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)

In recent years, there is an argument about summer holidays of primary and secondary school that are for two months or more. I strongly believe that governments should not give long holidays because it weaks the well-being and the behaviour of students. Instead of this governments should give shorter holidays.

The first major reason behind my oppinion on the long holidays is that it weakens student concentration on study. In many countries, governments provide longer holidays for summer and little amount of homework. Most students do not pay proper attention to homeworks and spend their time in playing games and sports.As a result, when they come back to schools they completely become dull, irresponsible and incompetent student. For instance, many students did not do their homework because they always delay it to tommorow as they think they have long holiday.

However, one of the main advantages of short holidays is that students get a sense of responsibility to their studies. As the students have less holidays, their first priority is to complete the homework and spend the remaining on enjoyment. So, they do not waste their time and focus on study. Consequently, they become more responsible, confident and eligible. Moreover, another benefit is that this makes them responsible because they do not rely on anything and finsh their work first.

In my view, the short period holidays play cruicial role in the development of students as it makes them self-beleived and improve their habits.

In conclusion, i would say that the schools should adapt shorter holidays and avoid longer holidays as it spoils the children and damage their well-being.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

You give a clear overall view that shorter holidays are preferable, and you address both the value of long holidays and arguments for shorter ones. However, the response only partly fulfils the task because the value of long holidays is not genuinely explored: the first body paragraph focuses on their disadvantages, such as reduced concentration and unfinished homework. The case for shorter holidays is also quite narrow, relying mainly on responsibility and study habits, with some repetition. For example, the claims that students become “more responsible” and “do not rely on anything” are not clearly explained or supported. To strengthen the response, acknowledge benefits of long breaks, such as rest or family time, and develop each argument with a specific explanation or example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a recognisable structure: an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The contrast between the paragraphs is signalled by “However,” and the conclusion returns to your preference for shorter holidays, so the overall arrangement is coherent. Some linking is mechanical or repetitive, however. “Moreover” introduces a second benefit that largely repeats the point about responsibility, while “As a result” and “Consequently” connect ideas in a predictable way without always clarifying the reasoning. The progression would be stronger if each paragraph had one distinct central idea and its supporting explanation followed clearly. Also make references more precise—for example, explain what “this” refers to in “this makes them responsible”—and use paragraph links to show contrast or cause more naturally.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate your main points, including “concentration,” “priority,” “development,” and “well-being.” There are also attempts at more formal expressions, such as “the first major reason” and “one of the main advantages.” However, the range is limited and several noticeable spelling, word-form, and collocation errors reduce precision. Examples include “oppinion,” “tommorow,” “finsh,” and “self-beleived”; phrases such as “little amount of homework” and “eligible” are also not natural or accurate in context. Repetition of “responsible” and “holidays” further limits variety. Build a bank of accurate education-related collocations and check spelling and word forms carefully, while choosing vocabulary that expresses the intended meaning precisely.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including a conditional-style explanation beginning “As the students have less holidays” and a result clause introduced by “Consequently.” Most ideas remain understandable, but some errors in sentence structure, agreement, articles, and punctuation affect accuracy. For example, “it weaks the well-being” has an incorrect verb form, and “become … incompetent student” does not agree in number with “students.” The sentence beginning “Instead of this governments” also needs clearer punctuation and structure. There is some control of basic clauses, but complex sentences are not consistently accurate. Practise checking subject–verb agreement, singular and plural forms, and sentence boundaries, then use a few varied structures that you can control reliably.

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