Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-21

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)

Nowadays, most working individuals spend less of their free time on hobbies and activities they like to do. According to me, this has more demerits than merits. This can lead to obesity and other health-related problems. At some point, working a few extra hours can help to motivate ourselves to work more efficiently and focus.

On the one hand, allocating some extra time to work can create some health issues, which is not an appropriate way to deal with our most valuable body. Not spending time on activities that make individuals active and fit not only leads to obesity but also makes people less active. For instance, recent studies reveal that the majority of companies put extra workloads on their employees and give them overtime tasks, which also forces them to stay late at work.

On the other hand, working long hours can provide some benefits to individuals. For example, people can earn extra money by working overtime, which can help them manage their financial responsibilities and achieve their goals. In addition, spending more time at work can help employees gain more experience and improve their skills. This can be beneficial for their future careers and may provide them with better opportunities for promotion.

However, I believe that the disadvantages of working long hours are greater than the advantages. Although earning extra money and gaining work experience can be beneficial, people also need sufficient time to relax and take part in activities that improve their physical and mental health. Therefore, maintaining a proper balance between work and leisure activities is important for a healthy and productive life.

In conclusion, although working long hours can help people earn more money and develop their careers, I believe that it has more disadvantages because it can negatively affect people's health and leave them with very little time for leisure activities.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt and maintains a clear position throughout. The introduction states the writer's stance, and both sides of the argument are explored. The ideas are relevant, such as the link between long hours and health issues, and the benefits of career progression. However, the development of these ideas is somewhat basic. For instance, the point about 'obesity' is mentioned but not fully explained in terms of the mechanism (e.g., lack of time for exercise or poor diet). To reach a higher band, the writer should provide more detailed examples or deeper analysis of the consequences mentioned.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central focus, and the transition between the advantages and disadvantages is handled well using standard cohesive devices like 'On the one hand' and 'On the other hand'. The paragraphing is appropriate, and the conclusion effectively summarizes the main argument. While the use of cohesive devices is effective, it is somewhat formulaic. To improve, the writer could use a wider variety of linking words and ensure that the flow between sentences is more sophisticated rather than relying on simple transitions.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the message clearly and accurately. The writer uses topic-specific terms such as 'financial responsibilities', 'career progression', and 'productive life'. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, though some phrasing is slightly repetitive or generic. For example, 'working a few extra hours' and 'working long hours' are used frequently. To achieve a higher score, the writer should aim to incorporate more precise collocations and a broader range of synonyms to avoid repetition and demonstrate a more sophisticated command of the language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. The grammar is generally accurate, and errors are rare and do not impede communication. For example, the use of conditional-like structures and complex sentences such as 'Although earning extra money and gaining work experience can be beneficial, people also need...' shows good control. Punctuation is used correctly throughout. To reach a higher band, the writer should incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as passive voice or inverted sentences, to show greater flexibility and control over the language.

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