Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-12

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 7.5)

In many countries, schools give students a summer holiday lasting two months or more. Although long holidays provide children with an opportunity to rest and develop outside the classroom, shorter holidays can help them maintain their academic progress and regular study habits.

One major benefit of long school holidays is that students have sufficient time to recover from the pressure of studying. Throughout the academic year, children have to attend classes, complete assignments and prepare for examinations, which can be mentally exhausting. A lengthy break allows them to relax and spend quality time with their families. In addition, students can use this time to develop interests and practical skills that may not be taught at school. For instance, they may participate in sports, learn a musical instrument or attend a language course during the summer.

However, there are several arguments in favour of shorter school holidays. The most important is that students are less likely to forget what they have learned when breaks are shorter. After being away from education for several months, children may need considerable time to revise previous topics before starting new ones. Shorter breaks can therefore help students maintain their learning habits and make a smoother transition between academic terms. Furthermore, long holidays can create difficulties for working parents, who may have to arrange childcare while they are at work.

In conclusion, long school holidays give students valuable time to rest, spend time with their families and pursue personal interests. Nevertheless, shorter holidays can help maintain academic continuity and reduce childcare problems. In my view, a balanced holiday schedule that provides adequate rest without excessively interrupting education would be the most beneficial approach.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the value of long school holidays and the arguments in favour of shorter ones, followed by a clear personal conclusion. The position is well-developed throughout the essay. In the second paragraph, the writer explains the benefits of long holidays, such as recovering from academic pressure and developing practical skills, supporting this with relevant examples like 'participate in sports, learn a musical instrument or attend a language course'. In the third paragraph, the arguments for shorter breaks are clearly outlined, focusing on the retention of academic knowledge and the reduction of childcare burdens for working parents. All ideas are extended and supported effectively, satisfying the requirements for a strong band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

Cohesion and coherence are well managed throughout the response. Information and ideas are logically sequenced, guiding the reader smoothly from the introduction through to the individual body paragraphs and the conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately and sufficiently, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct central theme: introduction, benefits of long holidays, arguments for shorter holidays, and conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'Although', 'One major benefit', 'In addition', 'However', and 'Furthermore' are employed effectively without being obtrusive. Paragraph referencing and logical progression are clear, demonstrating strong overall control of organizational structures.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic discussion. Less common and precise items are used successfully, such as 'mentally exhausting', 'academic continuity', 'smooth transition', and 'balanced holiday schedule'. Word choices and collocations are generally accurate, showing a good awareness of academic style. There are no noticeable spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication. While the vocabulary is fluent and natural, it stops just short of the sophisticated control and rare slips seen at the highest band level, fitting comfortably within a solid Band 7 descriptor.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The writer displays a very good variety of complex structures and sentence forms, such as concessive clauses ('Although long holidays provide children with...') and conditional or relative clauses ('...practical skills that may not be taught at school'). A significant majority of sentences are completely error-free, reflecting a high level of grammatical control. Punctuation is accurate, and minor errors are virtually absent. The command of grammar easily supports the clear communication of complex ideas, matching the expectations of a high band score.

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