Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-01

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, primary and secondary schools remain closed for two months or more during the summer. While these long holidays offer several benefits, some people argue that shorter breaks would be more beneficial for students and the education system. This essay will discuss both views before giving my opinion.

Long school holidays provide students with an opportunity to relax after months of continuous study. During this period, they can spend quality time with their families, travel, develop hobbies or participate in sports and cultural activities. Such experiences improve their physical and mental well-being while helping them develop important life skills. Furthermore, teachers also benefit from an extended break, as they can recover from work-related stress and prepare lesson plans for the upcoming academic year.

However, there are strong arguments in favour of shorter school holidays. One major concern is that students often forget a significant amount of what they have learned during a long vacation. Consequently, teachers must spend several weeks revising previous lessons instead of introducing new topics. In addition, lengthy holidays can be inconvenient for working parents, who may struggle to arrange childcare. Shorter but more frequent breaks throughout the year would allow students to maintain their learning habits while giving families regular opportunities to rest.

In my opinion, although long summer holidays are valuable for relaxation and personal development, shorter holidays distributed evenly across the academic year would be more effective. This approach would help students retain knowledge, reduce learning gaps and make it easier for parents to balance work and family responsibilities.

In conclusion, long holidays promote rest and family bonding, whereas shorter holidays support academic progress and convenience. Therefore, a balanced school calendar with shorter but more frequent breaks is the most suitable solution.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You have clearly identified the value of long holidays (relaxation, skill development, teacher recovery) and the arguments for shorter holidays (knowledge retention, childcare convenience). Your position is consistent and clearly stated in the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. The ideas are well-developed and supported with logical reasoning. To reach the highest band, you could provide a more specific example, such as referencing a particular country's school system or a specific study on 'summer learning loss' to add depth to your argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the benefits of long holidays and the arguments for shorter ones is smooth, using effective signposting like 'However' and 'In addition'. Cohesive devices are used naturally and accurately throughout the text. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different viewpoints. The structure is balanced, and the conclusion effectively synthesizes the main points discussed in the body paragraphs, ensuring the reader follows your argument without difficulty.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for an academic essay. Phrases such as 'continuous study', 'work-related stress', 'academic progress', and 'balance work and family responsibilities' show a solid command of topic-specific language. The vocabulary is used accurately and helps convey your meaning clearly. While the range is sufficient and precise, incorporating a few more sophisticated or less common collocations would elevate the response further. Overall, the lexical control is consistent and supports the clarity of your arguments well.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of conditional and concessive clauses (e.g., 'While these long holidays offer...', 'Although long summer holidays are valuable...'). The grammar is generally accurate, with the majority of sentences being error-free. Punctuation is used correctly to manage the flow of information. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. To achieve a higher score, you could experiment with a wider range of advanced structures, such as inversion or more varied passive constructions, to demonstrate greater flexibility.

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