Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-02

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)

In most of the courntries, primary and secondary schools are closed for two or more months to be given as summer holidays. Undoubtedly, long school holidays serves as refressing drink for the school going kids, as many of them awaits for such time to fully enjoy their time by playing video games, sports and have fun with friends. These activities are very limited on the schooldays and some kids also goes tution centres after school, so they dont get much time to enjoy and play. In addition to this, school going kids are going through their changing life cycle so they need some time to play as much as to explore their preferences and make memories that can be remembered for lifetime. Fun times tends to build cognitive ability and greater focus in school going kids. In contrast to this. Long holidays does impact the learning ability of kids. for example, if one kid goes to school for period of six months, then rest upto for two months, it will have different experience altogether and will lose the learning energy as habits are changed during holidays. They also gets relax with thoughts brewing in mind that divert their mind from learning to just play games etc. In concluison, shorter school holidays will be very beneificial in terms of maintaining the balance between learning and playing time. A approach should be adopted that can be considered keeping in view of primary and secondary classes schedule.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both questions: you explain that long holidays give children time to play, explore interests and make memories, and you argue that shorter breaks could help maintain learning habits. However, the discussion is uneven and the benefits of shorter holidays are only briefly explained; the example about studying for six months and then resting for two is hypothetical and its effect is not clearly supported. Your position becomes clearest in the conclusion, rather than being stated and maintained throughout. The response is also 6 words below the required minimum. To strengthen the answer, develop both sides with specific explanations or examples, and state your view clearly in the introduction as well as the conclusion.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

There is a recognisable overall sequence: the response first discusses the benefits of long holidays, then contrasts these with possible learning disadvantages, and ends by favouring shorter holidays. Linking expressions such as “In addition to this,” “In contrast to this,” and “In conclusion” help signal these stages. However, the response is presented as one paragraph, so the two sides and the conclusion are not visually separated. Some links are mechanical or unclear: “In contrast to this” is followed by a full stop, and the relationship between changing routines and “lose the learning energy” needs clearer explanation. Use separate paragraphs for the introduction, each main argument, and the conclusion, and make references between ideas more precise.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use some relevant vocabulary for the topic, including “cognitive ability,” “learning ability,” “preferences,” and “maintaining the balance.” These choices show an attempt to discuss education and child development rather than relying only on basic terms. However, spelling and word-choice errors are noticeable and sometimes make the meaning less clear, as in “courntries,” “refressing,” “tution centres,” and “benefiicial.” Several phrases are also unnatural, such as “school going kids” and “lose the learning energy.” Aim for accurate spelling and more natural collocations, and avoid repeating “kids” and “play” by using alternatives such as “children,” “pupils,” “recreation,” and “leisure activities.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mixture of simple and longer sentences, including a conditional example beginning “if one kid goes to school…” and a sentence explaining why children need time to explore their preferences. However, complex sentences are often faulty, and errors in agreement and verb forms recur: “long school holidays serves,” “many of them awaits,” and “some kids also goes.” Other problems include “They also gets relax” and the incomplete construction “A approach should be adopted.” Punctuation also needs attention, particularly the full stop after “In contrast to this” and inconsistent sentence capitalisation. Practise subject–verb agreement, articles, and complete sentence structures, then proofread each sentence for punctuation and verb forms.

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