This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of summer holidays.
IELTS Essay: Summer Holidays
In certain 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?
While long school holidays have traditionally been considered a necessary break in the academic calendar, their value is under increasing scrutiny today. In my opinion, the benefits of a rest period greatly outweigh any perceived learning losses.
The most commonly cited drawback of a long holiday concerns the issue of “summer learning loss,” particularly for younger students. A study by independent organizations in the United States reported that students lose on average one month of learning in reading and mathematics during long holidays, with low-income students disproportionately affected. In countries like the Netherlands, where the summer break is just six weeks, the curriculum is structured to minimize this gap. Shorter, more frequent holidays spread throughout the year, as is standard in Japan, can help maintain academic momentum while still providing students periodic relief from stressful academic work.
The primary advantage of extended school holidays is the opportunity to recharge physically and emotionally. After months of studying, tests, and regimented schedules, children often suffer from burnout. A long summer holiday allows them to recuperate. For example, in countries like Germany, which has a six-week summer break, students use the time to travel domestically with family, attend music camps, or participate in forest schools, programs that build resilience and curiosity through outdoor education. These activities foster creativity, independence, and problem-solving skills that the classroom often cannot accommodate. Relatedly, teachers also benefit from this pause, using the time to develop lesson plans, attend professional development workshops, or simply avoid occupational fatigue, which has been linked to high attrition rates in many countries.
In conclusion, long school holidays undoubtedly offer valuable time for rest despite the marginal impact on academics. The summer holiday period should be embraced by all interested parties and governing bodies.
Analysis
1. While long school holidays have traditionally been considered a necessary break in the academic calendar, their value is under increasing scrutiny today. 2. In my opinion, the benefits of a rest period greatly outweigh any perceived learning losses.
1. The most commonly cited drawback of a long holiday concerns the issue of “summer learning loss,” particularly for younger students. 2. A study by independent organizations in the United States reported that students lose on average one month of learning in reading and mathematics during long holidays, with low-income students disproportionately affected. 3. In countries like the Netherlands, where the summer break is just six weeks, the curriculum is structured to minimize this gap. 4. Shorter, more frequent holidays spread throughout the year, as is standard in Japan, can help maintain academic momentum while still providing students periodic relief from stressful academic work.
1. The primary advantage of extended school holidays is the opportunity to recharge physically and emotionally. 2. After months of studying, tests, and regimented schedules, children often suffer from burnout. 3. A long summer holiday allows them to recuperate. 4. For example, in countries like Germany, which has a six-week summer break, students use the time to travel domestically with family, attend music camps, or participate in forest schools, programs that build resilience and curiosity through outdoor education. 5. These activities foster creativity, independence, and problem-solving skills that the classroom often cannot accommodate. 6. Relatedly, teachers also benefit from this pause, using the time to develop lesson plans, attend professional development workshops, or simply avoid occupational fatigue, which has been linked to high attrition rates in many countries.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
- Vary long and short sentences.
- Finish the paragraph strong.
1. In conclusion, long school holidays undoubtedly offer valuable time for rest despite the marginal impact on academics. 2. The summer holiday period should be embraced by all interested parties and governing bodies.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.
While long school holidays have traditionally been considered a necessary break in the academic calendar, their value is under increasing scrutiny today. In my opinion, the benefits of a rest period greatly outweigh any perceived learning losses.
The most commonly cited drawback of a long holiday concerns the issue of “summer learning loss,” particularly for younger students. A study by independent organizations in the United States reported that students lose on average one month of learning in reading and mathematics during long holidays, with low-income students disproportionately affected. In countries like the Netherlands, where the summer break is just six weeks, the curriculum is structured to minimize this gap. Shorter, more frequent holidays spread throughout the year, as is standard in Japan, can help maintain academic momentum while still providing students periodic relief from stressful academic work.
The primary advantage of extended school holidays is the opportunity to recharge physically and emotionally. After months of studying, tests, and regimented schedules, children often suffer from burnout. A long summer holiday allows them to recuperate. For example, in countries like Germany, which has a six-week summer break, students use the time to travel domestically with family, attend music camps, or participate in forest schools, programs that build resilience and curiosity through outdoor education. These activities foster creativity, independence, and problem-solving skills that the classroom often cannot accommodate. Relatedly, teachers also benefit from this pause, using the time to develop lesson plans, attend professional development workshops, or simply avoid occupational fatigue, which has been linked to high attrition rates in many countries.
In conclusion, long school holidays undoubtedly offer valuable time for rest despite the marginal impact on academics. The summer holiday period should be embraced by all interested parties and governing bodies.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
long school holidays ➜ extended academic breaks
traditionally been considered a necessary break ➜ historically viewed as an essential respite
academic calendar ➜ school-year schedule
value is under increasing scrutiny today ➜ its benefits are being questioned more and more
rest period greatly outweigh any perceived learning losses ➜ downtime significantly surpasses any supposed educational setbacks
The most commonly cited drawback of ➜ The most frequently mentioned disadvantage of
concerns the issue of ➜ relates to the matter of
particularly for ➜ especially in the case of
A study by independent organizations in ➜ Research conducted by third-party institutions in
lose on average one month of learning in reading and mathematics during long holidays ➜ typically fall behind by about four weeks in literacy and numeracy over extended breaks
low-income students disproportionately affected ➜ students from disadvantaged backgrounds are more severely impacted
curriculum ➜ course of study
structured to minimize this gap ➜ designed to reduce this disparity
more frequent holidays spread throughout the year ➜ shorter breaks distributed evenly across the calendar
as is standard in Japan ➜ following the model commonly used in Japan
help maintain academic momentum ➜ support consistent educational progress
providing students periodic relief ➜ offering learners regular intervals of rest
stressful academic work ➜ demanding school-related tasks
recharge physically and emotionally ➜ restore both body and mind
regimented schedules ➜ tightly structured timetables
burnout ➜ exhaustion from overwork
recuperate ➜ recover energy and well-being
travel domestically ➜ take trips within the country
attend music camps ➜ enroll in musical enrichment programs
participate in forest schools ➜ join nature-based educational programs
programs that build resilience and curiosity through outdoor education ➜ initiatives promoting mental strength and inquisitiveness via nature-based learning
foster creativity ➜ encourage imaginative thinking
independence ➜ self-reliance
and problem-solving skills ➜ and the ability to resolve challenges
accommodate ➜ make room for
Relatedly ➜ In a similar vein
pause ➜ temporary break
develop lesson plans ➜ prepare teaching materials
attend professional development workshops ➜ participate in training sessions for educators
avoid occupational fatigue ➜ prevent job-related exhaustion
has been linked ➜ has been associated
high attrition rates ➜ elevated staff turnover
undoubtedly ➜ without question
valuable time for rest despite the marginal impact on academics ➜ worthwhile downtime even with minimal academic disruption
summer holiday period ➜ the summertime break
embraced by all interested parties ➜ welcomed by all stakeholders
governing bodies ➜ educational authorities
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
lɒŋ skuːl ˈhɒlədeɪz
trəˈdɪʃᵊnᵊli biːn kənˈsɪdəd ə ˈnɛsəsᵊri breɪk
ˌækəˈdɛmɪk ˈkæləndə
ˈvæljuː ɪz ˈʌndər ɪnˈkriːsɪŋ ˈskruːtɪni təˈdeɪ
rɛst ˈpɪəriəd ˈɡreɪtli aʊtˈweɪ ˈɛni pəˈsiːvd ˈlɜːnɪŋ ˈlɒsɪz
ðə məʊst ˈkɒmənli ˈsaɪtɪd ˈdrɔːbæk ɒv
kənˈsɜːnz ði ˈɪʃuː ɒv
pəˈtɪkjələli fɔː
ə ˈstʌdi baɪ ˌɪndɪˈpɛndənt ˌɔːɡᵊnaɪˈzeɪʃᵊnz ɪn
luːz ɒn ˈævᵊrɪʤ wʌn mʌnθ ɒv ˈlɜːnɪŋ ɪn ˈriːdɪŋ ænd ˌmæθᵊmˈætɪks ˈdjʊərɪŋ lɒŋ ˈhɒlədeɪz
ləʊ-ˈɪnkʌm ˈstjuːdᵊnts ˌdɪsprəˈpɔːʃᵊnətli əˈfɛktɪd
kəˈrɪkjələm
ˈstrʌkʧəd tuː ˈmɪnɪmaɪz ðɪs ɡæp
mɔː ˈfriːkwᵊnt ˈhɒlədeɪz sprɛd θruːˈaʊt ðə jɪə
æz ɪz ˈstændəd ɪn ʤəˈpæn
hɛlp meɪnˈteɪn ˌækəˈdɛmɪk məˈmɛntəm
prəˈvaɪdɪŋ ˈstjuːdᵊnts ˌpɪəriˈɒdɪk rɪˈliːf
ˈstrɛsfᵊl ˌækəˈdɛmɪk wɜːk
riːˈʧɑːʤ ˈfɪzɪkᵊli ænd ɪˈməʊʃᵊnᵊli
ˈrɛʤɪməntɪd ˈʃɛdjuːlz
ˈbɜːnˈaʊt
rɪˈkjuːpəreɪt
ˈtrævᵊl dəˈmɛstɪkᵊli
əˈtɛnd ˈmjuːzɪk kæmps
pɑːˈtɪsɪpeɪt ɪn ˈfɒrɪst skuːlz
ˈprəʊɡræmz ðæt bɪld rɪˈzɪliəns ænd ˌkjʊəriˈɒsəti θruː ˈaʊtˌdɔːr ˌɛʤʊˈkeɪʃᵊn
ˈfɒstə ˌkriːeɪˈtɪvəti
ˌɪndɪˈpɛndəns
ænd ˈprɒbləm-ˈsɒlvɪŋ skɪlz
əˈkɒmədeɪt
rɪˈleɪtɪdli
pɔːz
dɪˈvɛləp ˈlɛsᵊn plænz
əˈtɛnd prəˈfɛʃᵊnᵊl dɪˈvɛləpmənt ˈwɜːkʃɒps
əˈvɔɪd ˌɒkjəˈpeɪʃᵊnᵊl fəˈtiːɡ
hæz biːn lɪŋkt
haɪ əˈtrɪʃᵊn reɪts
ʌnˈdaʊtɪdli
ˈvæljəbᵊl taɪm fɔː rɛst dɪˈspaɪt ðə ˈmɑːʤɪnᵊl ˈɪmpækt ɒn ˌækəˈdɛmɪks
ˈsʌmə ˈhɒlədeɪ ˈpɪəriəd
ɪmˈbreɪst baɪ ɔːl ˈɪntrɛstɪd ˈpɑːtiz
ˈɡʌvᵊnɪŋ ˈbɒdiz
Vocabulary Practice
I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:
While long __________ holidays have traditionally __________________________________ break in the academic _____________r, their value ______________________________ today. In my opinion, the benefits of a rest ______________________________________________ losses.
The _______________________________ of a long holiday concerns _____________ of “summer learning loss,” particularly ___r younger students. A ___________________________________________ in the United States reported that students lose ______________________________________________________________________ holidays, with low-income ___________________________ affected. In countries like the Netherlands, where the summer break is just six weeks, the c____________m is structured ____________________________ gap. Shorter, more ____________________________________________________ year, as ________________ Japan, can help _______________________ momentum while still providing ___________________ relief from stressful __________________ work.
The primary advantage of extended school holidays is the opportunity to recharge _________________ emotionally. After months of studying, tests, and regimented ____________s, children often suffer from b__________t. A long summer holiday allows them to r__________e. For example, in countries like Germany, which has a six-week summer break, students use the time to travel _______________y with family, attend ___________ camps, or participate _______________ schools, programs ___________________________________________________________ education. These activities foster ______________________________________________ skills that the classroom often cannot a____________e. R__________y, teachers also benefit from this p_______e, using the time to develop ___________________________________________________ workshops, or simply avoid _______________ fatigue, which has ____________ linked to high _______________ rates in many countries.
In conclusion, long school holidays u____________y offer valuable _______________________________________________ academics. The summer ____________ period should be embraced _____________________ parties and governing _________s.
Listening Practice
Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities:
Reading Practice
Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:
Speaking Practice
Days Off
Question 1: What do you do on your day off?
Question 2: Do you usually spend your days off with your parents or with your friends?
Question 3: Do you make plans for your day off?
Question 4: When was the last time you had a few days off?
Writing Practice
Some people believe that the experiences children have before they go to school will have the greatest effect on their future life. Others argue that experiences gained when they are teenagers have a bigger influence.
Discuss both views and give your own opinions.
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