Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 20 · 2026-10-01

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)

## Essay

Long summer holidays have traditionally been an important part of the school calendar in many countries. While these extended breaks provide several benefits for students and teachers, there are also strong arguments for shortening them and distributing holidays more evenly throughout the year.

One major advantage of long school holidays is that they give students an opportunity to rest after a demanding academic year. Studying for many months can be tiring, and a long break allows children to recover physically and mentally. It also provides valuable time for families to travel, visit relatives, or spend time together without the pressure of schoolwork. For example, during a long summer holiday, students may visit different parts of their country and gain practical knowledge about its culture, history and geography. Furthermore, teachers can use this period to relax and prepare lessons for the following academic year.

However, shorter school holidays can have significant advantages. The most important argument is that students are less likely to forget what they have learned. After a two- or three-month break, children may need several weeks to remember previously studied material, particularly in subjects such as mathematics and languages. Shorter breaks could therefore help maintain continuity in learning. In addition, shorter holidays could be particularly beneficial for children from disadvantaged families, who may not have access to educational activities during a long vacation. Schools could provide a more consistent learning environment throughout the year.

Another argument in favour of shorter holidays is that they may be more convenient for working parents. A long summer vacation can create difficulties for parents who have full-time jobs and cannot afford childcare. More frequent but shorter breaks could make it easier for families to organise childcare and maintain their normal routines.

In conclusion, long school holidays are valuable because they allow students and teachers to rest, spend time with their families and take part in activities outside the classroom. Nevertheless, shorter and more evenly distributed holidays could reduce learning loss and make childcare easier for working families. A balanced school calendar that provides sufficient rest without creating excessively long interruptions to education may therefore address both sets of concerns.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response successfully addresses all parts of the prompt by exploring both the value of long school holidays and the arguments in favour of shorter ones. The position is clear throughout the text, beginning with a balanced introduction and culminating in a thoughtful conclusion. Ideas are well-extended and supported with relevant examples, such as noting how students can visit different parts of their country to gain practical knowledge, or how learning loss particularly impacts mathematics and languages. While there is a slight tendency to over-generalise regarding disadvantaged children and working parents, the main arguments are thoroughly developed. To move toward the highest band, the response could integrate even more nuanced perspectives or specific comparative data between different educational systems.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

The essay displays clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving smoothly from the introduction to the benefits of long holidays, the advantages of shorter breaks, and finally to a balanced conclusion. Cohesive devices are used flexibly and naturally, such as 'Furthermore', 'However', 'In addition', and 'Nevertheless'. Paragraphing is managed effectively, ensuring that each new idea is introduced logically. Referencing throughout the text is clear and avoids ambiguity. To achieve an even higher level of cohesion, the transitions between paragraphs could incorporate slightly more advanced inter-paragraph linking to make the flow completely seamless.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.5

The vocabulary used is more than adequate to convey precise meanings, demonstrating a sufficient range for flexibility and precision. The writer successfully incorporates less common lexical items with good awareness of style and collocation, such as 'demanding academic year', 'maintain continuity', and 'disadvantaged families'. Word choice is generally appropriate, and spelling is accurate throughout. Minor occasional errors or slightly standard collocations prevent it from reaching the highest tier, but communication is effortless. To push into higher bands, the student could experiment with more sophisticated idiomatic expressions or academic phrasing, such as 'ameliorate the learning gap' instead of 'reduce learning loss'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.0

Grammatical control is a major strength in this essay, featuring a wide range of complex structures used with a high degree of accuracy. The majority of sentences are completely error-free. The writer demonstrates excellent command over conditional ideas, modal verbs, and subordinate clauses, as seen in sentences like 'After a two- or three-month break, children may need several weeks to remember previously studied material.' Punctuation and article usage are handled with precision, and verb tenses remain consistent throughout. Only very occasional minor slips occur, which do not impede communication in any way, maintaining a polished and professional academic tone across the entire text.

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