Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-22

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. While long holidays provide several benefits for students, shorter holidays also have some advantages.

One of the major advantages of long holidays is that they provide students with enough time to recover both mentally and physically. During the school year, a significant number of students experience stress from exams, homework and extracurricular activities. Long holidays allow them to spend quality time with their families, go on trips, enjoy hobbies and participate in cultural events. These activities help strengthen family bonds, develop social interaction and improve creativity. Furthermore, students have opportunities for informal learning, such as attending language, swimming or music classes and participating in science camps during this period. As a result, they can develop new skills and interests outside the classroom.

In contrast, there are various arguments in favour of shorter holidays. Firstly, the main benefit is that students are less likely to forget what they have learned. After a long break, students may need a few weeks to remember their previous lessons and get back into their study routine. In contrast, shorter breaks can help them maintain their study habits and continue learning regularly. This may also help students make steady academic progress throughout the year. Moreover, shorter holidays can be more convenient for working parents because they do not need to arrange childcare for a long period. This can reduce the pressure on parents and make it easier for them to manage their work and family responsibilities.

In conclusion, long school holidays provide students with an opportunity to rest, spend quality time with their families and develop new skills. On the other hand, shorter breaks can help students maintain their academic progress and make life easier for working parents. Therefore, both types of holidays have their own positive aspects.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The student fully addresses all parts of the task by clearly discussing both the value of long school holidays and the arguments in favour of shorter ones. A clear position is maintained throughout the essay. Ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant examples, such as mentioning specific activities like science camps, language classes, and family trips to illustrate the benefits of long breaks. The counter-arguments regarding the prevention of learning loss and convenience for working parents are also clearly articulated and logically extended. The response meets the task requirements effectively, resulting in a solid Band 7.5 performance for this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Information and ideas are coherently structured with an appropriate introduction and conclusion. Each body paragraph focuses on a distinct theme: the benefits of long holidays in paragraph two, and the advantages of shorter holidays in paragraph three. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'In contrast', 'Firstly', and 'Moreover' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, maintaining a smooth and logical flow from start to finish.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary with adequate flexibility and precision for the task. Phrases such as 'recover both mentally and physically', 'strengthen family bonds', 'informal learning', and 'study routine' show a good command of common collocation. There are also attempts at less common lexical items like 'extracurricular activities' and 'responsibilities'. While the vocabulary is generally natural and appropriate, it lacks the broader, more sophisticated flexibility and precise nuance characteristic of higher band levels. Spelling and word choice are accurate throughout.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The student uses a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures with frequent error-free sentences. Complex clauses are integrated smoothly, as seen in sentences like 'While long holidays provide several benefits for students, shorter holidays also have some advantages.' Control of grammar and punctuation is generally strong, with correct tense usage and reliable subject-verb agreement. The minor mechanical errors are practically non-existent, and the majority of sentences remain accurate, placing the essay comfortably at a Band 7.5 level for grammatical control.

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