Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-17

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)

Many developing countries allow primary and secondary schools to close for more than two months in the summer holidays. This practice was bagged by multiple reasons and opinions which shall be discussed in this essay in details. The later part of the essay shall also highlight some arguements that oppose the above practice of schools.

Most Asian and European countries faces extreme hot and humid conditions in summer seasons. Therefore, to protect small children from harsh weather, schools were advised to shut down during the peak summer months. Additionally, a long school holiday allow kids to rejuvenate themselves and focus on their physical and mental well-being. It is also a great time to indulge themselves in learning a new skill or practice their hobbies. This time is majorly consumed by students to pursue their interests without worrying about the results in their academic curriculum. A plethora of students also enjoy this break to visit summer camps organized by few private enterprises. Summer camps allows them to interact with a vast audience, make new friends, build confidence and learn the importance of a team-work. Apart from this, some children spend their break in visiting multiple holiday destinations with their family and friends.

All the benefits outlining long school holidays preferably were targeted towards children coming from their well settled families. However, if we focus on the students who live in poor families and their parents barely can support their education fees. In such households, it becomes quite a daunting task for their parents to allow their children to pursue any hobby or learn a new skill. In such situations, children tend to spend their long breaks helping their parents at work. Hence, long breaks play insignificant role in the overall development of the child in these families.

In the conclusion, it can be said that long school holidays plays an important role in enhancing the personality of a child if born in well established families. On the contrary, long breaks are insignificant for students who are born in low income families.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.0

The response addresses both questions: it explains benefits such as protection from summer heat, rest, hobbies, camps and family travel, and presents a concern about children in low-income households. However, the second question asks for arguments in favour of shorter holidays, and the essay does not clearly develop that case. The discussion of poorer students describes a disadvantage of long breaks, but does not explain how shorter holidays would help—for example, by maintaining learning routines or providing access to school meals and support. The opening also promises arguments opposing long holidays, while the conclusion mainly repeats the contrast between family incomes. Develop a clear position and explain the practical value of shorter breaks to make the response more complete.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, separate body paragraphs and a conclusion. Ideas within the first body paragraph generally progress from weather and rest to activities during the break, and linking expressions such as “Additionally,” “Apart from this” and “On the contrary” help signal relationships. However, some transitions are mechanical or do not accurately describe the argument: “The later part” is an awkward signpost, and the paragraph about low-income families does not clearly connect its evidence to the case for shorter holidays. The conclusion largely repeats the preceding paragraph rather than drawing the two sides together. Use clearer topic sentences and make the progression from disadvantage to the specific benefits of shorter holidays explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

There is an adequate range of vocabulary, including topic-related expressions such as “physical and mental well-being,” “summer camps,” “build confidence” and “low income families.” The writer also attempts less common or formal language, but some choices are inaccurate or unnatural, which limits precision: “bagged by multiple reasons,” “a vast audience” for people at a camp, and “a daunting task” where the intended meaning is that activities are unaffordable. There are also spelling errors in “arguements” and “well settled.” Aim for natural collocations and precise wording rather than adding formality for its own sake. For example, “is caused by several factors” and “meet a wide range of people” would express the intended ideas more clearly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex forms, including purpose and result clauses such as “to protect small children from harsh weather” and “Hence, long breaks play…”. Meaning is generally understandable, but some errors in agreement, articles and sentence construction remain. For example, “Most Asian and European countries faces” should use a plural verb, while “a long school holiday allow” also needs agreement. In “if we focus on the students who live in poor families and their parents barely can support…,” the conditional clause is incomplete and the connection between clauses is unclear. The conclusion has a similar agreement error in “long school holidays plays.” Check subjects and verbs, and revise incomplete or overloaded sentences while retaining the range of structures you attempt.

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