Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-07-28

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 8.5)

In numerous educational systems globally, the summer break lasts for two months or even longer. While these extended holidays offer significant opportunities for personal growth and rest, there are compelling reasons why shorter, more frequent breaks might be better suited to modern educational and social needs.

The primary value of long summer holidays lies in the mental and physical recovery they offer to both students and teachers. After an intense academic year, prolonged downtime prevents burnout and allows children to engage in non-academic pursuits. During these months, students can develop life skills, participate in sports, pursue creative hobbies, or travel with their families—experiences that are crucial for holistic development but often sidelined during the term. Furthermore, older teenagers frequently use this extended period to gain work experience or undertake volunteer projects, fostering independence and practical skills that standard schooling cannot provide.

Conversely, the main argument in favour of shorter school holidays is the prevention of "summer learning loss." Research consistently shows that prolonged absence from structured education leads to a decline in knowledge and academic skills, particularly in subjects like mathematics and literacy. Teachers often spend the first few weeks of a new academic year re-teaching forgotten material rather than introducing new concepts. Additionally, long holidays place a heavy financial and logistical burden on working parents, who must secure expensive childcare or take unpaid leave to cover the extended break. Shorter holidays, redistributed more evenly throughout the year, would maintain learning momentum while easing parental stress.

In conclusion, while long summer holidays give children valuable freedom to explore non-academic interests and recharge, they also contribute to academic regression and parental burden. A more balanced academic calendar with shorter, more frequent breaks strikes a healthier equilibrium between rest, family life, and continuous learning.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response fully addresses both parts of the prompt. You clearly identify the value of long holidays, such as personal growth and burnout prevention, and provide strong arguments for shorter breaks, specifically citing 'summer learning loss' and parental logistical challenges. The position is consistent throughout, and the ideas are well-developed with relevant examples. The structure is logical, and the content is directly focused on the task requirements, demonstrating a clear understanding of the prompt's demands.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay is well-organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is logical. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Furthermore', 'Conversely', and 'Additionally', which help guide the reader through your arguments. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the two distinct sides of the argument. The flow is smooth, and the relationship between ideas is always clear, meeting the criteria for a high band score.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.5

You demonstrate a wide and flexible range of vocabulary, using precise terms such as 'holistic development', 'academic regression', 'logistical burden', and 'equilibrium'. The word choices are natural and sophisticated, fitting the academic context of the task. There are no noticeable errors in word choice or collocation, and the vocabulary is used with a high degree of precision. This level of lexical control is indicative of a strong performance.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The essay displays a wide range of complex sentence structures, including conditional clauses and well-integrated subordinate clauses. The grammar is highly accurate, with the majority of sentences being error-free. Punctuation is used correctly to enhance clarity. The control over complex structures is consistent, and there are no significant grammatical slips that impede communication. The writing is fluent and demonstrates a high level of grammatical competence.

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