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 summer. While long school holidays provide important benefits, there are also 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. Young children may struggle with prolonged exposure to high temperatures, which can cause health problems such as dehydration and headaches. For example, a primary school student attending 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 receive homework, 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 academic activities. As a result, they may forget some concepts learned during the previous term. Shorter holidays could therefore help students maintain continuity in their education.

In conclusion, long summer holidays can protect children from extreme weather and provide a necessary break from school. However, excessively long holidays can interrupt learning momentum. Therefore, shorter holidays may be preferable where long breaks negatively affect students' academic progress.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt: the value of long holidays and the arguments for shorter ones. The position is clear throughout. The ideas are relevant and supported with logical examples, such as the health risks of extreme heat and the potential for academic regression. However, the development is somewhat brief. To reach a higher band, you could expand on the 'value' aspect by discussing social or developmental benefits beyond just physical health, and perhaps provide a more nuanced perspective on the 'shorter holidays' argument by mentioning potential benefits for teachers or school infrastructure maintenance.

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, and the progression of ideas is smooth. Cohesive devices such as 'On the other hand', 'For example', and 'As a result' are used effectively to link sentences and ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall clarity of the argument. The flow of information is natural, and the reader can easily follow your line of reasoning from start to finish.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'learning momentum', 'prolonged exposure', and 'academic progress' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is appropriate and conveys your meaning clearly, it is generally functional rather than sophisticated. To improve, try to incorporate more idiomatic expressions or less common collocations. For instance, instead of 'struggle to concentrate', you could use 'find it challenging to maintain focus'. The spelling is accurate throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use 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 control over complex structures is consistent, and the writing is error-free for the most part, which indicates a high level of grammatical competence. The clarity of your writing is never impeded by grammatical slips.

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