Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-27

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. Relaxation and enjoyment are also part of a student's life. They have been studying for eight to nine months without a break. A student's life needs to be balanced. They also need to spend time with family, friends, go on a vacation, etc.; these are parts of a student's life. Critical learning will start after secondary school education. Till then, the students need to enjoy their precious life. They need to learn about homework. They need to engage in social activities during vacation.

If the holidays are shorter, the students will get a shorter period of time to spend the holidays. So they can't explore anything around them. It will provide them with a lot of stress at this small age. This is not their age to feel work pressure. Even though it has these many disadvantages, there are a few advantages to shorter holidays. It will help students to cope with their further studies without leaving the touch.

A great example related to this discussion is that during my primary and secondary school holidays, I got the opportunity to meet some of the farmers on my uncle's farm and talk about agriculture. So I got a lot of time to discuss about the sources of income and livelihood for the farmers. I also learnt farming. But during my higher studies, I was unable to go to the farm, and I forgot the knowledge of farming.

Hence longer holidays are encourages to the students during their primary and secondary schools.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both questions and maintain a clear preference for longer holidays, supported by a personal example about learning farming on your uncle’s farm. This example helps explain how an extended break can offer learning beyond school. However, the value of long holidays is not fully developed: relaxation, family time and social activities are listed, but their benefits are not explained in much detail. The case for shorter holidays is also brief; you mention continuity in studies, but do not explain how shorter breaks might support learning or routines. The claim that critical learning starts only after secondary school is broad and weakens the argument. Develop both sides more evenly and clarify your position with relevant reasons.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable overall structure: it introduces the value of holidays, considers shorter breaks, gives a personal example and ends with a conclusion. The example is relevant and gives the discussion a concrete focus. However, progression between ideas is sometimes unclear. For instance, “They need to learn about homework” does not clearly connect to the surrounding points, and the shift from disadvantages to “a few advantages” of shorter holidays is abrupt. Linking phrases such as “Even though” and “Hence” are used, but the relationships between some sentences remain under-explained. Organise the response into clearer paragraphs for each main point, and use references and transitions that show how each example supports the argument.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “social activities,” “work pressure,” “sources of income” and “livelihood.” The farming example also gives you an opportunity to use specific language. However, the range is limited and several phrases are unnatural or imprecise, which sometimes makes the meaning less clear. For example, “without leaving the touch” does not express the intended idea of maintaining continuity, while “learn about homework” is unclear in context. “Discuss about” is also an inaccurate collocation. Aim for more precise expressions and check how verbs combine with prepositions. Replacing repeated general words such as “time” and “students” with suitable alternatives would also make the argument more flexible.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use mostly short, direct sentences, and some longer structures, such as “Even though it has these many disadvantages, there are a few advantages to shorter holidays,” help express contrast. However, the range of sentence forms is limited, and errors in agreement, verb forms and sentence construction are noticeable. For example, “longer holidays are encourages” has incorrect agreement and verb form; “I got the opportunity … and talk” does not maintain a consistent verb pattern; and “I was unable to go … and I forgot” does not clearly express the intended time relationship. There are also awkward constructions such as “A student's life needs to be balanced.” Practise combining related ideas accurately and check subject–verb agreement and tense consistency.

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