Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-02

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)

In many countries, schools will be closed during summer and winter holidays. Students therefore can take a rest from the stressful academic environment and try to learn something that they are more interested in. However, some argue that governments ought to cut the length of school holidays in order to protect students' persistentce.

First and foremost, it must be admitted that the value of long school holidays is significant as having a rest enables learners to have a better energy. For instance, if schools did not give students any time to play, young people might not be able to bear the tedious studying process, which would have counterproductive effects for students' academic lives. In addition, as compared to the rigid schedual provided by school, teenagers can choose what and when they want to study flexibly, especially if they want to learn some sports that are not taught in school.

On the other hand, proponents for shorter school holidays believe that long school holidays might have a negative impact on students' momentum, which helps young learners study consistently, and that students might become addicted to their phones under the circumstances that they do not have enough parental supervision. To illustrate this, after staying at home for two or even three months, students are likely to get used to the relaxing environment and consequently do not want to accept the fact that they still need to go back to school, indirectly affecting their academic performence. Furthermore, unlike studying in school where teachers have to pay attention to every student, staying at home may tempt students to use their phones without limit as their parents usually still need to work during the same holiday.

In conclusion, while long holidays enable students to take a rest and have opportunities to get into more hobbies, shorter holidays can maintain students' momentum and prevent them from being addicted to electronic devices.

AI examiner evaluation

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 position is clear throughout, and the ideas are relevant. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat limited. For instance, the point about 'momentum' is introduced but could be expanded with more specific examples or deeper analysis of how academic performance is actually affected. The conclusion effectively summarizes the main points. To reach a higher band, ensure that each argument is fully explored with more depth and perhaps a more nuanced perspective on the long-term implications of these holiday structures.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. Cohesive devices such as 'First and foremost', 'In addition', 'On the other hand', and 'Furthermore' are used effectively to link ideas. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing could be more varied. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure supports the reader's understanding of the arguments presented.

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 'persistentce' (misspelled), 'counterproductive', and 'momentum'. However, there are several spelling errors ('schedual', 'performence', 'persistentce') and some word choice issues, such as 'better energy' instead of 'recharged' or 'renewed energy'. While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the essay from reaching a higher band. Focusing on accurate spelling and more precise collocations would significantly improve this score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is a good attempt at using complex sentences, such as 'if schools did not give students any time to play, young people might not be able to bear the tedious studying process'. While there are some grammatical errors, such as 'under the circumstances that they do not have' (which is slightly unnatural) and minor punctuation slips, these errors are infrequent and do not impede communication. The majority of the sentences are clear and error-free, showing a reasonable level of control over grammar.

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