Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-11-04

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)

Nowadays, the climate changes are getting worse due to depletion of ozone layer and other significant causes. Therfore, many countries give summer vacation to the students at primary and secondary levels for about two months or more.

This might have negative as well as positive impacts on students. Although, students get vacation work and other tasks also but, the routine of both parents amd students gets disturbed. Students get involved in extra curricular activities alot.

They play outside in hot weather which affects their health. Throughout the day they start irritating their parents which is quite a detrimental impact of these vacation.Students think they have a lot of time for studies so they prefer playing and gaming over daily tasks.

For instance, holidays for long time period will make students lazy and careless. They do not bother about studies or exams at all which might affect their grades.

However, students who are keen in studying and are passionate will take this oppurtunity in a positive way. They will help their parents in doing household chores as well in addition to worling on their studies.

In my opinion, students should have holidays but for shorter time period. Less holidays will make them feel that they have to go to school again. Parents will also be happy and relaxed that fewer holidays will not affect their studies.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You address the topic and give a clear preference for shorter holidays in the final paragraph. However, the response only partially answers the two questions: it lists possible drawbacks of long breaks, such as reduced study and disrupted routines, but does not explain the value of long holidays in a balanced way. The claim that keen students may help at home or study is relevant, yet it is not developed with an example or explanation. The arguments for shorter holidays are also brief and largely assert that students will return to school and parents will feel relaxed. The response is 25 words below the required minimum, which limits the space available to explain and support these ideas. Develop both sides with specific reasons and examples.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The response has a basic overall shape: an introduction, discussion of possible effects, a contrasting point, and a concluding opinion. Linking expressions such as “For instance,” “However,” and “In my opinion” help signal the direction of the argument. However, progression between ideas is not always clear. The opening focus on climate change and ozone depletion is not connected to the later discussion of holiday length, and several points about students’ behaviour are presented as a list rather than grouped and explained. Some links are awkward or unclear, including “Although” at the start of a sentence and the transition from students’ activities to their health. Use paragraphs to separate the value of long holidays from the case for shorter ones, and make each paragraph develop one central point.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a reasonable range of topic-related vocabulary, including “extra curricular activities,” “detrimental impact,” “passionate,” and “opportunity.” These choices show attempts to express more than basic ideas, and the main meaning is generally understandable. However, some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, such as “the climate changes,” “vacation work,” “irritating their parents,” and “holidays for long time period.” Spelling errors, including “Therfore,” “amd,” “oppurtunity,” and “worling,” also reduce accuracy. Aim for precise, natural phrases and check spelling carefully. For example, explain that a long break can provide time for rest, family activities, or enrichment, rather than relying on broad claims about students becoming lazy.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and more complex sentence forms, including a contrast clause beginning “Although” and a conditional sentence with “will make.” Most ideas can be understood, but errors in sentence construction and punctuation recur. “Although, students get vacation work and other tasks also but…” combines contrasting structures incorrectly; use either “Although students get…” or “Students get…, but…”. There are also problems with articles and number, as in “for long time period,” and punctuation is inconsistent, particularly the missing space after the full stop in “vacation.Students.” Some sentences are fragments or awkwardly joined, which makes relationships between ideas less clear. Practise building complete sentences and proofreading clause boundaries, articles, and punctuation.

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.