Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-27

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, primary and secondary schools remain closed for two months or more during the summer. While long school holidays can provide important benefits, there are also strong arguments for reducing their duration.

One important value of long summer holidays is that they can protect schoolchildren from extreme heat, particularly in countries where temperatures become exceptionally high during this period. Young children may find it difficult to cope with prolonged exposure to high temperatures, which can lead to health problems such as dehydration and headaches. For example, a primary school student who is required to attend classes during an extremely hot summer may become dehydrated and struggle to concentrate on lessons. As a result, a lengthy summer break can protect children from these conditions and allow them to return to school when the weather becomes more suitable.

On the other hand, excessively long school holidays can disrupt students' learning momentum. A break of two or more months creates a significant gap between students and their regular classroom education. Although students may be given homework to complete during this period, it cannot completely replace learning new material and receiving guidance from teachers. For instance, some students may finish their assigned homework within the first few weeks and spend the remainder of the holiday without engaging in academic activities. As a result, they may forget some of the concepts they learned during the previous term. Shorter holidays could therefore help students maintain continuity in their education and make steady academic progress.

In conclusion, long summer holidays can be valuable because they protect children from extreme weather and give them a necessary break from school. However, excessively long holidays can interrupt students' learning momentum and cause them to forget previously learned material. Therefore, shorter holidays may be preferable where long breaks are likely to negatively affect students' academic progress.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response addresses both parts of the prompt clearly. You have identified the value of long holidays (protection from extreme heat) and the arguments for shorter ones (maintaining learning momentum). The position is consistent throughout the essay. The ideas are well-developed with relevant examples, such as the mention of dehydration and the loss of academic continuity. To reach a higher band, you could expand slightly more on the 'value' aspect by including social or developmental benefits beyond just physical health, which would provide a more comprehensive answer to the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic sentence that guides the reader. Cohesive devices such as 'On the other hand', 'For example', and 'As a result' are used effectively to link ideas. The progression of arguments is smooth and easy to follow. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall clarity of the response. The use of referencing is precise, ensuring that the flow between sentences remains natural throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for an academic context. Phrases such as 'prolonged exposure', 'learning momentum', and 'academic progress' are used accurately. The vocabulary is sufficient to convey your ideas with precision. While the range is adequate, incorporating a few more sophisticated or less common collocations would elevate the lexical score. For instance, instead of 'important benefits', you could use 'significant advantages' or 'substantial merits'. Overall, the word choice is natural and there are no errors that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use conditional and subordinate clauses effectively, such as 'particularly in countries where temperatures become exceptionally high'. The grammar is highly accurate, with very few errors. Punctuation is used correctly to support the structure of your arguments. The majority of your sentences are error-free, showing a strong command of English grammar. To move toward a band 8 or 9, ensure you continue to vary your sentence length and structure to maintain a sophisticated rhythm throughout the piece.

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

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