Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-19

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 many countries, school children are allocated two or more months of summer holidays. Although longer vacations can have significant effects on student academic performances, the annual holidays allow children to unwind from academic stress and provides sufficient time for learning non- academic skills.

On the one hand, shorter school holidays prevent children from deviation such as basic disciplines and studies. students are allowed to rest or go on vacation within the limits and are supposed to complete their holiday homework. For instance, shorter vacations can allow children to enjoy as well prepare for upcoming academics thereby retaining the knowledge and mentality.

Additionally, the syllabus can be completed on time leaving sufficient time for revision. If the syllabus completion is done on time, it allows students to progress on their academic's performance through guided learning.

On the other hand, longer summer holidays can prevent children health issues related to extreme high temperature. when temperature is high during initial days of summer season, taking measures such as hydration prevents unnecessary health issues. however, even if after these practices there is still sufficient time left for children to go on family trips. Another benefit is that children can be registered to summer classes like computer classes or any extracurricular activities to advance their knowledge in various fields. For instance, specially structured summer classes are designed for secondary schools in order to master their performance in upcoming academics.

In conclusion, Both the vacations can have significant effects on school children, if structured planning of vacation is taken care either by parents or school systems.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

The response addresses both questions: it gives reasons for long holidays, including rest, protection from extreme heat, family trips and summer classes, and argues that shorter breaks can help students maintain routines, complete homework and revise. These points are relevant, but several are only briefly stated or not clearly connected to the value of the holiday length. For example, the claim that shorter breaks prevent “deviation” is difficult to understand, while the discussion of heat focuses on precautions rather than explaining why a long break is valuable. The conclusion says both options can have benefits but does not establish a clear, reasoned view of how they compare. Develop each main argument with a clearer explanation or example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The essay has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two positions and a conclusion. The signposts “On the one hand,” “Additionally,” and “On the other hand” help readers identify the main sections. However, progression within paragraphs is uneven: the shorter-holiday paragraph moves from discipline to homework, enjoyment and syllabus completion without clearly showing how each point connects. Some links are also awkward or unclear, such as “thereby retaining the knowledge and mentality” and “however, even if after these practices.” The conclusion repeats the general idea that both options have effects rather than drawing the discussion together. Use clearer links between claim, explanation and example, and make references explicit.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response uses some topic-related vocabulary, including “academic stress,” “syllabus,” “revision,” “extracurricular activities” and “hydration,” which helps communicate the subject. There are also attempts at less common phrasing, but several choices are inaccurate or unnatural and sometimes make the meaning hard to follow. “Deviation” does not clearly express the intended problem, “academic performances” is an awkward collocation, and “master their performance” is not a natural way to describe preparation. Word forms and spacing also need attention, as in “non- academic.” Aim for precise, natural collocations and check whether each chosen word conveys the intended idea. Replacing vague phrases with specific language would make the arguments clearer.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The essay attempts both simple and more complex sentences, including a concession in the opening (“Although longer vacations…”) and conditional structures such as “If the syllabus completion is done on time.” Meaning is generally recoverable, but errors in agreement, sentence construction and punctuation are noticeable. In the introduction, “the annual holidays … provides” should use a plural verb; “students” and “when” begin sentences but are not capitalised; and “Both” is incorrectly capitalised in the conclusion. The sentence beginning “For instance, shorter vacations can allow children to enjoy as well prepare” is not grammatically complete in its coordination. Some longer constructions, especially the sentence about high temperatures and precautions, are difficult to follow. Build complex sentences carefully and proofread for agreement, capitals and sentence boundaries.

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