Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-11

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 have a long summer break of two months or more. While these holidays provide several benefits to students, some people believe that shorter school holidays would be more beneficial. This essay will discuss the value of long holidays and the arguments in favour of shorter breaks.

There are several important benefits of having long school holidays. Firstly, students need sufficient time to rest after studying for many months. A long break can help them reduce stress and return to school with more energy and motivation. Secondly, students can use this time for other activities, such as playing sports, travelling or spending time with their families. For example, children can visit relatives during the summer holidays and develop stronger relationships with them. Therefore, long holidays can be valuable for both students' mental well-being and their personal development.

However, there are also strong arguments for shorter school holidays. One major advantage is that students can maintain their learning routine throughout the year. After a very long break, some children may forget information that they learned before the holidays. As a result, teachers may need to spend additional time reviewing previous lessons when students return to school. Shorter breaks could reduce this problem and allow students to continue their education more consistently. In addition, shorter holidays may be more convenient for working parents because they may find it difficult to look after their children for several months.

In conclusion, long school holidays are valuable because they allow students to rest, spend time with their families and participate in other activities. However, shorter breaks can help students maintain their learning and may also be more convenient for parents. In my opinion, a balanced holiday schedule with regular shorter breaks would be the most beneficial approach.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt effectively. You clearly identify the value of long holidays, such as mental well-being and personal development, and provide logical arguments for shorter holidays, including academic consistency and parental convenience. Your position is clear from the introduction through to the conclusion, where you offer a balanced perspective. The ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as the mention of children visiting relatives or the potential for learning loss. To reach a higher band, you could further extend the discussion by exploring the societal or economic implications of these holiday structures in more depth.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the benefits of long holidays and the arguments for shorter ones is smooth. You use a range of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'In addition', and 'As a result', which help guide the reader through your argument. The paragraphing is appropriate, and referencing is clear throughout. The flow is natural, and the structure supports the overall argument without any mechanical or repetitive use of linking words.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'mental well-being', 'personal development', 'learning routine', and 'balanced holiday schedule' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is appropriate and conveys your meaning clearly, it is somewhat functional. To achieve a higher score, you could incorporate more sophisticated or less common collocations and idiomatic expressions. For example, instead of 'very long break', you might use 'prolonged academic hiatus'. The spelling is accurate throughout, and your word choices are consistently appropriate for the academic context.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, such as the use of conditional and subordinate clauses (e.g., 'While these holidays provide...', 'After a very long break, some children may...'). The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over punctuation and grammar is strong. There are no significant errors that impede communication. To move into the highest band, ensure you vary your sentence length and structure even further to demonstrate complete flexibility, though your current control is already quite high and demonstrates a solid command of English grammar.

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