Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-07-24

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 8.0)

In many countries, students have long summer holidays that usually last for two months or even longer. While these holidays provide several benefits for children and their families, some people believe that shorter holidays would be more beneficial for students' education. This essay will discuss both views.

On the one hand, long school holidays give students enough time to relax after studying for many months. They can spend more time with their families, travel to different places, or take part in sports and other hobbies. These activities can reduce stress and improve both physical and mental health. In addition, long holidays allow children to develop useful life skills by joining volunteer work, summer camps, or part-time jobs. For example, many teenagers learn responsibility and communication skills through summer employment.

On the other hand, there are strong arguments for having shorter school holidays. One reason is that students may forget what they have learned if they stay away from school for a long time. As a result, teachers often need to spend several weeks reviewing old lessons instead of teaching new ones. Furthermore, long holidays can be difficult for working parents because they must find someone to take care of their children. Shorter holidays with more breaks during the school year could solve this problem and help students maintain their learning habits.

In conclusion, although long summer holidays are important because they allow students to rest and enjoy different experiences, I believe that slightly shorter holidays would be a better choice. This would help students remember their lessons while still giving them enough time to relax and spend time with their families.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing a clear discussion on the value of long holidays and the arguments for shorter ones. The position is consistent throughout the essay. The ideas are relevant and supported with examples, such as the mention of summer camps and the logistical challenges for working parents. To reach a higher band, the development of ideas could be slightly more extensive; for instance, elaborating on the specific 'life skills' gained beyond just mentioning them, or providing a more nuanced discussion on how the 'shorter holiday' model might be implemented. However, the response is well-focused and fully satisfies the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the progression of ideas is smooth. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'In addition', 'Furthermore', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader. The referencing is clear, and the paragraphing is appropriate. The flow of information is natural, and there is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words. The structure supports the overall argument effectively, making the essay easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses a range of topic-specific terms such as 'mental health', 'communication skills', 'logistical challenges', and 'learning habits'. While the vocabulary is accurate and conveys meaning clearly, it is generally functional rather than sophisticated. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation. To achieve a higher band, the student could incorporate more precise or less common lexical items to demonstrate a wider range of vocabulary, such as using 'academic regression' instead of 'forget what they have learned' or 'mitigate' instead of 'solve'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay demonstrates a good command of grammar with a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. The sentences are generally error-free, and the punctuation is used correctly. There is a good variety of structures, such as the use of conditional-like logic ('If they stay away...') and complex noun phrases. The control over grammar is consistent, and there are no errors that impede communication. While the range of structures is sufficient for a high band, incorporating a few more advanced grammatical features, such as inversion or more varied subordinate clauses, would further enhance the quality of the writing.

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