Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-19

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 7.0)

In contemporary modern societies, a large number of individuals have hectic lifestyles due to demanding careers, which leave them with less time for recreational activities. While it assists people to earn telephone-figure salaries and excel in their professional careers, it also deprives them of quality time with family and leads to mental exhaustion.

On the one hand, the advantages of working longer hours cannot be ignored. Individuals earn handsome salaries and fulfill their carrier ambitions which is not only rewarding, but also fosters a sense of accomplishment. This helps them to climb the ladder of success and make their way to higher positions in the professional hierarchy. For instance, in many IT firms, young aspirants survive cut-throat competition by working day and night.

On the other hand, the disadvantages of this trend are far more significant to people's lives. By working longer hours, they are left with limited time to spend with friends and families, which is detrimental to their emotional health. If they do not spare enough time to rejuvenate imperative relationships, they risk losing their loved ones which could be detrimental to their happiness. Furthermore, insufficient participation in the recreational activities predisposes them to mental stress. Since leisure activities are a cathartic outlet for stress, having a little time to indulge in same while working day and night, leads to mental exhaustion.

In conclusion, although earning well and getting successful is crucial in modern life to survive the fierce competition, participation in leisure activities is paramount to strengthen relationships and to overcome mental exhaustion. Therefore, I believe the demerits are far more significant than the merits offered by the phenomenon of working longer hours.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the task and maintains a clear position throughout. You have successfully identified both sides of the argument and provided a clear conclusion that the disadvantages outweigh the advantages. The ideas are relevant and well-supported with examples, such as the mention of IT firms and the impact on emotional health. To reach a higher band, you could further develop the 'advantages' section by providing more specific evidence or a deeper analysis of why individuals choose these demanding careers, rather than just stating they do so for money and ambition. Overall, the response is well-focused and directly answers the prompt.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the progression of ideas is easy to follow. You have used a range of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'On the one hand', 'Furthermore', and 'In conclusion'. The referencing is generally clear, though there is a slight awkwardness in the phrase 'indulge in same', which is a bit mechanical. Improving the variety of transitions and ensuring that every sentence flows naturally into the next would help elevate this score to an 8.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

You demonstrate a good range of vocabulary, using terms like 'contemporary modern societies', 'professional hierarchy', 'cut-throat competition', and 'cathartic outlet'. These choices show an awareness of style and collocation. However, there are a few minor errors and awkward phrasings, such as 'telephone-figure salaries' (likely meant 'six-figure') and 'carrier ambitions' (should be 'career'). These do not impede communication, but they do highlight a need for more precise word choice. Expanding your use of less common collocations and ensuring accuracy in word forms will help you achieve a higher band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most sentences are error-free, and the grammar is generally controlled. There are a few minor slips, such as 'insufficient participation in the recreational activities' (the article 'the' is unnecessary here) and 'having a little time to indulge in same' (which is grammatically awkward). Despite these minor issues, the majority of your sentences are accurate, and your punctuation is handled well. To improve, focus on refining the use of articles and ensuring that complex structures are used with complete precision.

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

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