Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-31

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)

Summer vacation is one of the most hyped and famous vacations in many countries throghout a year. Normally in summer, primary and secondary educations are closed upto two months. It has both positive and negative impacts, and I will discuss further following the next paragraphs with a suitable conclusion.

First of all, throughout the year, students get stuck with their syllabus and feel exhausted frequently preparing for their classes, assignments, and examinations. In that case, a long summer vacation may be got them chance to get rid from their stressed routine and have some relaxation. In addition, some students can utilize these times by improving their practical skills. For example, a person who wants to learn music can get plenty of time learning music during this vacation. As a result, summer vacation may help students focusing on practical skills along with academic knowledge.

However, sometimes, a longer vacation may affect learners' productivity. Especially, primary level students doing nothing just spend their time with leisure activities. Furthermore, it keeps students away from academics over a long period. Students may addict to social media, digital devices, or smartphones, which can decrease their physical activities. For instance, students can spend time playing video games, and they don't want to go outside for walking or playing. Hence, long exposure of vacation may affect students' physical and mental well-being.

In conclusion, longer summer vacations have both demerits and merits. We utilize this holiday improving our skills, doing our hobbies, then it should be meaningful to us. So, children and parents both have to be careful about how they are spending time during vacations.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both questions by explaining the benefits of rest and practical-skill development, then presenting concerns about reduced academic engagement and screen use. These points are relevant, and the music example helps illustrate one benefit. However, the task asks specifically for arguments in favour of shorter holidays, while your second body paragraph mainly describes disadvantages of long holidays. Make the comparison explicit—for example, explain how shorter breaks could maintain learning routines or reduce the need to relearn material. Some ideas, such as the effect on well-being, are asserted rather than fully explained, and the conclusion does not clearly state which holiday length you consider preferable. More development and a clearer response to the second question would strengthen the answer.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, separate paragraphs for benefits and drawbacks, and a conclusion. The progression is easy to follow, and signposts such as “First of all,” “However,” and “In conclusion” help readers recognise the stages of the argument. This coherent structure is a strength. To make the organisation more flexible and precise, connect the second body paragraph directly to the case for shorter holidays rather than presenting it only as a list of problems with long breaks. Some linking phrases, including “In that case” and “As a result,” feel mechanical or do not show the relationship precisely. Clearer references and more varied transitions would improve cohesion while preserving the effective paragraph structure.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for the topic, including “practical skills,” “academic knowledge,” “productivity,” and “physical and mental well-being.” These choices communicate the main ideas, and the examples are generally understandable. There are also several inaccurate or unnatural expressions that limit precision, such as “hyped and famous vacations,” “get rid from their stressed routine,” and “long exposure of vacation.” Spelling and word-form choices such as “throghout” and “addict to” also need attention. Aim for natural collocations and check whether a word fits its grammatical form: for instance, students may “become addicted to” devices, while a break can provide “relief from a stressful routine.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex sentences, using clauses introduced by “who,” “which,” and “while,” as well as cause-and-effect structures. Most of the message remains understandable, but some grammatical errors affect clarity and control. For example, “a long summer vacation may be got them chance” has an incorrect verb construction and missing article; “students may addict to social media” needs a passive or reflexive form; and “We utilize this holiday improving our skills” needs a different verb pattern. There are also issues with agreement and sentence construction, as in “primary level students doing nothing just spend.” Practise accurate verb patterns, articles, and complete clause structures, then proofread each sentence for a clear subject and verb.

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