Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-13
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)
It is widely recognized that long school holidays are a common feature of education systems in modern society. Some people think that these extended breaks provide students with valuable opportunities to relax and develop personally, while others believe that shorter holidays would lead to better education outcomes. I will critically discuss my supporting ideas further in this essay.
On the one hand, long school vacations offer several important benefits. Firstly, they allow students to recover from the pressure of studying and examinations, which helps improve their mental and physical well-being. After months of academic work, children need sufficient time to rest and return to school feeling refreshed. Secondly, these holidays provide opportunities for students to spend quality time with their families, travel, or participate in sports, and skill-development courses. Such activities leads to their overall personal growth. For example, many students attend summer camps where they learn teamwork, leadership, and explore cultures that cannot always be taught in classrooms.
On the other hand, there are strong arguments in favour of shorter school holidays. One major concern is that students often forget what they have learned during a long break, making it difficult for teachers to resume lessons efficiently. As a result, valuable classroom time is spent reviewing previous topics instead of introducing new ones. However, shorter and more frequent breaks throughout the year would help students maintain their academic progress while making family life easier to manage.
In conclusion, although long school holidays provide essential rest and valuable life experiences, shorter holidays may improve academic continuity and reduce challenges for parents. In my opinion, a balanced school calendar with moderately long breaks would be the most effective solution.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.5 |
| Overall | 7.0 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, providing clear arguments for both the value of long holidays and the benefits of shorter ones. The position is consistent throughout, and the ideas are relevant and well-supported. For instance, the mention of 'mental and physical well-being' and 'academic continuity' provides a balanced perspective. The essay is well-developed, though some points, such as the specific impact on family life, could have been slightly more elaborated to reach the highest band. Overall, the response is focused and directly answers the task requirements.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'Firstly', 'Secondly', and 'As a result' are used effectively to guide the reader through the arguments. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a central theme. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the relationship between the arguments is clear. The use of referencing is accurate, and the overall structure contributes to a coherent and easy-to-follow piece of writing.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.5
The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The student uses a range of topic-specific terms such as 'academic outcomes', 'academic continuity', and 'personal growth'. While the range is adequate, it lacks the more sophisticated or idiomatic expressions that would characterize a higher band. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation that impede meaning. The language is natural and fits the formal tone required for an academic essay.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5
The essay demonstrates a good control of grammatical structures. There is a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as the use of conditional and relative clauses. Most sentences are error-free; however, there is a minor subject-verb agreement error in the second paragraph ('Such activities leads to...'). Despite this, the grammar is generally accurate and does not hinder communication. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and the sentence variety is sufficient to maintain interest and clarity.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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