Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-23

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)

Summer holidays is a phase of enjoyment for the kids as they go to vacations and enjoy themselves with family and friends and make most out of the days of from schools.

In many countries, school remain closed for two months or longer during summer. While long holidays provide many benefits for students many people believe that shorter holidays would be more beneficial.

This essay will discuss both the arguments weather longer holidays are more beneficial or shorter.

Long school holidays tend to have many benefits. Students have alot of time to relax and rewind with families they have a longer time period in order they can plan a longer vacation. In there academic period students have a lot of stress and work burden and due to that they have longer period to rest and return fresh to schools. More over they can learn new skills and activities for example they may join a football club in order they could learn how to play and be better in sports.

On the other hand shorter school holidays can help maintain students academic progress for example the things have studied previously they may forget them so in order they can practice it. They can also work up on their next syllabus they can practice new things due to which will be having an edge up on their class mates. Further more it can help students build a good routine for the day which can be beneficial for the working parents fro example they don't have to for child care services in order to take care of their child while they are at work.

In conclusion longer school holidays allows student to spend quality time with family and friends where as shorter holidays allows students to maintain their academic progress. In my opinion there should be balanced routine for both enjoyment and studying.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses both questions: it explains the value of longer breaks through rest, family holidays and learning activities, and gives reasons for shorter breaks, including retaining academic knowledge and helping working parents. The conclusion also presents a balanced view. These points are relevant, but some are only briefly explained. For instance, the claim that students can “practice new things” and gain an “edge” is not developed with a clear example, while the childcare point could explain more directly how shorter holidays reduce pressure on parents. To strengthen the response, extend each main reason with a specific example or consequence, and make the final position more precise than simply recommending a “balanced routine.”

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay has a clear overall structure, with an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two sides, and a conclusion. Transitions such as “On the other hand” and “In conclusion” help readers follow the discussion. However, some linking is mechanical or unclear: “for example” is used to introduce points that are not always clearly connected to the preceding claim, and repeated phrases such as “in order” interrupt the flow. The opening sentence also repeats the general idea of summer holidays before the essay’s focus is established. Improve progression by making each paragraph’s main point explicit, then linking its explanation and example directly to that point. Clearer referencing would also help readers identify what “they” refers to in places.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The response uses enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate its main ideas, including “academic progress,” “stress,” “work burden,” “skills,” and “routine.” There are also attempts at less common expressions, such as “maintain students academic progress,” though phrasing is not always natural or precise. Several spelling and word-choice errors are noticeable, including “alot,” “weather” for “whether,” “rewind” where “unwind” is intended, and “days of from schools.” Some collocations are awkward, such as “work up on their next syllabus” and “edge up on their class mates.” Aim for accurate, natural combinations and check spelling; this will make the argument easier to read and give the vocabulary more flexibility.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

There is an attempt to use both simple and complex sentences, including clauses introduced by “while,” “for example,” and “which.” The overall meaning is generally recoverable, but errors in agreement, articles, sentence construction and punctuation occur across the response. Examples include “Summer holidays is” and “school remain closed,” where subject–verb agreement is incorrect, and “longer school holidays allows,” where the plural subject needs a plural verb. Some sentences are incomplete or difficult to follow, particularly “they may forget them so in order they can practice it” and the sentence beginning “Further more it can help students build…”. Practise checking each sentence for a clear subject and verb, and divide long or tangled sentences into shorter, complete units.

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