Cambridge 20 Test 2: Topic: Long Summer Holidays
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?
Sample Answer
Long summer holidays have traditionally been regarded as a well-deserved break for students and teachers, but they are increasingly coming under scrutiny. While such extended vacations offer several advantages, there are also strong arguments in favour of shorter breaks.
The primary benefit of long school holidays is rest and rejuvenation. After months of academic pressure, both students and educators need time to recover mentally and physically. Extended holidays also allow families to spend quality time together, travel, and engage in enriching activities such as camps or part-time jobs, which contribute to the holistic development of children.
However, critics of long holidays argue that they lead to a “learning loss.” Students, especially younger ones, often forget what they have learned over such a long break, requiring valuable time for revision when they return. This can widen the achievement gap between students who continue learning during the holidays and those who do not. Moreover, working parents frequently struggle to find affordable childcare during this extended period, creating financial and logistical challenges. Shorter, more frequent breaks could provide a better balance, ensuring that students remain academically engaged while still getting adequate rest.
In conclusion, although long summer holidays hold cultural and personal value, they may be outdated in today’s fast-paced educational environment. A restructured school calendar with shorter, spaced-out holidays may better support both learning retention and family needs.
Total 271 words
🔑 10 Highlight Vocabulary
- Scrutiny /ˈskruː.tɪ.ni/
Careful and detailed examination or criticism. - Extended /ɪkˈstɛn.dɪd/
Longer than usual or expected in duration. - Rejuvenation /rɪˌdʒuː.vəˈneɪ.ʃən/
The act of feeling or looking refreshed, renewed, or restored. - Enriching /ɪnˈrɪtʃ.ɪŋ/
Improving the quality of life or learning by adding value or depth. - Holistic /həʊˈlɪs.tɪk/
Considering the whole person or system, not just parts of it. - Achievement gap /əˈtʃiːv.mənt ɡæp/
The difference in academic performance between different groups of students. - Affordable /əˈfɔː.də.bəl/
Reasonably priced; not too expensive. - Logistical /ləˈdʒɪs.tɪ.kəl/
Related to planning and organizing practical details (like childcare, schedules, or transport). - Retention /rɪˈtɛn.ʃən/
The ability to keep or remember something, especially knowledge or skills. - Restructured /ˌriːˈstrʌk.tʃəd/
Organized or arranged in a new and more effective way.
