastination. Develop each side with a specific explanation or example, then make your own conclusion clearer than the suggestion that schools should simply conduct a survey.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

The response moves from benefits of long holidays to concerns about their length, so the reader can identify the two sides of the discussion. However, it is presented as one continuous paragraph, which makes the progression difficult to follow and gives the ideas little separation. Several links are also repetitive or awkward, particularly the repeated use of “so” in the discussion of shorter holidays. The final survey suggestion introduces a new solution rather than clearly concluding the argument. Use separate paragraphs for the benefits, the case for shorter breaks, and your conclusion. Within each paragraph, organise one main point at a time and use clear references and linking phrases to show how examples support that point.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “reflect,” “hobby,” “talents and interests,” “procrastinate,” and “productive.” These choices help communicate the main ideas, and the meaning is generally understandable. However, the range is limited and some expressions are informal or imprecise for an academic essay, such as “kids,” “waste this precious time,” and “studious self.” There are also spelling errors, including “thn,” “persue,” and “alot,” which reduce accuracy. Aim for more precise collocations and a consistently formal register; for example, describe students as maintaining study habits rather than being distant from their “studious self.” Proofreading for spelling would also make your vocabulary more effective.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including conditional structures such as “If school holidays get too long…” and a reason clause beginning “as a heatwave…”. The main message remains understandable, but errors in sentence construction and agreement recur. For example, “the students is” should be “the student is” or “students are,” and “which suits their child the best” does not agree naturally with the plural choice of parents. Some long sentences combine several ideas with commas and “so,” making the relationships between clauses unclear. Practise dividing these into shorter, controlled sentences and check subject–verb agreement, articles, and punctuation. Greater accuracy in these areas would make your complex ideas easier to follow.

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