Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-08-29

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 provide students with a summer break lasting two months or even longer. While such an extended holiday can offer several important benefits, shorter school holidays may also be advantageous. This essay will discuss both perspectives.

Long school holidays are valuable for several reasons. Firstly, they give students sufficient time to rest and recover after a demanding academic year. Continuous studying can be mentally exhausting, and a lengthy break allows children to return to school feeling refreshed and motivated. Secondly, these holidays provide opportunities for students to spend quality time with their families, travel, pursue hobbies and develop practical skills that are not usually taught in classrooms. For example, during a long summer break, students may learn activities such as swimming, cooking or playing a musical instrument. Furthermore, parents can use this period to plan family trips, which can contribute to children's social and cultural development.

However, there are convincing arguments in favour of shorter school holidays. The main concern is that students may forget a significant amount of what they have learned when they remain away from academic study for several months. This can make the transition back to school more difficult and require teachers to spend valuable time reviewing previous material. Shorter but more frequent breaks could help students maintain a regular learning routine while still providing adequate opportunities for relaxation. In addition, shorter holidays may be more convenient for working parents, who often struggle to arrange childcare during lengthy school closures.

In conclusion, long summer holidays allow children to relax, spend time with their families and explore interests outside school. Nevertheless, shorter holidays can help maintain academic continuity and reduce the practical difficulties faced by parents. In my view, a balanced school calendar with shorter, regular breaks would be more beneficial overall, provided that students still receive enough time for rest and family activities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses both parts of the prompt. You have clearly identified the value of long holidays, such as rest and family time, and provided logical arguments for shorter holidays, including academic continuity and childcare convenience. The position is consistent throughout the essay, and the ideas are well-developed with relevant examples, such as learning new skills like swimming or cooking. The conclusion effectively synthesises the arguments and presents a clear personal view. The response is balanced and meets all requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organised with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is smooth. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Firstly', 'Furthermore', 'However', and 'In addition', which help guide the reader through your arguments. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate the different viewpoints. The referencing is clear, and the flow of information is natural throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic task. Phrases like 'demanding academic year', 'academic continuity', and 'social and cultural development' show a strong command of topic-specific language. The word choice is generally precise and natural. While the vocabulary is effective and accurate, it could be slightly more ambitious to reach the highest band, but it is certainly sufficient for a high score. There are no significant errors in word choice or collocation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a good range of complex structures, such as conditional sentences ('provided that...') and subordinate clauses ('While such an extended holiday...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and grammar is consistent. There are no major grammatical slips that impede communication. The sentence structures are varied, which keeps the writing engaging and professional. You have demonstrated a high level of accuracy throughout the response.

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