Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-19

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. While such an extended break can provide considerable benefits for students and their families, there are also compelling arguments for shortening school holidays. This essay will examine both perspectives.

Long summer holidays can be valuable for several reasons. First and foremost, they give students an opportunity to recover from the academic pressures of the school year. Studying continuously for several months can be mentally exhausting, and an extended break allows children to relax, pursue hobbies and return to school refreshed. This is particularly important for younger students, who may benefit from spending more time playing outdoors and developing social skills outside the classroom. Secondly, lengthy holidays can strengthen family relationships. Parents may use this period to travel with their children, visit relatives or participate in activities that would be difficult to organise during the school term. Consequently, students can gain valuable experiences that complement their formal education.

Nevertheless, there are strong arguments in favour of shorter school holidays. The most significant concern is that students can forget a substantial amount of what they have learned when they remain out of school for an extended period. This is particularly evident in subjects such as mathematics and foreign languages, where regular practice is essential for retaining knowledge and developing fluency. Shorter breaks, therefore, could help students maintain academic momentum and reduce the need for teachers to spend valuable classroom time reviewing previously taught material. In addition, shorter holidays could be advantageous for working parents, who may struggle to arrange childcare for several consecutive weeks. A more balanced academic calendar, with shorter but more frequent breaks, could address this problem while still giving students sufficient time to rest.

In conclusion, long school holidays provide children with much-needed opportunities to relax, spend time with their families and engage in activities beyond the classroom. However, shorter holidays can help prevent learning loss and reduce the childcare difficulties faced by working parents. In my view, rather than eliminating long breaks altogether, schools should adopt a balanced calendar that provides students with adequate rest while maintaining continuity in their education.

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, presenting a clear position throughout. The introduction outlines the essay's scope effectively, and both body paragraphs present well-developed arguments supported by relevant explanations and examples. For instance, the discussion on summer learning loss in mathematics and foreign languages is thoroughly explored, as are the benefits of recovery from academic pressures and strengthening family relationships. The conclusion synthesises these points and presents a nuanced personal view advocating for a balanced calendar. The ideas are extended and supported logically, fulfilling all requirements for a high band score under Task Achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organised with a clear progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, moving smoothly from the introduction to the benefits of long holidays, the advantages of shorter holidays, and finally a well-reasoned conclusion. Cohesive devices are used naturally and effectively without being overly mechanical, as seen with phrases like 'First and foremost', 'Secondly', 'Nevertheless', and 'In addition'. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, and referencing throughout the text remains clear, ensuring the reader can follow the writer's line of thought effortlessly.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The student demonstrates a wide, fluent, and flexible range of vocabulary suited to an academic discussion. Less common lexical items are used with a good awareness of style and collocation, such as 'academic pressures', 'mentally exhausting', 'learning momentum', and 'balanced academic calendar'. Word choices are precise, and there are virtually no spelling or word-formation errors. The vocabulary supports the writer's arguments smoothly and enables fluent communication of complex ideas, meeting the criteria for a strong lexical score.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response exhibits a wide range of grammatical structures used with a high degree of accuracy. The majority of sentences are error-free, featuring a sophisticated mix of complex and compound structures, such as concessive clauses ('While such an extended break can provide...') and conditional or participial phrases ('...where regular practice is essential for retaining knowledge'). Control of punctuation, tense consistency, and subject-verb agreement is excellent throughout the text, with only rare, negligible slips if any, fully aligning with the high band descriptors.

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