Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-30

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 many countries, school's summer vacations are held for a longer duration. This essay will explain improvment of productive skills during this period as a value and fall of continuity on study as a disadvantage, which is counted as a benefit for the shorter holidays.

On the one hand, longer break from schools in the summer vacation opens the opportunity to develop some productive skills such as language skill, coding skill, volontiery works, computer skills.These skills are beneficial for fututre career, as these increase the value of a student, which keep them ahead of other students. For example, if a student do volontier activites during the break, it increases his communication and leadership skills, which can be used in the workplaces, he will join in future and this will create an extra value for him as an employee. Moreover these skills will differentiate him from others.

On the other hand, continuity of study is disrupted by a long holiday, as students take a long break from their studies, which cause lack of concentration, after coming back from the holidays. For example, in the summer vacation, I went for a long tour with my friends. After returning, I had an exam and i struggled a lot to put concentration in study, because I was thinking of other things while studying. This was due to irregularity of studies during the period of travelling, as I was not regular in studying. As a result, my result was poor. If the holidays were shorter, i might focus more on studying and achieved a good result.

In conclusion, although longer summer holidays have both advantages and disadvantages, I believe that, the holiday period should be used properply by developing skills, which is beneficial for career. However, short holidays doesn't effect regular studies, which are beneficial for students to engage in studies easily, after the break.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

You address both questions and maintain a relevant position: long holidays can support skill development, while shorter breaks may help students resume studying more easily. The examples about volunteering and your own experience after travelling make the discussion relevant. However, the value of long holidays is developed more fully than the case for shorter ones. The second argument focuses mainly on your difficulty concentrating after a trip; explain more generally how shorter breaks could preserve learning, routines, or retention for a wider range of students. The conclusion recognises both sides, but “the holiday period should be used properly” does not fully clarify how you weigh the two options. Develop the shorter-holiday argument and state your overall judgement more directly.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, one paragraph for each side, and a conclusion. “On the one hand” and “On the other hand” make the main contrast easy to follow, and examples generally appear beside the points they support. This meets the lower-band expectation of coherent organisation and shows some stronger control through paragraphing and progression. At times, however, links are mechanical or the relationship between ideas is unclear. The opening sentence’s “as a value and fall of continuity on study as a disadvantage” is difficult to follow, and the conclusion’s “However” does not clearly connect the two claims. Use more precise transitions and make each paragraph’s central claim explicit before adding examples.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of topic vocabulary, including “productive skills,” “leadership skills,” “continuity of study,” and “concentration.” These choices help communicate the main ideas, and some less common terms are attempted. However, noticeable spelling, word-form, and collocation errors limit precision: “improvment,” “volontiery,” “fututre,” and “properply” are misspelled, while “fall of continuity on study” and “create an extra value” are unnatural combinations. Repetition of “skills” and “beneficial” also narrows the range. Proofread spelling and learn common word partnerships; for example, say that a break “disrupts learning continuity” and that experience “adds value to a student’s profile.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, including clauses with “as,” “which,” and “if.” Most of the meaning remains understandable, but some errors in agreement, verb forms, articles, and sentence construction reduce accuracy. For instance, “if a student do” should use a singular verb, and “which cause lack of concentration” needs agreement and an article. The final sentence, “short holidays doesn't effect regular studies,” also has errors in subject–verb agreement and verb form. Some sentences are long and combine several ideas, making control less secure. Practise checking each clause for a clear subject and correctly formed verb, and use punctuation to separate linked ideas.

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