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 clearly discussing both the value of long school holidays and the arguments in favour of shorter ones. The writer establishes a clear position from the beginning and maintains it throughout the essay. Ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as children participating in sports, learning musical instruments, or attending language courses. The arguments regarding academic continuity and the challenges faced by working parents are also effectively articulated. The conclusion thoughtfully synthesises these points, resulting in a well-rounded and fully developed response that meets all the requirements of the task.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

Ideas are logically sequenced and progress naturally throughout the response. Each paragraph has a clear central topic, starting with an introductory overview, followed by well-structured body paragraphs addressing the specific prompts, and concluding with a balanced summary. Cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'However', 'Furthermore', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument without being obtrusive. Paragraphing is managed skilfully, ensuring clear separation of ideas.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The student demonstrates a wide and flexible range of vocabulary suited to an academic discussion. Phrases such as 'mentally exhausting', 'academic continuity', 'smooth transition', and 'balanced holiday schedule' show a strong command of less common lexical items. Word choice and collocations are generally accurate and natural, contributing to the clarity of the essay. There are no noticeable spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication, reflecting a high level of lexical control appropriate for a Band 7.5 to 8.0 level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a wide range of complex grammatical structures used with a high degree of accuracy. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the writer demonstrates good control over subordinate clauses, conditional meanings, and relative clauses, as seen in sentences like 'A lengthy break allows them to relax and spend quality time with their families.' Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and complex forms are integrated smoothly without straining readability. Only very occasional minor slips occur, easily placing this response in the higher band range.

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