Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-09-30

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 longer during the summer. Although long holidays can provide several benefits for students, shorter school breaks may also have important advantages. This essay will discuss both views.

There are several reasons why long school holidays are valuable. Firstly, students need sufficient time to relax after a long academic year. Studying continuously can be tiring, and a lengthy break allows children to recover both physically and mentally. For example, students can spend more time with their families, travel to different places or participate in sports and hobbies. Secondly, long holidays can provide opportunities for children to learn outside the classroom. They may visit museums, read books, attend summer camps or develop practical skills that are not normally taught at school. Therefore, a substantial summer break can contribute to students’ overall development.

On the other hand, shorter school holidays have some clear advantages. One major argument is that students are less likely to forget what they have learned. After being away from school for several months, children may need considerable time to remember academic material when they return. Shorter breaks could help them maintain a regular learning routine and reduce this problem. In addition, shorter holidays may be more convenient for working parents, who may find it difficult to arrange childcare during a long summer vacation. Schools could also provide additional learning opportunities during shorter breaks, particularly for students who need extra academic support.

In my view, both types of holidays have benefits, but a long summer break is useful because children need adequate time to rest and pursue activities beyond their studies. However, schools could reduce the negative effects of a long vacation by providing optional reading or educational activities during the break.

In conclusion, long holidays give students valuable opportunities to relax, spend time with their families and develop new interests, whereas shorter holidays can help maintain academic progress and make childcare easier for parents. A balanced school calendar should therefore provide sufficient rest while preventing students from becoming disconnected from their studies.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The student has fully addressed all parts of the prompt by discussing both the value of long school holidays and the arguments in favour of shorter ones, presenting a clear position throughout the response. In the second paragraph, the writer explains the value of long holidays well, citing relevant examples such as travelling, spending time with family, and visiting museums to support the ideas. In the third paragraph, the counter-arguments for shorter holidays are clearly articulated, covering retention of learning and childcare convenience for working parents. The conclusion successfully summarises these points and presents a balanced perspective. The development of ideas is well-sustained and relevant, aligning closely with the Band 7 or 8 descriptors, though slightly more depth in the examples could push it further. Overall, the task response is well-structured and covers all required aspects thoroughly.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct and clear central topic, starting with an introduction, moving to the value of long holidays, then the advantages of shorter holidays, a personal view, and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'On the other hand', and 'In addition' are used effectively to guide the reader through the arguments without feeling overly mechanical. Paragraphing is managed logically and appropriately. Referencing is clear, and the overall progression of ideas flows naturally. This performance sits comfortably within the Band 7 descriptor, exhibiting a clear logical structure and appropriate use of cohesive markers.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary with adequate flexibility and precision for the task. Phrases such as 'recover both physically and mentally', 'overall development', and 'maintain a regular learning routine' demonstrate a good command of common and less common lexical items. There is an awareness of collocation and style, evident in expressions like 'academic material' and 'optional reading'. While the vocabulary is generally precise, it occasionally relies on standard academic commonplaces rather than highly sophisticated or uncommon terms. However, spelling and word choice are accurate throughout, ensuring that communication is smooth and unimpeded, fully satisfying the requirements for Band 7.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The writer demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, incorporating subordinate clauses effectively (e.g., 'Although long holidays can provide several benefits for students, shorter school breaks may also have important advantages'). There is a high proportion of error-free sentences, and punctuation is handled well throughout the essay. Complex structures are attempted with good control, and minor errors are virtually non-existent, reflecting strong grammatical awareness. While the variety of complex structures is slightly restrained compared to a higher band, the accuracy and control shown across the text align strongly with the Band 8 criteria, where the majority of sentences are error-free and control is consistently maintained.

See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.

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