Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-07-30

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

Many people work long hours, leaving very little time for leisure activities.

Does this situation have more advantages or more disadvantages?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

 

Student answer (Band 8.5)

In the modern world, an increasing number of individuals dedicate the majority of their day to work, leaving themselves with minimal time for recreational activities. While this lifestyle can lead to career advancement and financial rewards, I firmly believe that the disadvantages, particularly regarding physical health and personal relationships, significantly outweigh the advantages.

On the one hand, working extended hours can offer notable professional and financial benefits. The primary advantage is increased income, as employees who work overtime or take on extra shifts can build substantial savings and enjoy a higher standard of living. Furthermore, dedication to long hours often signals commitment to employers, which can accelerate career progression and lead to early promotions. For instance, many corporate professionals willingly sacrifice their personal time early in their careers to secure financial stability for their future families.

On the other hand, the drawbacks of chronic overwork on an individual’s well-being are severe. First and foremost, a lack of leisure time leads to extreme physical exhaustion and heightened stress levels, which can trigger chronic health conditions such as depression and heart disease. Additionally, eliminating downtime destroys any chance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance. When people spend all their energy at the office, their personal relationships suffer. Busy parents often miss out on crucial milestones in their children's lives, which can create emotional distance and strain family dynamics over time.

In conclusion, although long working hours can provide a temporary boost to one's finances and career trajectory, the long-term costs are too high. The loss of physical health and weakened family bonds make this trend vastly disadvantageous for human happiness.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt. You have clearly stated your position in the introduction and maintained it throughout the essay. The arguments are well-developed, with the first body paragraph exploring the professional benefits and the second body paragraph detailing the health and social drawbacks. The ideas are extended with relevant examples, such as the mention of corporate professionals and the impact on family dynamics. The conclusion effectively synthesizes your argument, confirming that the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. The response is balanced and demonstrates a clear understanding of the task requirements.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between the advantages and disadvantages is smooth, facilitated by effective cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'Furthermore', and 'First and foremost'. The use of referencing is precise, and the paragraphing is appropriate, with each section serving a distinct purpose in the overall argument. The flow of ideas is natural, and the relationship between sentences is clear, making the text easy to follow throughout.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary that is appropriate for the task. Phrases like 'career trajectory', 'chronic overwork', and 'financial stability' show a level of sophistication. The word choice is generally precise and contributes to the clarity of your arguments. While the vocabulary is effective, incorporating a few more idiomatic expressions or less common collocations could elevate the response further. However, the current range is sufficient to convey your ideas with precision and style, and there are no significant errors in word choice or collocation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.5

The essay displays a wide range of grammatical structures, including complex sentences and conditional forms. The majority of the sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is used correctly to enhance readability. You have successfully used a variety of sentence lengths and types, which keeps the writing engaging. There are no noticeable grammatical errors that impede communication. The control over complex structures is consistent, and the overall accuracy is high, reflecting a strong command of English grammar suitable for this level.

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