Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-21

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)

Long summer holidays have been a feature of school systems in many countries for generations. While extended breaks offer important educational and personal benefits, there are also persuasive reasons to shorten them.

The principal value of a long holiday is that it gives children sufficient time to recover from the pressures of the academic year. School is not merely a place of learning; it also imposes deadlines, examinations and daily routines. A two-month break allows students to rest, pursue hobbies, read independently and spend meaningful time with family. This is particularly valuable for teenagers, whose mental health may suffer when they face continual academic competition. In addition, long holidays enable families to travel together, visit relatives or expose children to different cultures—experiences that can be as educational as classroom instruction. Teachers, too, benefit from an extended period in which to rest and prepare for the following year.

Nevertheless, proponents of shorter holidays argue that long absences from school can damage learning. Young children, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, may forget core skills in reading, writing and mathematics when they are not practising them regularly. By contrast, wealthier families can often pay for tutoring, holiday camps and educational trips. Long vacations may therefore widen the achievement gap between social groups. Shorter breaks spread throughout the year could help students retain knowledge while still allowing regular opportunities for rest.

There are practical advantages as well. For many working parents, arranging childcare for several weeks is costly and difficult. A school calendar with shorter summer holidays and more evenly distributed breaks would reduce this burden. It could also make schools better able to provide meals, supervision and structured activities for children who lack these resources at home.

In conclusion, lengthy school holidays promote rest, family relationships and learning beyond the classroom. However, shorter and more frequent breaks may improve academic continuity, reduce inequality and better suit modern working families. The most effective approach would probably be to retain a substantial summer break while making it somewhat shorter and distributing additional holidays across the school year.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task, examining both the value of long school holidays and the arguments in favour of shorter ones. The writer maintains a clear, well-developed position throughout the essay. Ideas are extended and supported with relevant examples and explanations, such as the discussion on mental health, learning loss among disadvantaged children, and the practical challenges faced by working parents. The arguments flow logically from one paragraph to the next, covering educational, social, and economic dimensions without wandering off-topic. The conclusion effectively synthesizes these points and offers a balanced final perspective. This performance comfortably aligns with Band 8 descriptors for Task Achievement, as all parts are covered well and ideas are thoroughly developed with only minor omissions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

Coherence and cohesion are managed to a very high standard. The essay is logically organized, with a clear introduction, distinct body paragraphs addressing specific themes (rest/travel, learning loss, and practical/workplace advantages), and a cohesive conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to signal shifts in focus. Cohesive devices are deployed smoothly and naturally without feeling mechanical, as seen in transition phrases like 'The principal value', 'Nevertheless', and 'By contrast'. Referencing throughout the text is precise, ensuring that the reader can easily follow the progression of arguments. There are no disruptions in flow, meeting the criteria for a strong Band 8 performance.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

The writer demonstrates a wide, fluent, and flexible vocabulary range suitable for an academic task. Less common lexical items are used skilfully and naturally, such as 'continuous academic competition', 'disadvantaged backgrounds', 'achievement gap', and 'academic continuity'. Word choices and collocations are generally accurate and precise. While there are very occasional minor stylistic slips, they do not impede communication in any way. Spelling and word formation are immaculate throughout the response. This lexical control easily satisfies the requirements for Band 8.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay displays a wide range of complex grammatical structures used with a high degree of flexibility and accuracy. The majority of sentences are completely error-free. The writer successfully employs conditional and transitional structures, subordinate clauses, and varied sentence lengths to control the rhythm and emphasis of the writing. For instance, sentences such as 'Long vacations may therefore widen the achievement gap between social groups' and 'A school calendar with shorter summer holidays and more evenly distributed breaks would reduce this burden' demonstrate excellent syntactic control and punctuation. Only very rare, non-systematic errors could be imagined, firmly placing this response in the Band 8 category.

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