Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-03

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 many countries, student get holidays for more than 2 months in primary and secondary schools on the occassion of summer vacation. In my opinion, in long school holidays student get refreshed,can travel,entertain and do many other activities which is important in daily basis. However, In shorter holidays learner know the importance of holiday and make routine and folllow that. they will know the importance of time.

Initially, holidays is most important part of student in schools. In longer vacation student get a time to travel different places, they can learn many things from it. there is a saying that student should travel in their student life to get more knowlledge about the life. In school days student usually feel stress,depressed and laziness due to regular schools. so after holidays they will get more refreshed than in school days because they willn't have to travel home to school, no more regular homework.

In shorter holidays, students get to know more about the importance of holidays, and they will make routine to maintain time, which is the most important thing a student can do. if the holidays are shorten, they know the importance of holiday and there will always be the spark on holidays.

In conclusion, In many countries, on the occassion of summer vacation primary and secondary schools are closed for more than 2 months. In my opinion, if holidays are extended than student get to travel, can overtake depression and celebrate more. Also, in shorter holidays student get know more about the importance of holidays and time, they will learn to maintain time , which is the most important thing a student can do.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5

You address both questions and give a consistent preference for the benefits of longer holidays, mentioning travel, rest and relief from school stress. The discussion of shorter holidays also identifies routine and time management as possible benefits. However, these ideas remain general and are not fully explained: for example, you say students “know the importance of holiday” but do not show how shorter breaks help them manage time or why this is an advantage. The value of long holidays is clearer, but claims such as students becoming “depressed” are not supported with an example or explanation. Develop each main point with a reason and a relevant illustration, and make the comparison between the two holiday lengths more explicit.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a recognisable structure, with an introduction, separate paragraphs on long and short holidays, and a conclusion. This helps the reader identify the two sides of the question. However, progression within paragraphs is limited, and several ideas are repeated rather than extended. The conclusion largely restates the introduction, including the points about travel and the importance of time. Linking is also sometimes mechanical: “Initially” does not clearly signal the relationship between the introduction and the first body paragraph, while repeated uses of “so” and “because” make connections feel basic. Organise each body paragraph around one clear claim, then explain and illustrate it; use referencing and transitions to show how ideas relate without repeating them.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.0

You use enough topic-related vocabulary to communicate the main ideas, including “summer vacation,” “refreshed,” “routine,” and “depression.” However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or unclear, which makes parts of the response less natural. For instance, “celebrate more” does not clearly express the benefit intended, and “there will always be the spark on holidays” is difficult to interpret. “Overtake depression” is also an unsuitable phrase for describing relief from stress. Spelling errors such as “occassion” and “knowledlge” further reduce accuracy. Build a more precise vocabulary for rest, wellbeing and time management, and check spelling and collocations when editing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

You attempt both simple and longer sentence forms, including explanations with “because” and clauses joined by “which.” Nevertheless, the range is limited, and errors occur frequently in basic sentence patterns, agreement, articles and punctuation. Examples include “student get holidays,” “holidays is,” and “if the holidays are shorten”; these make the reader work to understand the intended meaning. Capitalisation and sentence boundaries are also inconsistent, as in “In shorter holidays” following a full stop with a lowercase “if” later in the paragraph. Practise accurate subject–verb agreement and plural forms, and build complex sentences only after checking that each clause is complete and correctly connected. Careful proofreading would improve clarity.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.