Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-07-27
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 7.0)
The summer break in primary and secondary schools are for two months or even more. Although people say there are number of practical skills children can develop or can just enjoy their leisure time during a long school holidays. While some believe that the school holidays should be shorter.
On one hand, long school holidays can boost the productivity of a child and can provide a much needed break. Firstly, in some countries like India, Bangladesh and Pakistan the temperature reaches above 40 degree C(celcius). This can cause serious health issues especially to children that are in primary schools. Secondly, this could be a great opportunity for children to get a summer job ,develop a set of practical skill ,experience the way the real world works and also teaches them a lesson about how hard it is to earn money. Furthermore, longer holidays allow children to bond with their parents and other family members. Long holidays gives teacher the well deserved chance to rest.
On the other hand, people argue that summer vacation should be shorter. Firstly, the children fall out of routine and it gets difficult to
bring them back to their daily lives. Secondly, children forget what was previously taught to them and teachers have to brush their knowledge again after long breaks which results in poor pacing of the class. In addition, children always run out of things to do during this long leisure time which turns into a nightmare for their parents to keep them engaged and entertained. Otherwise, boredom leads to children acting chaotic and moody.
In conclusion, there are pros and cons for both long school holidays and shorter holidays. Long vacation helps children focus on extracurricular activities and longer time to rest while short vacation keeps them in routine and sharp academically.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the value of long holidays and the arguments for shorter ones. The ideas are relevant, such as the mention of extreme weather conditions in specific countries and the academic benefits of maintaining a routine. However, the development is somewhat superficial. For instance, the point about 'practical skills' is mentioned but not expanded upon with concrete examples. While the position is clear, the conclusion is a bit repetitive and does not fully synthesize the arguments presented. To reach a higher band, ensure that each main point is supported by a more detailed explanation or a specific, illustrative example.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The essay is logically organized into clear paragraphs, each with a distinct focus. The use of cohesive devices like 'On one hand', 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'In conclusion' helps guide the reader through the argument. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical, and there are minor issues with referencing, such as the vague use of 'this' in the second paragraph. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the progression of ideas is generally easy to follow. To improve, try to vary the cohesive devices and ensure that pronouns clearly refer back to the intended nouns to improve the flow between sentences.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. There are some attempts at less common vocabulary, such as 'productivity', 'extracurricular', and 'chaotic'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'brush their knowledge again' (should be 'refresh their knowledge') and 'acting chaotic' (should be 'behaving chaotically'). The range is sufficient to convey meaning, but more precise and sophisticated lexical choices would be needed to reach a higher band. Focus on learning common collocations to sound more natural.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with subject-verb agreement (e.g., 'Long holidays gives teacher', 'The summer break... are') and article usage. Punctuation is also inconsistent, such as the spacing around the temperature unit '40 degree C(celcius)'. These errors do not impede communication, but they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. To improve, focus on proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement and ensuring that complex sentences are constructed with correct grammatical subordination.
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