Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-14

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 close for two months or more during the summer. Although shorter holidays can help students maintain academic continuity, I believe that extended breaks offer greater overall value because they allow children to rest, develop practical skills and gain experiences beyond the classroom.

Long school holidays provide students with an opportunity to pursue activities that are difficult to accommodate during the academic year. A demanding school schedule often leaves little time for children to explore their personal interests or acquire practical abilities. During a lengthy break, they can learn to cook, play a musical instrument, practise a sport, study a language or develop digital skills. Such activities can contribute to their independence and broaden their understanding of the world. Travel can have a similar effect, as visiting unfamiliar places exposes young people to different cultures, lifestyles and perspectives. For instance, a child who spends part of the summer travelling with their family may return to school with a greater appreciation of cultural diversity and a more mature outlook.

Another significant benefit is the opportunity for psychological recovery. Students, particularly those preparing for important examinations, may experience considerable pressure during the school year. A substantial period away from academic demands allows them to relax, spend time with family and friends, and return to school refreshed. Adequate rest can consequently improve their concentration and motivation when formal education resumes.

Nevertheless, shorter holidays have several advantages. The most obvious is that they reduce the loss of academic knowledge that can occur during prolonged breaks. Students who remain away from their studies for several months may forget important concepts, forcing teachers to devote valuable classroom time to revision. Shorter breaks can also provide greater consistency in learning and make childcare arrangements easier for working parents. In addition, a more continuous academic calendar may be particularly beneficial for students who have limited educational support at home.

Overall, shorter holidays can promote academic continuity and reduce practical difficulties for families. However, I believe that longer school holidays are more beneficial because they provide children with valuable opportunities to rest, develop practical skills and learn through experiences outside formal education. The ideal school calendar should therefore combine substantial periods of vacation with sufficient instructional time to prevent significant academic setbacks.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt, exploring both the value of long school holidays and the arguments in favour of shorter ones, before clearly stating and defending the writer's position. The ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as children learning to cook or play a musical instrument, and the mention of travel exposing young people to different cultures. The arguments are extended logically throughout the essay, demonstrating a strong understanding of the prompt requirements. There are no missing components or under-developed main ideas, placing this performance comfortably at Band 8.0.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically structured and easy to follow from introduction to conclusion. Paragraphing is used skilfully and appropriately, with each body paragraph dedicated to a distinct theme: the developmental benefits of long holidays, psychological recovery, and the counter-arguments for shorter breaks. Cohesive devices such as 'Although', 'During a lengthy break', 'Another significant benefit', and 'Nevertheless' are managed naturally without being overly mechanical. The progression of ideas throughout the text is clear, guiding the reader smoothly through the writer's line of reasoning. This demonstrates all the characteristics of a Band 8.0 performance in Coherence and Cohesion.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The student displays a wide, fluent, and flexible range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic discussion. Less common and precise items such as 'academic continuity', 'psychological recovery', 'prolonged breaks', and 'cultural diversity' are used naturally and accurately. Collocations are generally strong, and word choices reflect a sophisticated command of English. There are only very occasional, minor inaccuracies, which do not impede communication. The vocabulary deployed easily satisfies the Band 8.0 criteria, showing both breadth and precision.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response exhibits a wide range of complex grammatical structures used with a high degree of accuracy. The majority of sentences are error-free, and complex clauses are integrated smoothly, as seen in structures like 'Students, particularly those preparing for important examinations, may experience considerable pressure during the school year.' Control over punctuation, tense consistency, and subject-verb agreement is excellent throughout. Only very occasional non-systematic slips occur, which places the grammar performance at a solid Band 8.0 level.

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