Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-26

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 often claimed that ,In many countries, schools have long summer holidays lasting two months or even longer. While these extended breaks provide several benefits for students and families, there are also strong arguments in favour of reducing their length. This essay will discuss both perspectives.

Initating with points ,On the one hand, long school holidays offer valuable opportunities for rest and personal development. After months of intensive study, students need time to relax and recover from academic pressure. Extended holidays can also allow children to pursue hobbies, participate in sports, travel with their families, or develop practical life skills that may not be taught in the classroom. For example, many students attend summer camps, learn musical instruments, or take part in volunteer activities during the holiday period. Furthermore, long vacations enable families to spend quality time together, which can strengthen family relationships and contribute to children's emotional well-being.

Moving further ahead On the other hand, there are several reasons why shorter school holidays may be preferable. One concern is that students often forget some of what they have learned during lengthy breaks, a phenomenon commonly known as “learning loss”. As a result, teachers may need to spend valuable classroom time reviewing previous material when the new academic year begins. In addition, long holidays can create difficulties for working parents who must arrange childcare for extended periods. Shorter holidays distributed throughout the year could help maintain students' academic progress while reducing the burden on families. Some educational systems that have adopted shorter but more frequent breaks report improved learning continuity and student engagement.

In my opinion, although long holidays provide important opportunities for relaxation and family interaction, excessively long breaks can negatively affect academic performance. A balanced approach, involving somewhat shorter summer holidays combined with several shorter breaks throughout the year, would be more beneficial for both students and parents.

In conclusion, long school holidays support rest, personal growth, and family bonding, whereas shorter holidays can improve educational outcomes and reduce practical challenges for families. Therefore, a balanced school calendar is likely to offer the greatest overall benefits.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses both parts of the prompt: the value of long holidays and the arguments for shorter ones. You maintain a clear position throughout, culminating in a balanced recommendation in the conclusion. The ideas are well-developed, such as the mention of 'learning loss' and the practical difficulties for working parents. The arguments are relevant and supported by logical reasoning and examples, such as the reference to summer camps and volunteer activities. The response is well-structured and meets all requirements of the task, demonstrating a clear understanding of the prompt's demands.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the transition between the benefits of long holidays and the arguments for shorter ones is smooth. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'On the one hand', 'Furthermore', and 'In addition'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different aspects of the argument. While there are some minor punctuation issues at the start of the essay, the overall flow of the text is logical and easy to follow, meeting the criteria for a high band score.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'intensive study', 'academic progress', 'learning continuity', and 'emotional well-being' show a good command of topic-specific language. You use less common items effectively, such as 'phenomenon' and 'excessively'. While the vocabulary is generally accurate and natural, there is room to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic expressions to reach the highest band. Overall, the lexical range is flexible and allows for clear communication of complex ideas without any significant errors.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You demonstrate control over grammar, with the majority of sentences being error-free. There are some minor punctuation errors, such as the unnecessary comma after 'claimed that' and the awkward phrasing 'Initating with points ,On the one hand', which slightly disrupts the flow. However, these are minor slips that do not impede communication. Your use of complex structures, such as conditional or concessive clauses, is generally accurate. With more careful proofreading to eliminate minor punctuation and mechanical errors, your control would be even stronger.

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