Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

Many schools around the world have long summer holidays that usually last for two months or more. While these holidays provide students with enough time to relax and spend time with their family members, some people believe that shorter holidays are better for learning. This essay will discuss both views.

On the one hand, long school holidays have several advantages. After studying for months, students need a break to reduce stress and improve their mental health. During the holidays, they can travel with their parents, visit their relatives or take part in some extracurricular activities for instance, football, swimming and other activities. These experiences help children to develop social skills and create healthy relationship with their family. In addition, teachers got plenty of time to prepare for the next academic year.

On the other hand, many people argue that shorter holidays are more beneficial. 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 spend several weeks reviewing old lessons after school reopens. Furthermore, long holidays can be difficult for working parents because they need to arrange childcare. Shorter breaks with more regular holidays throughout the year could solve this problem and help students to maintain their learning habits.

In conclusion, although long summer holidays give students an opportunity to rest and enjoy family time, shorter holidays can improve academic performance and make life easier for parents. In my opinion, a balanced school calendar with shorter but more frequent breaks is the best option.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses all parts of the task. You have clearly identified the value of long holidays (mental health, family time, teacher preparation) and the arguments for shorter holidays (academic retention, childcare convenience). The position is clear throughout, and the conclusion provides a balanced summary. To reach a higher band, you could further develop your ideas by providing more specific examples or deeper analysis. For instance, when mentioning 'extracurricular activities', you could briefly explain how these specifically contribute to long-term skill development. Overall, the ideas are relevant and well-supported, meeting the requirements for a Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic sentence, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. You use a range of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'On the one hand', 'In addition', and 'Furthermore'. The referencing is generally clear, and the paragraphing is appropriate. To improve, ensure that the transition between sentences is always smooth; some sentences feel slightly disconnected. However, the overall structure is coherent and demonstrates a good command of organizational features.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'extracurricular activities', 'academic year', and 'maintain their learning habits'. The language is generally natural and precise enough to convey your meaning without difficulty. There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication. To move into the Band 7 or 8 range, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or less common lexical items. For example, instead of 'give students an opportunity', you could use 'afford students the prospect'. Your current vocabulary is functional and accurate.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use complex sentences effectively, such as 'Although long summer holidays give students an opportunity to rest... shorter holidays can improve academic performance'. There are very few grammatical errors; for example, 'create healthy relationship' should be 'create a healthy relationship' or 'create healthy relationships'. Punctuation is generally accurate. The control of grammar is strong, and the errors present are minor and do not interfere with the clarity of your arguments. You have demonstrated a good level of accuracy throughout the text.

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