Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-21

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 6.0)

It is observed that in various countries, primary and secondary schools are not opened for two or sometimes even more during the summer vacations. While prolonged holidays may provide the students for a relaxed and stress free vacation, shorter school holidays contribute to finishing the course more faster which provides the students with an ample amount of time for revision.

I believe long school weekends provide students with a enjoyable time during their vacation. The students can use the free time in order to meet up with their relatives or go on a trip with their family. This contibutes towards the mental walfare of the students which later may help them to focus on their classes properly. The time they spend with their families or friends during the weekends also accounts for their social character development. However, In my opinion, the students should also be provided with vacation works regarding their couses. This aids the students to catch up their studies accordingly.

On the other hand, shorter school holidays also play a vital role in a youngsters study life. The particular reason being is the quicker completion of the course which later provides the students with an ample amount of time for revision regarding thier studies. Revision helps the students to learn and understand their courses more effectively. This is benefical for the individuals career. For instance, a student who revised all his courses would have a better understanding than the ones who just focused on class.

In conclusion, prolonged school holidays and shortened school holidays both have their own merits. However, I believe educational sectors should find a way to balance the amount of vacation and the student's studies.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses both questions: it explains that longer breaks allow family time, trips, relaxation and social development, and argues that shorter holidays can support course completion and revision. Your position is also clear in the conclusion, where you favour balancing holidays with study. These points are relevant, but they are not developed equally. The value of long holidays is supported with several benefits, whereas the case for shorter breaks relies mainly on finishing the course and revising; the example about a student who revises is general and does not explain how shorter holidays make this possible. To strengthen the response, explain the mechanisms and consequences of each benefit, and give a more specific example for the shorter-holiday argument.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay has a clear overall structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two sides, and a conclusion that returns to the issue. The contrast signalled by “On the other hand” helps readers follow the shift to shorter holidays, and the ideas within each main paragraph are generally related. However, some connections are mechanical or unclear. In the introduction, the relationship between shorter holidays, course completion and revision is compressed into one long claim. “However” in the second paragraph also introduces vacation work without clearly showing how this qualifies the benefits just discussed. Use clearer links between cause and result, and make each paragraph’s central point explicit before adding supporting details.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of vocabulary, including “mental welfare,” “social character development,” “completion of the course” and “revision,” which allows you to discuss both wellbeing and academic progress. There are also attempts at more formal phrasing. However, several word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “long school weekends” for extended holidays, “provide the students for a relaxed” and “vacation works.” Spelling errors such as “contibutes,” “walfare,” “thier” and “benefical” also reduce accuracy. These issues do not prevent the reader from understanding the main ideas, but they limit precision. Focus on natural collocations and check spelling, especially in key topic vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response includes both simple sentences and attempts at more complex structures, including “While prolonged holidays may provide…” and “The time they spend with their families or friends…”. Most ideas remain understandable, but some grammatical errors occur in sentence construction and article use. For example, “schools are not opened for two or sometimes even more” is incomplete because the time period is not stated, and “a enjoyable time” uses the wrong article. The phrase “The particular reason being is…” is also structurally awkward, while “which provides” does not agree with the plural idea of shorter holidays. Review articles, agreement and sentence patterns, and aim to express complex ideas in shorter, more controlled clauses.

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