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)

In many countries, schools close for two months or more during the summer. While long holidays provide several important benefits for students, shorter holidays may also have some advantages. This essay will discuss both views.

Long school holidays can be valuable for several reasons. First, they give students enough time to relax after a long period of studying. Children can spend quality time with their families, travel, or take part in activities that are not possible during the school term. This can help them return to school feeling refreshed and motivated. Second, a long break allows students to develop practical skills and hobbies. For example, they may learn cooking, swimming, a musical instrument or a new language.

However, there are also arguments in favour of shorter school holidays. One major advantage is that students are less likely to forget what they have learned. After a very long break, children may need considerable time to revise previous lessons before starting new topics. Shorter breaks can therefore help maintain a regular learning routine. In addition, shorter holidays may be more convenient for working parents, who can find it difficult to arrange childcare when their children are at home for several months.

In my opinion, although long holidays are useful for relaxation and personal development, a slightly shorter summer break would be more beneficial overall. Schools could provide several shorter holidays throughout the year instead of having one extremely long summer vacation. This would give students regular opportunities to rest while also helping them maintain their academic progress.

In conclusion, long school holidays offer students time to relax, spend time with family and develop new interests. Nevertheless, shorter holidays can support continuous learning and make childcare easier for parents. A balanced holiday system would therefore be the most effective approach.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt effectively. You clearly identify the value of long holidays (relaxation, skill development) and the arguments for shorter ones (academic retention, childcare convenience). Your position is consistent throughout the essay, and the conclusion provides a thoughtful synthesis of the two sides. To reach a higher band, you could provide more specific, real-world examples to support your points, such as mentioning the 'summer slide' phenomenon in education or specific childcare costs, which would add more depth to your arguments.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is well-organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is logical. You use cohesive devices such as 'First', 'Second', 'However', and 'In addition' effectively to guide the reader. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall flow. To improve, you could experiment with more sophisticated linking phrases or transition sentences between paragraphs to create a more seamless connection between the two opposing viewpoints.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'academic progress', 'regular learning routine', and 'personal development' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is appropriate and clear, it is somewhat functional. To achieve a higher band, try to incorporate more 'less common' lexical items or idiomatic collocations, such as 'mitigate learning loss', 'holistic development', or 'logistical challenges', which would elevate the sophistication of your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

Your grammar is generally strong, and the text is easy to follow. You use a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the conditional-like structure in the final paragraph ('Schools could provide...'). There are very few errors, and those that exist do not impede communication. To push into the 8.0+ range, ensure you are using a wider variety of complex structures, such as passive voice or inverted conditional sentences, and ensure that punctuation is consistently precise throughout.

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

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