Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-12

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 6.5)

There is an ongoing debate regarding many people who work long hours, leaving them with very little time for leisure activities. Long work hours are beneficial to achieve success in career as well as it can create a negative impact on health. There are both advantages and disadvantages of this topic.

One compelling argument in the favor of extensive working hours is professional growth and career boost. Jobs in these days demand hard work and struggle as there is alot of competition in the market. Moreover, people who give more time earn better and makes a better position in their workplace. For example, many countries offer more salary for extra working hours.

However, with increased working hours, a decline both in mental and physical health is seen with many individuals who suffer from burnout syndrome. Although these extended work periods are required in most of the jobs these days, it increases the workload and decreases the quality of work. Many people tend to choose double shifts in order to support their families better but end up in having no time for their families or for themselves. Leisure activities is an essential component of balanced life which ensures positive mental health and quality of time. Lack of these pastimes results in poor performance and dullness in other daily tasks also.

Although there are valid arguments on both sides, I am convinced that long work hours are detrimental to health and having no time for self is discouraging for a normal life.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, acknowledging both the advantages and disadvantages of working long hours. You clearly state your position in the introduction and maintain it throughout, concluding with a firm stance. However, the development of ideas is somewhat limited. While you mention 'professional growth' and 'salary' as advantages, these points could be expanded with more specific examples or deeper analysis. Similarly, the discussion on health and family life is relevant but remains at a general level. To reach a higher band, ensure that each supporting point is fully extended with detailed explanations or real-world scenarios to demonstrate a more thorough exploration of the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices such as 'Moreover,' 'However,' and 'Although' to link ideas effectively. The progression of the argument is easy to follow. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the paragraphing could be improved by ensuring each paragraph focuses on a single, well-developed theme. The referencing is generally clear, but there are minor instances where the flow between sentences could be smoother to create a more cohesive narrative. Overall, the structure is sound and supports the reader's understanding of your argument.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'compelling argument,' 'burnout syndrome,' and 'detrimental.' There are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'makes a better position' instead of 'secures a better position' or 'in the favor of' instead of 'in favor of.' While you attempt to use less common vocabulary, the range is somewhat limited, and some phrasing feels slightly repetitive. To improve, focus on using more precise collocations and a wider variety of academic vocabulary to express your ideas with greater nuance and sophistication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this level. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'alot' (should be 'a lot'), 'Leisure activities is' (subject-verb agreement error, should be 'are'), and 'end up in having' (should be 'end up having'). While these errors do not impede communication, they occur frequently enough to prevent a higher score. To reach a higher band, focus on proofreading for subject-verb agreement and preposition usage. Increasing the variety of complex sentence structures while maintaining accuracy will also help elevate your score in this criterion.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.