Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-24

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 the summer holidays durninnd the summar holidays. Some people believe that long school holidays are beneficial for students, but others argue that shorter school holidays would be better for the students. This essay is discuss about the value of llong school holidays and the arguments in favour of shorter school holidays.

On the one hand, Some people believe that long school holidays are advantages for the students because the students need long break after the studies and exams. However, the studying continously can make them tired and stressed. But a long school holiday allows them relax and spend quality time with their families. It provide them travel opportunities and enjoy the holidays with friends. For instance, a student who visit the mountains area with his family, that he can learn about the nature.

On the other hand, some people arguments about the shorter school holidays. They thought that it is better for the students. The main reason is that students may forget what they have learned during the long break, as a result teachers have to spend extra time to reviewing the pervious lessons. Futhermore,short school holidays could not impact on the students's studies. It can help to students develop regular study habits and focuse on their studies. Many parents cannot find it difficult look after their children durning holidays.

In the conclusion, long school holidays provide the opportunities rest, enjoy family time and develop new skills. However, shorter school holidays can help the students to retain knowledge and maintain a consistent learn routine. Therefore, school should find a balance between the studies and holidays.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address both parts of the question and present a clear overall view: long breaks allow rest and family time, while shorter breaks may help students retain knowledge and maintain study habits. The example of visiting a mountain area gives some support to the benefits of holidays, and the point about parents’ childcare difficulties adds a relevant argument for shorter breaks. However, several ideas are only briefly stated. For example, explain more specifically how a long break helps students recover, or how shorter breaks reduce the need to review previous lessons. The conclusion recommends balance, but the essay could develop the basis for that recommendation more fully. The response meets the stated length requirement; 25 words copied from the task prompt were not counted.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a coherent overall arrangement: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two positions, and a conclusion. The signposts “On the one hand,” “On the other hand,” and “In the conclusion” make the progression easy to follow. Some connections are less smooth or precise, however. In the first body paragraph, “However” and “But” occur close together, creating a slightly mechanical contrast, while “For instance” introduces an example whose link to the value of a long holiday could be explained more clearly. The second paragraph also moves quickly from retaining knowledge to study habits and parental childcare. Use clearer links to show how each point supports the argument, and make references such as “it” and “they” unambiguous.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “stressed,” “quality time,” “retain knowledge,” and “study habits.” There are also attempts at more specific expressions, such as “travel opportunities” and “consistent learn routine.” However, the range is limited and several word-choice, collocation, word-form, and spelling errors make the writing less natural. Examples include “long school holidays are advantages,” “students’s studies,” and “focuse.” Some phrases, such as “mountains area,” are also imprecise. Build a wider set of accurate expressions for education and holidays, and check spelling and word forms carefully. More natural collocations would make your arguments clearer and more fluent.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including clauses with “because,” “as a result,” and “who,” and the overall meaning is generally understandable. Some grammatical errors remain, particularly in verb forms, agreement, articles, and sentence construction. For example, “This essay is discuss” needs a correctly formed verb phrase, and “It provide them travel opportunities” has an agreement and structure problem. The sentence beginning “For instance, a student who visit…” is incomplete and does not clearly connect its relative clause to the main idea. There are also awkward constructions such as “Many parents cannot find it difficult look after their children.” Practise building accurate complex sentences and check subject–verb agreement, verb patterns, and sentence completeness.

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