Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-01

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)

Holiday is something that every student needs so they can relax and get recharged for the upcoming days of study. In several countries, primary and secondary schools close for two months or more in the summer holidays. Some people believe that long school holidays have a greater value, while others argue that shorter school holidays are better.

Firstly, longer holidays for students is really necessary, as they will not only start their syllabus without a long break, but before the holidays they also have to study for a couple of months. Students often needs to relax their minds by having a longer break and this relaxation for a long period of time will eventually make them more energised for their studies. For instance, it is present in the human nature that anyone before starting a long journey needs a good period of rest, so their body works even better than before. Students, before starting their long journey of studies needs that kind of break so their body can work properly.

Secondly, shorter school holidays are also equally as important. Students do not lose the flow of study and work in shorter holidays. They still have the habit in themselves of studying because the break duration was short and it did not break that flow that the students had before going on the holiday. This is really important for any student or else it will take time for them to get back to the way they used to study before. For example, any person would tend to remember a thing if they have studied about it recently. Similarly, during shorter holidays students experience the same thing just in the context of studies.

In conclusion, Although the value of long school holidays is really essential for students to feel relaxed and come back to studies more energised. Having shorter holidays also holds a great significance, as students still have the flow of study they had before holidays.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both questions and maintain a clear overall view: long breaks allow students to rest, while shorter breaks help them retain study habits. The examples about recovering before a “long journey” and remembering recently studied material are relevant, but they remain general and do not explain in much detail how these benefits affect learning or wellbeing. The response also gives similar weight to both sides without clarifying which value you consider more important, although the task does not require a firm preference. To strengthen the response, develop each reason with a more specific consequence or realistic example—for instance, how a long break supports family time or how shorter breaks reduce the need to relearn material.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a clear overall arrangement: an introduction, one paragraph for each question, and a conclusion. “Firstly,” “Secondly,” and “In conclusion” make the progression easy to follow, and the central point in each body paragraph is identifiable. However, the linking is somewhat mechanical, and ideas within paragraphs sometimes repeat rather than progress. In the first body paragraph, the need to relax and become “more energised” is restated through the journey comparison; the second similarly repeats the idea of retaining the “flow” of study. Some references, such as “that kind of break,” are understandable but could be more precise. Use fewer formulaic transitions and connect each explanation directly to a distinct supporting detail.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use enough vocabulary to discuss the topic, including relevant terms such as “syllabus,” “duration,” and “energised.” The meaning is generally clear, but the range is limited by repeated wording, especially “students,” “study,” “break,” and “flow.” Some expressions are also unnatural or imprecise: “Holiday is something that every student needs,” “start their syllabus,” and “the habit in themselves of studying” do not sound idiomatic in this context. Aim for more precise collocations and vary repeated terms—for example, refer to “academic routine” or “retain learning” rather than repeatedly describing a study “flow.” More natural phrasing and a broader range of topic vocabulary would make the argument clearer and more fluent.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including clauses with “as,” “because,” and “so,” and the main ideas remain understandable. However, there are some recurring errors in agreement and sentence construction. For example, “longer holidays … is” should use a plural verb, and “Students often needs” should be “Students often need.” In “Students, before starting their long journey of studies needs,” the subject–verb agreement is again incorrect, and the sentence structure is awkward. The conclusion also begins “Although” but does not complete a dependent clause with a main clause. Review agreement with plural subjects and check that each sentence has a complete, logically connected structure. Greater accuracy in these areas would improve control of your varied sentence forms.

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