IELTS Writing Task 2 - Discuss Both Views (School Holidays)

Opinions are divided on whether the long summer break should be reduced to give pupils more time for study, or kept because it helps them develop in other ways. While shorter holidays have some advantages, I believe a long break is more valuable for children.

On the one hand, there are two strong arguments for cutting the length of the summer holidays. The first is the risk of forgetting. After eight or ten weeks without lessons, many children lose some of their reading and maths skills, so teachers must spend the first weeks of the new year repeating old material. For example, a pupil who reads nothing during the summer may return to school a whole level behind their classmates. The second argument concerns working parents. Most adults have only a few weeks of leave each year, which means a long school holiday can force families to pay for expensive childcare.

On the other hand, I agree with those who think long holidays play an important part in a child's development. The most important reason is rest. Children today face heavy workloads and regular tests, and a long break allows them to relax and return to school with fresh energy. In addition, holidays offer a different kind of learning. Summer camps, sports, family trips or simply playing with friends teach confidence, teamwork and independence, which are hard to develop in a classroom. For instance, a child who spends a few weeks at a summer sports club often returns to school more confident and independent than before.

In conclusion, although shorter holidays might reduce learning loss and help working parents, I believe a long summer break is more valuable, because it gives children both rest and important experiences outside the classroom.

People disagree about how governments should spend their transport budgets. Some argue that the money should be used to build new roads, while others feel it should go to buses and trains. In my opinion, investing in public transport is the better choice.

On the one hand, there are good reasons why some people want more roads. The first is that many towns and villages have no train line and only a few buses, so people there depend on their cars to get to work, school and hospital. New and wider roads would make these journeys quicker and safer. Another argument is that goods are mostly moved by lorry, so better roads can help local businesses deliver products faster and more cheaply.

On the other hand, I believe public transport deserves the money. The most important reason is that a single bus or train can carry far more people than the same space filled with cars, so it reduces traffic in a way that new roads rarely do. In fact, new roads often fill up again within a few years as more people decide to drive. In addition, buses and trains produce much less pollution per passenger. For instance, when London introduced more frequent bus services and new rail lines, many commuters left their cars at home, and traffic in the centre fell.

In conclusion, although new roads can help people in rural areas and support businesses, I believe governments should spend more on public transport, because it moves more people, eases traffic and protects the environment.

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