Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-29

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 6.0)

In recent years, the question of whether summar holidays in school should remain for 2 to 2.5 months or authorities should reduce them has sparked significant debate. While, it can be argued that summer holidays should be of shorter duration because of current heavy course work in schools so students have more time to spend in schools. I firmly believe that longer holidays have concrete benefits regarding students mental health.

To begin with longer holidays, there is no doubt that longer hoildays have beneficial impacts on students mental health because they need free time to spend with their parents and siblings. Another benefit is that due to longer duration they can plan a trip abroad or within country to refresh their minds. For example, in 2015 when i was in 9th during summer vacations my parents planned to perform a ummrah with me. This trip gives me immense amount of spirituality, refreshes my mind after hectic study routine which i followed during ssc part 1. As a direct result, it improves my grades in sendups in 9th. Hence, it is evident that this approach yields significant benefits.

On the flip side, shorter summer holidays gives the student an opportunity to concentrate immensly on study which gives them boost in achieving their educational goals. For instance, a clear illustration of this can be seen in my personal example when my school announced that students who have weak grades in exams before holidays will need to spend one more month to improve in their weak areas. After spending a month I give exams again and I notice clear improvements in grades. Therefore, this reinforces the idea that shorter holidays profound impact on studies.

In conclusion, long summer holidays allows students to spend time with their families, friends and can enjoy trips, whereas in shorter holidays students gets the chance to gain knowledge, spend more time in school to improve their weak areas. Both approaches are beneficial for students depending upon their educational needs.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address both parts of the question and make your position clear: you recognise benefits in both holiday patterns while emphasising the value of longer breaks for mental health. The family time and travel example, including your Umrah trip, gives relevant support, and the account of extra study time illustrates the case for shorter holidays. However, the argument for shorter breaks is less fully developed: it focuses mainly on improving weak grades and does not explain other possible benefits, such as maintaining learning continuity. Some claims, including that the trip improved your grades, would be stronger with a clearer explanation of the link. Develop each main point with a specific reason and consequence to make the response more balanced and convincing.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall structure: an introduction, separate paragraphs for the two positions, and a conclusion that summarises the comparison. Sequencing phrases such as “To begin with,” “On the flip side,” and “In conclusion” help readers follow the discussion. However, some linking is mechanical, and the relationship between ideas is not always smooth. For example, “Hence, it is evident that this approach yields significant benefits” repeats the preceding point rather than advancing it, while “Therefore, this reinforces the idea” similarly adds little to the example. The opening sentence also moves awkwardly into a sentence fragment beginning “While.” Use fewer formulaic transitions and connect each example more explicitly to the claim it supports.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for the topic, including phrases such as “mental health,” “hectic study routine,” “educational goals,” and “refreshes their minds.” These choices communicate the main ideas, and you attempt some less common expressions. However, several spelling and word-choice errors reduce precision, including “summar,” “hoildays,” “immensly,” and “sendups.” Some combinations are also unnatural, such as “perform a ummrah” and “shorter holidays profound impact on studies.” Choose more natural collocations and check spelling carefully. Replacing broad phrases such as “significant benefits” with precise descriptions of the benefit would also make your vocabulary more effective and less repetitive.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, including clauses introduced by “because,” “when,” and “whereas,” and your meaning is generally understandable. Some grammatical errors remain, particularly in agreement, tense, articles, and sentence construction. For example, “shorter summer holidays gives” should use a plural verb, while “long summer holidays allows” has the same agreement problem. In the personal example, “After spending a month I give exams again and I notice” shifts into the present tense despite describing a past event. The opening “While, it can be argued…” is also an incomplete construction. Review subject–verb agreement and keep past-tense narratives consistent; punctuate introductory clauses and avoid sentence fragments.

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