Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-18

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 school closes for summer holidays worldwide for two months. It is often argued that these summer breaks are essential for students as they develop new skills along with some extra-curricular activities. Additionally, the months of summer break have harsh weather which effects the health of young pupil. While other believe that these break should be shorter, as children learn discipline from schools.

People who argue that summer breaks are essential believe that these summer break allows student to work on their selves. Apart from the academic pressure, they can develop new skills which develops their personalities. For example, primary students can go on travel with families or read books. This will expand their view point along with vast vocabulary. On the other hand, Secondary school student work on their skill either soft or hard which help them improve their CV for higher admissions. Some individuals also believe that the temperature during summer break is so harsh that it can effect the health of minors.

Some individual says that shorter summer breaks are more beneficial than longer ones, as going to school disciplines children along them gaining knowledge everyday. For example, Students wake up late during holidays, waste a lot of time on gaming and on social media. School timing allows them to wake up early, doing homework on time, eating on time, and going to bed on time.

In conclusion, longer summer breaks allows children to be saved from harsh weather and developing new skills while other believe on shorter breaks allowing students to be in discipline.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both questions and present relevant reasons for each side: long breaks can provide time for personal development and relief from summer heat, while shorter breaks may support routine and learning. However, the discussion is unevenly developed. The benefits of long holidays receive examples, such as reading, family travel and building skills for future admissions, whereas the case for shorter holidays is mainly about waking and sleeping routines. The opening and conclusion also state the ideas rather than clarifying how you weigh the two positions. To strengthen the response, explain the effects of each benefit more fully and make your overall view explicit, while keeping examples closely connected to the argument.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, a paragraph on long holidays, a paragraph on shorter holidays and a conclusion. This makes the main line of discussion easy to follow. You also use signposting such as “For example,” “On the other hand” and “In conclusion.” Some connections are less clear or mechanical, however. In the opening, “While other believe” does not clearly connect the two positions, and the final sentence compresses both arguments into one statement. References such as “these summer break” and “Some individual” also make it harder to track who or what is being discussed. Use more precise referencing and link each example explicitly to the point it supports.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of topic vocabulary, including “academic pressure,” “extra-curricular activities,” “soft or hard” skills and “higher admissions.” These choices help communicate the main ideas, but several word-choice, collocation and spelling errors reduce precision. For example, “work on their selves” is not a natural expression, “expand their view point” is awkward, and “effect” is used where the verb “affect” is needed. “CV for higher admissions” is also an unclear collocation. Aim for accurate, natural combinations rather than adding ambitious terms, and check spelling and word forms carefully. More precise vocabulary for routines, personal development and the effects of holidays would make the argument clearer.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentence forms, including a contrast clause beginning “While” and a reason clause with “as.” The overall meaning is generally recoverable, but errors in agreement, articles, plurals and verb forms occur across the response. Examples include “school closes” after the plural subject “schools,” “these summer break allows,” and “longer summer breaks allows.” The sentence “School timing allows them to wake up early, doing homework…” also shifts from an infinitive to a participle in the list. Review subject–verb agreement and keep parallel forms in lists; for example, use “to wake up, do homework, eat and go to bed.” Greater control of these patterns would improve accuracy.

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