Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-08-26
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 5.5)
Many individuals spend a lot of time on their jobs. So, they do not participate in other activities due to busy schedule. This essay would throw some light on all aspects to see things in the right perspective.
On one hand, nowadays, the usage of electric gadgets is increasing day by day such as smartphones etc. so people prefer to buy latest products which are expensive. So they work for long hours to earn money to fulfill their needs.
As a result, they get these products but loose other parts of life like spending time with family. Moreover, inflation has also increased a lot as compared to past days, it becomes hard for people to maintain their daily needs like two time meals, rent and other bills. They do not have any other options instead working for long shifts.
On the other hand, there are plethora of possible and plausible remedies. The first one is they should avoid unnecessary products which they do not need so they can save money and no need to work extra hours. They can utilized that time in other activities like playing outdoor games and participate in clubs. Which would be beneficial for their mental and physical health. Secondly, workers can schedule their week wisely so they work more on weekdays and can avoid work on weekends.
In conclusion, although some people have to work for extra hours to feed their families. I believe that workers can manage their work and personal life easily if they stop spending on unnecessary products and manage their schedules wisely.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the prompt by discussing the causes of long working hours and suggesting remedies. However, the task specifically asks whether the situation has more advantages or disadvantages. The essay fails to clearly state a position on this balance, instead focusing on the causes and potential solutions. While the ideas are relevant, the development is somewhat superficial. To improve, you must explicitly state whether you believe the disadvantages outweigh the advantages and ensure your arguments directly support that stance throughout the essay rather than shifting the focus to how to solve the problem.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organised into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the structure. However, the use of cohesive devices is sometimes mechanical or slightly inaccurate. For instance, the transition 'On the other hand' is used to introduce solutions rather than a counter-argument regarding the advantages of long hours. Additionally, some sentences are fragmented or lack smooth logical flow, such as the abrupt transition between discussing inflation and the conclusion. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each paragraph logically builds upon the previous one would enhance the overall coherence.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task, but it lacks the precision and range required for a higher band. You use some good phrases like 'plausible remedies' and 'mental and physical health', but there are also instances of awkward phrasing and word choice errors, such as 'loose' instead of 'lose' and 'two time meals'. The repetition of basic words like 'work' and 'products' limits the sophistication of the writing. To achieve a higher score, focus on using more precise collocations and synonyms to express your ideas more naturally.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the meaning is generally clear, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb forms and sentence construction. Examples include 'They can utilized that time' (incorrect verb tense) and 'no need to work' (missing subject/verb). Punctuation is also inconsistent, with some sentences ending abruptly or being joined incorrectly. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and ensure that complex sentences are constructed accurately. Reviewing basic grammar rules regarding tense consistency will help reduce the frequency of these errors.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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