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)

In many countries, primary and secondary schools close for two months or more in summer vacations. some people find it right and beneficial; However, some parents thing that it has some significant drawbacks and these holidays should be shorter. In this essay we will discuss both perspective and compare their both advantages and disadvantages.

On the one hand, some people thing that long vacations are better and good for a student. In this way, a student can enjoy and spend quality time with his family and friends. Sometimes it is very crucial to take a break from the daily grind of schools and boring homework and a student will get it in the form of summer vacations. Moreover, a break from studies is subtantially good for the mental as well as physical health of a student. In this break, students also do some internships or a job that suits their taste which ultimately develops their personality and; therefore, they don't have to suffer in their future life.

On the other hand, some parents find it frustating and they are in favour of shorter holidays. Maybe their children tease them all the day and they got anger. Moreover, after a very long break children don't go to easily after the summer vacations and some students also engage in some unlawfull activities. Private schoools also charge heavy fees from students and that is way, parents are in favour of shorter holidays. So, the studies of the students will not get disturb.

In conclusion, both point of views are correct and valid. However, I personally believe that longer holidays are crucial for a good health and for mind relaxation.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both questions and give a clear personal view in the conclusion: long holidays support health and relaxation, while shorter breaks may help with children’s behaviour and continuity of study. The discussion of family time, rest, internships, and parents’ concerns is relevant. However, several points are asserted rather than explained. For example, the claim that students may engage in “unlawfull activities” is not supported with a reason or example, and the point about private-school fees is not clearly connected to shorter holidays. The value of long holidays is somewhat more developed than the case for shorter ones. To strengthen the response, explain the consequences of each point and include a specific, relevant example. The response meets the required length; 14 words copied from the task prompt were not counted.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two positions, and a conclusion. The signposts “On the one hand” and “On the other hand” make the contrast easy to follow, and “Moreover” helps add supporting points. This coherent arrangement supports the reader, though some connections between ideas are unclear or mechanical. For instance, the link between private-school fees and parents favouring shorter holidays is not explained, while “So, the studies of the students will not get disturb” does not clearly follow from the preceding point. The introduction also promises to compare advantages and disadvantages, but the conclusion mainly repeats the writer’s preference. Make each paragraph’s reasoning progress more explicitly, and use linking phrases only where the relationship between ideas is clear.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a range of relevant vocabulary, including “daily grind,” “quality time,” “mental as well as physical health,” and “personality,” which helps communicate the main ideas. There are also attempts at more specific language, such as “internships” and “drawbacks.” However, noticeable spelling and word-choice errors reduce precision, including “subtantially,” “frustating,” “unlawfull,” and “schoools.” Some phrases are awkward or imprecise, such as “they got anger” and “they don't have to suffer in their future life.” Aim for accurate spelling and natural collocations, and choose wording that expresses the intended point precisely. For example, describe parents’ frustration directly rather than saying children “tease them all the day.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and more complex sentences, including a sentence beginning “Sometimes it is very crucial…” and one using “which ultimately develops their personality.” The main ideas are generally understandable, but errors in sentence structure, agreement, verb forms, and punctuation occur often enough to affect clarity. Examples include “some people find it right” after a full stop, “they got anger,” and “the studies of the students will not get disturb.” The sentence about internships also has an awkwardly joined clause and punctuation before “therefore.” Practise forming complete sentences, maintaining consistent verb forms, and checking subject–verb agreement and passive constructions. More accurate control of these patterns would make your ideas easier to follow.

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