Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

In recent times, summer holidays are common and plays a vital role in children's life in positive and negative manner. With this, it has been observed that primary and secondary schools in most countries are shut for more than two months. I admire that, extended breaks are more beneficial than the shorter breaks. With due consideration, both the views would be discussed before a reasoned conclusion is drawn.

One of the highlights, longer breaks are significant due to many reasons. Firstly, such opportune time period help children to develop new skills. Secondly, during such period students can explore new places which can help an individual to embrace novel things. For instance, cousin my brother and family often plan a trip on summer vacations to explore new places, which help them to broaden their horizon and accept their customs and traditions.

Therefore, prolonged breaks can offer ample period of time which can be o enhance

On the contrary, some have an inclination that shorter breaks are more appropriate. Such individuals believe that longer breaks can detach students from the school academics and can divert young individuals to recreational activities. For example, my sister often score best in academics which means she rarely shorter breaks help her to maintain her focus and detrmination. Thus, shorter holidays retain knowledge and help students to remain engaged in their studies.

In conclusion, although shorter holidays help students to remain active. I strongly agree that longer break provide numerous opportunities to students that can help to maintain skills and can develop new ideas and thoughts.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both questions and state a clear preference for longer holidays, especially in the introduction and conclusion. The points about developing skills, exploring new places, and maintaining academic focus during shorter breaks are relevant. However, the value of long holidays is only partly explained: the travel example is difficult to follow, and the sentence beginning “Therefore, prolonged breaks…” is unfinished, so an important supporting point is lost. The case for shorter holidays is also asserted more than developed; explain how regular study prevents learning loss or supports routine, rather than relying mainly on your sister’s example. To strengthen the response, develop each argument with a clear explanation and a specific, logically connected example.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two positions, and a conclusion, so the reader can identify its broad structure. Linking expressions such as “Firstly,” “On the contrary,” and “In conclusion” help signal stages in the discussion. However, progression within paragraphs is uneven, and some connections are unclear. The travel example (“cousin my brother and family”) is hard to interpret, while “Therefore, prolonged breaks…” ends without completing the idea. The example about your sister also does not clearly show how shorter holidays affect her performance. Use clearer topic sentences, make each example directly support its point, and ensure every sentence is complete. More precise referencing would also help readers follow who is being discussed.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for the topic, including “develop new skills,” “recreational activities,” “maintain their focus,” and “broaden their horizon.” There are also attempts at less common or formal expressions, such as “opportune time period” and “with due consideration.” However, some choices are unnatural or imprecise, which makes parts of the message difficult to understand: “one of the highlights” does not introduce the argument naturally, and “accept their customs and traditions” is unclear in this context. Spelling errors such as “detrmination” also reduce accuracy. Aim for natural collocations and check spelling; for example, describe holidays as an “opportunity to explore” and say that travel can “broaden students’ horizons.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and more complex sentence forms, including clauses with “which” and contrast structures such as “although.” However, control is inconsistent, and errors sometimes make the intended meaning difficult to follow. Examples include the agreement error in “summer holidays are common and plays,” the missing verb in “such opportune time period help,” and the incomplete construction “which means she rarely shorter breaks help her.” The sentence beginning “Therefore, prolonged breaks…” is also unfinished. Review subject–verb agreement, sentence boundaries, and clause construction, and proofread each sentence to ensure it has a complete main clause. Building accurate sentences first will make your more complex ideas clearer.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.