Band 4.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.0 · 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 4.0)

Nowadays, regular classes have been reduced because of the frequent sessional and terminal breaks. The vaccations help student to recharge themselves, spend quality time with their parents and focus on their personal development. However, long term vacations affect consistency and create haphazzard moments for the teachers and students to complete their syllabous, while short term holidays does not hamper consistency and create abrupt moments.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 3.0

The response identifies relevant points on both sides: holidays allow students to recharge, spend time with parents and develop personally, while shorter breaks may help maintain continuity and support syllabus completion. However, these points are only listed, with no explanation or examples to show their value or how shorter holidays benefit learning. The comparison is also unclear in places, particularly the claim that long holidays create “haphazzard moments.” The task asks for reasons and relevant examples, but neither is developed, and the response ends before presenting a complete discussion. The main improvement is to explain each argument with a specific consequence or example, and make the position on the two types of holiday clear.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 4.5

There is a basic contrast between the benefits of long holidays and the case for shorter ones, signalled by “However,” so the reader can identify the intended two sides. The ideas are placed in a broadly sensible order, but the response consists of one short paragraph and does not develop a clear progression from point to explanation or example. The final clause, “while short term holidays does not hamper consistency and create abrupt moments,” is difficult to follow and does not clearly connect its claims. To improve, organise the discussion into separate paragraphs for each question, use linking phrases to show cause and contrast, and ensure each sentence advances one clearly connected idea.

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

The response uses some relevant topic vocabulary, including “personal development,” “consistency,” and “syllabous,” and attempts to express ideas about school schedules. However, the range is narrow, and several choices or spellings make the meaning unclear: “vaccations,” “haphazzard moments,” and “abrupt moments” do not communicate the intended effects precisely. “Sessional and terminal breaks” is also an awkward way to refer to school holidays. Aim for accurate, natural collocations such as “school breaks,” “disrupt learning routines,” and “complete the syllabus.” More precise vocabulary would help distinguish the benefits of rest from the educational arguments for shorter breaks.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.5

The response attempts a compound sentence using “However” and “while,” and the main ideas are generally understandable. However, control is uneven, especially in the final clause: “short term holidays does not hamper” has a subject–verb agreement error, and the sentence combines claims in a way that makes their grammatical relationship unclear. The opening sentence, “regular classes have been reduced because of the frequent … breaks,” is also awkwardly constructed for the intended meaning. Use a wider range of clear sentence patterns, checking agreement and making sure each clause has a logical subject and verb. For example, separate the claim about continuity from the claim about syllabus completion.

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