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)

It is common for schools in many countries to have an extended summer break. While long holidays can provide students with valuable time to rest and engage in other activities, shorter school holidays can also offer several important advantages.

There are several benefits to having a lengthy school holiday. The main advantage is that students have sufficient time to recover from the pressure of academic work. After studying continuously for several months, children can relax and return to school feeling refreshed and motivated. In addition, a long break allows them to spend more quality time with their families, travel to different places, or develop personal interests such as sports, reading and music. Therefore, extended holidays can contribute to students' overall well-being and personal development.

On the other hand, shorter school holidays can be beneficial for both students and their families. One major advantage is that children are less likely to forget what they have learned during the academic year. If the summer break is too long, students may lose their study habits and require additional time to readjust when school resumes. Furthermore, shorter breaks can be more convenient for working parents, who may find it difficult to arrange childcare for several weeks. Regular but shorter holidays could therefore provide students with adequate rest while maintaining continuity in their education.

In conclusion, long school holidays give students an opportunity to rest, spend time with their families and pursue personal interests. However, shorter breaks can help maintain academic progress and reduce childcare difficulties for parents. In my view, a balanced school calendar with regular breaks of reasonable length would be the most beneficial approach.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses both parts of the prompt clearly. You have identified the value of long holidays (rest, family time, personal development) and the arguments for shorter ones (academic retention, childcare convenience). The position is consistent throughout, and the conclusion provides a balanced view. The ideas are well-developed and supported with logical reasoning. To reach a higher band, you could incorporate more specific examples or real-world scenarios, such as mentioning how specific extracurricular programs or summer learning loss studies support your points, which would add depth to your arguments.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

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 smooth. You use a variety of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'In addition', 'On the other hand', and 'Furthermore', which help guide the reader through your argument. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the transition between the benefits of long holidays and the advantages of shorter ones is handled well. The structure is clear and easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'academic work', 'maintain continuity', and 'balanced school calendar' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is appropriate and natural, it is generally standard. To achieve a higher score, you could incorporate more sophisticated or less common lexical items, such as 'mitigate learning loss', 'holistic development', or 'logistical challenges', which would demonstrate a greater degree of flexibility and stylistic awareness in your writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay displays a good control of grammatical structures. You use a mix of simple and complex sentences effectively, such as the conditional structure 'If the summer break is too long, students may lose their study habits'. The punctuation is accurate, and there are no significant errors that impede communication. The writing is clear and professional. To improve, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex sentence structures, such as using more passive voice constructions or inverted conditionals, to further demonstrate your grammatical range.

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