Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-17

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 contemporary society, primary and secondary schools close for two months or more during the summer holidays to improve learners' overall well-being, whereas shorter holidays are also significant in boosting their academic performance.

One major benefit of long holidays that last for two months or more is that it can help learners to relax mentally by reducing stress that might have been caused by the classroom environment. Studying can put a lot of pressure to the students which can cause stress in the long run. Longer holidays can give learners more time for their hobbies and other activities away from their studies, which may help them reduce the classroom pressure due to the fact that some events are entertaining while others are re-energizing. For instance, students who like swimming can enjoy their hobbies during long holidays. This can ultimately improve their overall well-being, leading to a better quality of life and contributing to the long-term development of society.

Nevertheless, it would be unrealistic to overlook the fact that shorter breaks are also crucial for their studies. This is due to the fact that these breaks may improve their concentration in class by breaking the classroom monotony, which could cause boredom to the learners, thus affecting their concentration. Consider learners taking an exam for more than one month; if they are given a break before embarking on their studies, it is likely that they may concentrate better. As a result, short holidays may bring significant positive changes, benefiting learners academically, which may improve their performances in school.

To conclude, although in many countries, primary and secondary schools close for two months or more during the summer holidays to boost learners' well-being, shorter school holidays are also significant in improving the academic performance.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response successfully addresses all parts of the prompt, exploring both the value of long school holidays and the arguments in favour of shorter ones. The position is clear throughout the essay. Ideas are generally well-developed and supported with relevant explanations and examples, such as the mention of swimming to illustrate hobbies. However, the development in the second body paragraph could be slightly more sophisticated and precise, particularly regarding how shorter holidays directly impact concentration and academic performance. The arguments are relevant and directly answer the two-part question, satisfying the criteria for a Band 7.0 performance.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay presents a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information and ideas are coherently linked, with an appropriate introduction and conclusion. The writer uses cohesive devices effectively, such as 'One major benefit', 'Nevertheless', and 'As a result', although some linking phrases are a bit repetitive or slightly formulaic, which is typical of Band 6 to 7 writing. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with each paragraph having a clear central topic. The overall arrangement of ideas flows smoothly, guiding the reader logically from the introduction through the two distinct arguments to the final concluding summary.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow some flexibility and precision, employing appropriate terms such as 'contemporary society', 'well-being', and 'classroom monotony'. Less common lexical items are attempted with some awareness of style and collocation, for instance, 're-energizing' and 'long-term development'. However, there are occasional inaccuracies in word choice or collocation, such as 'put a lot of pressure to the students' instead of 'on the students', and some phrasing is slightly repetitive. The vocabulary is nonetheless adequate for the task, allowing the writer to convey their ideas clearly without communication being hindered by lexical limitations.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating control over relative clauses and conditional structures, such as 'Studying can put a lot of pressure to the students which can cause stress' and 'if they are given a break before embarking on their studies'. There is a variety of complex structures attempted, yielding frequent error-free sentences alongside some minor mechanical slips, like preposition choices ('pressure to' instead of 'pressure on'). Punctuation is generally accurate, and control over grammar is good throughout the text, meaning errors rarely impede communication, easily securing a solid Band 6.5 to 7.0 level.

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