Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-11

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)

In many countries, schools provide students with extended breaks during the summer. While long holidays can offer several benefits to children, shorter school breaks may also have important advantages. This essay will discuss the value of lengthy holidays and the arguments for reducing their duration.

One major benefit of long school holidays is that they allow students to recover from academic pressure. After completing a demanding school term, children can spend several weeks resting, spending time with their families and participating in hobbies or sports. This can help them return to school feeling refreshed and mentally prepared for further study. For example, students who have spent several months preparing for examinations may use the summer break to relax and pursue activities that they do not have time for during the school year. Another advantage is that extended holidays provide families with more opportunities to travel and spend quality time together. This can strengthen family relationships and allow children to gain experiences outside the classroom.

On the other hand, there are several arguments in favour of shorter school holidays. First, frequent and lengthy breaks can cause students to forget some of the knowledge they acquired during the academic year. If children remain away from school for several months, they may need additional time to review previous material when classes resume. Shorter holidays could therefore help maintain continuity in learning. For instance, students who have regular but shorter breaks may be able to retain mathematical formulas, vocabulary and other information more effectively. Shorter holidays may also be more convenient for working parents. Parents who have full-time jobs may struggle to find suitable childcare when their children are off school for an extended period. Reducing the length of summer holidays could therefore make it easier for families to manage their work and childcare responsibilities.

In conclusion, long school holidays give students valuable opportunities to rest, spend time with their families and pursue activities outside school. However, shorter breaks can help maintain students' academic progress and reduce childcare difficulties for working parents. Therefore, both approaches have clear benefits, although the ideal length of school holidays should provide students with sufficient time to rest without causing a significant interruption to their education.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses both parts of the prompt. You have clearly identified the value of long holidays (academic recovery, family bonding) and provided logical arguments for shorter holidays (knowledge retention, childcare convenience). The position is consistent throughout, and the ideas are well-developed with relevant examples, such as the mention of mathematical formulas and the challenges faced by working parents. The essay is balanced and directly answers the question without any irrelevant information.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two distinct body paragraphs, and a summary conclusion. Each paragraph has a clear central topic sentence. Cohesive devices such as 'One major benefit', 'On the other hand', 'For instance', and 'Therefore' are used effectively to guide the reader through your arguments. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the paragraphing is appropriate for the task. The flow of information is natural and easy to follow throughout the response.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'academic pressure', 'maintain continuity', and 'childcare responsibilities' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is generally appropriate and natural, it lacks some of the more sophisticated or 'less common' lexical items that would elevate the response to a higher band. However, there are no errors in word choice or collocation that impede communication, and the language used is consistently clear and professional.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good variety of complex structures, such as conditional sentences ('If children remain away...') and participial phrases. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and tense usage is strong. There are no significant grammatical errors that distract the reader. To reach a higher band, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex sentence patterns or more nuanced modal verbs to express your arguments with even greater sophistication.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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