Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-07

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)

Education plays a partial and important role in an individual's life. In many countries, primary and secondary schools close for eight weeks or more during the summer holidays. Although long holidays provide students with an opportunity to rest, spend time with their families and friends, shorter holidays also have some advantages. This essay will discuss both views before presenting my opinion.

To start with, there are several reasons why long holidays are beneficial for students. The first and foremost reason is that students can spend their leisure time with their parents and friends, which helps them build strong bonds with their loved ones. They can also explore new places and make memorable experiences with their families. Moreover, long holidays provide students with relaxation and a stress-free mind. Regularly attending school can create pressure on students, and they may not have enough time for their families, hobbies and sports. Therefore, during holidays, they can participate in these activities and enjoy their free time. For example, during a two-month vacation, students can visit their relatives and spend quality time with them.

On the other hand, there are some advantages to having shorter holidays. The first prominent reason is that students are less likely to forget what they have learned. Long breaks can cause students to forget important lessons, concepts and formulas. In contrast, shorter breaks allow children to maintain their academic routine and remember their lessons more effectively. Additionally, students can have more opportunities to prepare for examinations and participate in school activities. For example, students who follow a regular study routine may perform better in school examinations because they can revise their lessons consistently.

In conclusion, after considering all the aspects, I would like to emphasize that schools should provide shorter holidays because students can concentrate more on their studies and improve their academic performance. However, I believe that schools should provide approximately one month of holidays so that students can enjoy sufficient rest while maintaining their 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. You maintain a clear position throughout, culminating in a balanced conclusion. The ideas are relevant and supported by examples, such as the mention of family bonding and academic retention. To reach a higher band, ensure that your arguments are developed with more depth; for instance, when discussing academic performance, you could elaborate on the 'summer slide' phenomenon or the impact on teacher burnout to provide a more sophisticated analysis. Overall, the task is fully addressed with a consistent viewpoint.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

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 easy to follow. You use cohesive devices such as 'To start with', 'Moreover', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' effectively to guide the reader. However, some transitions are slightly mechanical. To improve, try to vary your linking phrases and ensure that the relationship between sentences is always smooth. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the overall structure supports the development of your argument well.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'academic routine', 'memorable experiences', and 'emphasize'. The meaning is consistently clear, and there are no significant spelling or word-choice errors. To achieve a higher score, incorporate more precise or less common collocations. For example, instead of 'create pressure', you could use 'exert academic pressure', and instead of 'forget important lessons', you might use 'experience knowledge attrition'. Expanding your vocabulary to include more academic-style synonyms will help elevate the tone of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You use conditional and relative clauses effectively, such as 'students who follow a regular study routine may perform better'. Grammar is generally accurate, and punctuation is used correctly throughout. There are very few errors, and those that exist do not impede communication. To move into the higher bands, aim to incorporate a wider variety of complex structures, such as passive voice or inverted sentences, to demonstrate greater grammatical flexibility and control over more sophisticated sentence patterns.

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