Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

In the summer holidays, primary and secondary schools close for more than two months. This is the practice in many countries.

Overall, it is believed that summer holidays are important for schools. These holidays are a source of relaxation for teachers as well as students. However, the duration of holidays can vary from different perspectives.

The long school holidays can provide benefits to students as they can sit and relax. The long duration also allows them to engage in different extra-curricular activities like hiking, swimming and paragliding. Students can take part in exchange programs and learn new things. I remember that I participated in drawing classes in summer holidays which helped me in learning the colour schemes. I also took part in writing competition and won the second prize. In this way, these activities can help students in their academics as well.

The shorter school holidays can be helpful in decreasing the effects of boredom. Some students say that long holidays are not useful as they get bored. They want to spend their time in school with their friends. They also want to participate in school activities. They believe in utlizing their energies in school environment. They think that their learning capacities can lessen if they stay out of school for a long period of time.

While some students are in the favor of short holidays and most of people like me favor long holidays.I believe that long holidays can make you fresh and energetic as compared to short period of time. The long period of time can also let you participate in the healthy activities which otherwise is not possible because of school routine.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses both questions: it explains that longer breaks allow students to rest and pursue activities, and that shorter breaks may reduce boredom and help students maintain contact with school and learning. The personal examples about drawing classes and a writing competition make the benefits of long holidays more concrete. Your preference for longer holidays is also clear in the final paragraph. However, some points are asserted rather than fully explained: for example, the claim that learning capacity can lessen during a long break would benefit from a reason or example, and the value of holidays for teachers is mentioned only briefly. Develop the comparison more evenly and explain how each benefit affects students or schools.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The essay has a recognisable structure, moving from an introduction to the benefits of long holidays, arguments for shorter holidays, and a concluding preference. This makes the overall progression easy to follow. Paragraphs also group related ideas, and phrases such as “However” and “In this way” help signal relationships. At times, though, connections are repetitive or unclear. The opening overview says holidays are important but does not preview the two sides, while “However, the duration of holidays can vary from different perspectives” is vague. The final paragraph repeats earlier points rather than drawing them together. Use clearer topic sentences and more precise links between claims and examples to make the progression smoother.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for the topic, including “extra-curricular activities,” “exchange programs,” “learning capacities,” and “school environment.” The examples also allow you to use relevant activity vocabulary such as “hiking” and “swimming.” Some word choices and collocations are less natural or precise, however: students “sit and relax” is awkward in this context, and “decreasing the effects of boredom” is an indirect way to express the point. There are also spelling and form issues, including “utlizing” and “in the favor.” Aim for more natural academic phrasing and check spelling carefully; this will make your ideas sound more precise without requiring unnecessarily complex vocabulary.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response includes both simple sentences and more complex forms, such as “as they can sit and relax” and “which helped me in learning the colour schemes.” Most sentences communicate their meaning clearly, and the personal example is expressed in a sequence of past-tense clauses. Some grammatical and punctuation errors remain. For example, “The shorter school holidays can be helpful in decreasing the effects of boredom” is structurally understandable but awkwardly formed, while “long holidays.I believe” needs a space after the full stop. The sentence beginning “While some students…” is also a fragment because it lacks a complete main clause. Review sentence boundaries and practise combining contrast clauses with a complete main clause; this would improve accuracy while preserving your range.

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

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