Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · 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 8.0)

Long summer holidays are a common feature of primary and secondary education in many countries. While extended breaks can provide significant benefits for children, there are also compelling arguments for shortening them. In my view, although lengthy holidays are valuable for students’ well-being and development, shorter breaks would be more beneficial academically.

One major advantage of long school holidays is that they give children an opportunity to recover from the demands of academic life. After several months of lessons, homework and examinations, students can experience considerable mental fatigue, and a prolonged break allows them to return to school refreshed and more motivated. Moreover, summer holidays can facilitate learning outside the classroom. Children may travel with their families, participate in sports, develop hobbies or spend meaningful time with relatives. For example, a child who spends several weeks visiting historical sites or exploring nature can gain practical knowledge and life experience that cannot easily be acquired through textbooks.

However, shorter holidays can help students maintain academic continuity. A lengthy interruption may cause children, particularly younger learners, to forget previously acquired knowledge, meaning that teachers have to spend valuable classroom time revising old material when the new term begins. This phenomenon, often referred to as the “summer learning loss”, can be particularly problematic for students from disadvantaged backgrounds who may have limited access to educational resources during the holidays. Furthermore, shorter breaks can create a more consistent learning routine, enabling students to develop discipline and retain information more effectively.

In conclusion, long summer holidays allow students to rest, spend time with their families and pursue valuable activities beyond school. Nevertheless, shorter holidays can reduce learning loss and promote greater academic continuity. Therefore, I believe that schools should retain regular breaks but shorten the longest summer vacation rather than eliminate holidays altogether.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

The response fully addresses both parts of the prompt. You clearly identify the value of long holidays, such as mental recovery and experiential learning, while also providing strong arguments for shorter breaks, specifically focusing on academic continuity and the 'summer learning loss' phenomenon. Your position is consistent throughout the essay, and the ideas are well-developed with relevant examples, such as visiting historical sites. The conclusion effectively synthesizes your arguments and provides a balanced final recommendation. The response is well-structured and directly answers the question asked.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay demonstrates a clear logical progression. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the benefits of long holidays and the arguments for shorter ones is smooth, using effective signposting like 'However' and 'Furthermore'. Cohesive devices are used naturally, such as 'Moreover', 'In conclusion', and 'This phenomenon'. The paragraphing is logical, with each section serving a distinct purpose in the overall argument. There is no evidence of mechanical or repetitive use of linking words, and the flow of ideas is easy to follow from start to finish.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a wide and flexible range of vocabulary that is appropriate for an academic context. Phrases like 'academic continuity', 'prolonged break', 'disadvantaged backgrounds', and 'facilitate learning' show a high level of precision. You use less common items effectively, such as 'compelling arguments' and 'eliminate holidays altogether'. The word choice is consistently accurate, and there are no noticeable errors in collocation or spelling. The vocabulary is sophisticated enough to convey your ideas with clarity and nuance, fitting the criteria for a high band score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The essay displays a wide range of grammatical structures with high accuracy. You successfully use complex sentences, such as 'Although lengthy holidays are valuable for students’ well-being and development, shorter breaks would be more beneficial academically.' Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no significant grammatical errors. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and the control over tense and subject-verb agreement is excellent. The writing is fluent and demonstrates a strong command of English syntax, which is consistent with a high level of proficiency.

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