Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

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

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 common for primary and secondary schools in many countries to have a long summer break lasting for two months or more. This essay discusses the value of having lengthy school holidays and the arguments in favour of shorter breaks.

There are several important benefits of long school holidays. The most significant advantage is that students have sufficient time to rest and recover from academic pressure. After studying for several months, children may feel mentally tired, so a lengthy break allows them to recharge before starting a new academic year. In addition, long holidays give families an opportunity to spend quality time together. For example, parents can take their child on trips or encourage them to participate in sports and other extracurricular activities. These experiences can contribute to children's personal development.

On the other hand, there are strong arguments in favour of shorter school holidays. Firstly, students are more likely to maintain a consistent learning routine when breaks are shorter. A very long holiday can cause students to forget some of the knowledge and skills they acquired during the school year. For instance, younger children may struggle to remember basic mathematics or vocabulary after several months away from the school. Furthermore, shorter holidays can be more convenient for working parents because they reduce the amount of time during which children need to be supervised at home.

In conclusion, long school holidays are valuable because they allow students to relax and spend time with their families. However, shorter holidays can provide greater continuity in education and reduce the burden on parents. In my view, a balanced holiday schedule that provides enough time for relaxation without causing significant learning loss would be the best beneficial approach.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt clearly. You have identified the value of long holidays (rest, family time) and the arguments for shorter ones (academic continuity, childcare convenience). The position is clear throughout, and the ideas are well-supported with relevant examples, such as the mention of children forgetting basic mathematics. To reach a higher band, you could further extend your arguments by discussing the long-term impact on student motivation or the socio-economic implications of childcare, providing a more nuanced analysis of the trade-offs involved in school scheduling.

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 topic sentence, and ideas progress smoothly. You use a range of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In addition', 'On the other hand', 'For instance', and 'Furthermore'. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the transition between the benefits of long holidays and the arguments for shorter ones is handled well. The flow of information is natural, making the essay easy to follow from start to finish.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'academic pressure', 'personal development', 'consistent learning routine', and 'continuity in education' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is appropriate and conveys your meaning well, it remains somewhat standard. To achieve a higher score, you could incorporate more sophisticated or less common collocations and idiomatic expressions, such as 'mitigate learning loss' or 'holistic development', to show greater flexibility and control over lexical nuances.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use subordinate clauses effectively, such as 'After studying for several months, children may feel mentally tired'. The grammar is generally accurate, with very few errors. Punctuation is used correctly to support the structure of your arguments. The majority of your sentences are error-free, which is a strong indicator of good control. To reach the highest bands, ensure that you continue to vary your sentence length and complexity even further to maintain a sophisticated rhythm throughout the text.

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