Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-23

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 close for an extended period during the summer, with students often having a break of two months or longer. While these lengthy holidays offer several important benefits, shorter breaks may help students maintain their academic progress and routines.

One major advantage of long summer holidays is that they give children sufficient time to recover from the demands of the academic year. Students spend much of their time attending classes, completing assignments and preparing for examinations, which can be mentally exhausting. A prolonged break allows them to relax and pursue activities that may not be possible during term time, such as playing sports, travelling or developing hobbies. This can contribute to their physical and mental well-being. Long holidays can also be particularly beneficial in countries with extremely hot summers, when travelling to and attending school may be uncomfortable or even unsafe.

On the other hand, shorter school holidays can help students maintain their learning habits and avoid losing academic knowledge. After being away from school for several months, some children may struggle to remember previously learned material and may require considerable time to adjust to their studies again. Shorter breaks reduce this disruption and allow students to remain familiar with a structured academic routine. This may be particularly beneficial for younger students, who can find it more difficult to regain their concentration after an extended absence from school.

In conclusion, lengthy summer holidays provide valuable opportunities for students to rest, participate in extracurricular activities and recover from academic pressure. However, shorter breaks can help preserve students' learning habits and reduce the academic disruption caused by prolonged periods away from school. Both approaches therefore have clear benefits, depending on students' educational and environmental circumstances.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt clearly and maintains a consistent position throughout. The arguments for long holidays—such as mental recovery and physical well-being—are well-developed and supported by logical reasoning. Similarly, the arguments for shorter holidays, focusing on academic continuity and routine, are clearly articulated. The response is balanced and covers all requirements of the task effectively. To reach a higher band, you could include more specific examples or real-world scenarios to further illustrate your points, as the current arguments remain somewhat general in nature.

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 smooth. Cohesive devices such as 'One major advantage', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader. The referencing is clear, and the paragraphing is appropriate for the structure of the argument. The flow of information is natural, and the relationship between ideas is easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The vocabulary is accurate and appropriate for an academic context. You use a good range of topic-specific terms such as 'academic progress', 'extracurricular activities', 'academic disruption', and 'environmental circumstances'. The language is natural and precise, with no noticeable errors in collocation or word choice. While the vocabulary is sufficient and effective, incorporating a few more sophisticated or less common lexical items could elevate the response further toward the highest band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay demonstrates a high level of grammatical control. You use a variety of complex sentence structures, such as conditional clauses ('when travelling to and attending school may be uncomfortable') and relative clauses, with high accuracy. Punctuation is used correctly to support the clarity of your arguments. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the few minor slips that might occur are not present here. The control over tense and subject-verb agreement is consistent throughout the piece.

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