Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

During summer vacation, numerous educational institutes remain close for 2 or more months around the world. While these long holidays give students time for pursuing personal interests, go on holidays with friends or family and enhance their bonds with them, or generally rest. While shorter span of holidays advocates for educational benefits. I believe with balanced approach and generally shorter holidays would be more beneficial overall.

Firstly, longer holidays allow students to take relief from the hectic academic demands, as throughout the year students are expected to complete various tasks, assignment and homework which can be mentally and physically exhausting. A breaks allows them to relax and return to schools feeling refresh and motivated. Furthermore student can utilise this time by pursuing extra curricular activities that may not be possible during school hours. Moreover pupils may plan a trip to their favourite destination with friends and family. For example I always loved to go at my grandparent's house in village during my summer vacation. Many students learn a new skill and try new hobbies during summer break, so it benefits as a personal development as well.

Nevertheless, shorter holidays have their own respective advantages as well. With shorter breaks students can retain what they learned in schools more effectively which consequently reduces the pressure on professors as they don't have to spend a lot of time and energy in revising the already taught topics. Shorter breaks also benefit working parents by reducing childcare difficulties, as allow them to manage their professional responsibilities more easily. Hence a shorter summer break could promote academic continuity while providing practical advantages for families.

All things considered, I believe moderately shorter summer holidays would provide the most balanced and beneficial approach for students, parents and teachers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response addresses both questions and maintains a clear position: it recognises the personal and restorative value of long holidays, then argues that moderately shorter breaks offer a better balance. Relevant support includes the example of visiting your grandparents and the points about retaining learning and easing childcare pressures. This fits the descriptor because the main ideas are extended and supported. However, some points remain general: for instance, the benefits of extracurricular activities and academic continuity are asserted without explaining how they work in practice. Develop one or two examples further, such as explaining how a shorter break might reduce the need to reteach material, while preserving the clear comparison and conclusion already present.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The essay has a clear overall progression: the introduction frames the debate, the second paragraph explains the value of longer holidays, the third presents arguments for shorter breaks, and the conclusion restates your position. Paragraphing is appropriate, and signposts such as “Firstly,” “Furthermore,” “Nevertheless,” and “All things considered” help readers follow the argument. This is a logical and coherent structure. Some linking is less controlled, however: the introduction repeats “While” in consecutive sentences, and “Hence” introduces a conclusion that largely restates the preceding point rather than developing the connection. Use transitions more selectively and make links between cause and effect explicit, so cohesion feels more flexible and less formulaic.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of topic vocabulary, including “hectic academic demands,” “extra curricular activities,” “academic continuity,” and “childcare difficulties.” These choices communicate the main ideas, and the personal example adds specificity. There are also some inaccurate or unnatural choices that limit precision: “remain close” is used where “remain closed” is needed, “take relief” is not idiomatic, and “go at my grandparent's house” is an awkward phrase. “A breaks” also shows an inaccurate word form. Aim to learn vocabulary in natural collocations and check word forms and spelling. More precise phrasing would make the argument sound more fluent without requiring unnecessarily complex vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

The response attempts a mix of simple and complex structures, including a concession with “While” and a cause-and-effect clause beginning “as throughout the year.” Meaning is generally understandable, but some grammatical errors recur and occasionally make sentences awkward. For example, “While these long holidays give students time … or generally rest” does not form a complete, parallel sentence, and “as allow them to manage” is missing a subject. There are also errors in agreement and articles, as in “A breaks allows them,” and “students are expected to complete various tasks, assignment and homework.” Review sentence completeness, subject–verb agreement, and singular/plural forms. Building accurate complex sentences before adding further complexity would improve control.

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