Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-15

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 close for two months or more during the summer. This long break has several benefits, but some people think holidays should be shorter so students do not fall behind in their studies. This essay will look at both views before explaining why I think long holidays are more helpful than harmful.

There are good reasons to support long summer holidays. First, they give students free time to be creative and try new things outside of school. For example, many schools give holiday projects, such as making useful items out of recycled materials, which helps students use what they learned in class in a real and practical way. Second, long holidays allow families to travel together. This gives children the chance to see new places and learn about different cultures and traditions, something they cannot easily learn from a textbook. Finally, a long break lets students rest properly, so they come back to school with more energy and a fresh mind, ready to learn again.

On the other hand, there are also strong arguments for shorter holidays. Critics say that two months away from school causes students to forget what they learned and lose their study habits. Without regular lessons and deadlines, some students become lazy and find it hard to focus again once school starts. This is a fair concern, and it is one reason why some countries now prefer shorter, more frequent breaks throughout the year instead of one long summer holiday.

However, I believe the benefits of a long holiday are greater than this risk, as long as schools take some simple steps to help. For example, schools can give students summer homework or arrange short online check-ins every two weeks to keep track of their progress. In this way, students can still enjoy their holiday while staying connected to their studies.

In conclusion, although shorter holidays might reduce the chance of students falling behind, I still believe that the creative, cultural, and personal benefits of a long summer break are more valuable overall. With some support from schools, students can enjoy these benefits without harming their academic progress.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the value of long school holidays and the arguments in favor of shorter ones, while clearly stating the writer's personal position. The introduction outlines the essay's direction, and the body paragraphs present well-developed ideas. For instance, the discussion on long holidays covers creativity through holiday projects, cultural exposure via family travel, and physical rest. The counter-argument regarding learning loss is also fairly presented. The ideas are extended and supported effectively with relevant explanations, meeting all requirements of the task descriptor comfortably.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The response demonstrates clear logical organization and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with an introduction, followed by balanced body paragraphs addressing both sides of the prompt, a nuanced counter-argument evaluation, and a concluding summary. Cohesive devices are used effectively and appropriately, such as 'First', 'Second', 'Finally', 'On the other hand', and 'However'. Paragraphing is handled very well, and referencing is clear throughout, contributing to a smooth reading experience that aligns with Band 7 descriptors.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary with good flexibility and precision. Phrases such as 'fall behind in their studies', 'recycled materials', 'cultural and traditions', and 'academic progress' show a solid grasp of topic-related terminology. There are attempts to use less common items with general awareness of style and collocation (e.g., 'fresh mind', 'simple steps'). While the vocabulary is not overly sophisticated or rare, it is accurate, natural, and completely adequate for achieving a clear and effective communication of ideas.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay displays a good mix of simple and complex sentence forms. The writer successfully employs subordinate clauses and conditional structures, such as 'This long break has several benefits, but some people think holidays should be shorter so students do not fall behind' and 'as long as schools take some simple steps to help.' Control of grammar and punctuation is generally strong, with frequent error-free sentences and no major errors that impede communication. Minor slips do occur, but overall grammatical accuracy meets the criteria for Band 7.

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