Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-01
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)
In recent years, people are spending their most of time in their work place and not spending enough time for their leisure and relaxation. I think this has a more disadvantages then advantages I will explain its drawbacks in the ensuing paragraphs.
To begin with, people prefer to work for long hours to meet the demands and criteria of the work which does not allow them time to spend for their own self as well as their near and dear once. Eventually, this seems to reduce their productivity level and less concentration at work.
The foremost reason for the long working hours at office directly trigger the risk of health issues such as poor eyesight, back ache, and bad posture. Working long on screen of computer or laptop is not good for human eye it can cause damage to retina or loss of eyesight in long way. Also sitting for long hours on chair can lead to back ache and poor position of back, neck and spine lead to bad posture. For example, scientific survey says that nowadays after 60 retiring age people have more complain about the joint pain and weakness in their body because of changing in work pattern.
To conclude, people should balance their work life and should use hi
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.0
The response fails to meet the minimum word count requirement of 250 words, reaching only 213 words. This significantly impacts the development of ideas, as the conclusion is incomplete and the arguments are somewhat truncated. While you clearly state your position that the situation has more disadvantages, the supporting points regarding health are repetitive and lack depth. To improve, you must ensure you reach the word count by fully expanding on your points with more detailed examples and ensuring the essay has a complete structure, including a proper conclusion that summarizes your main arguments.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0
The essay is organized into paragraphs, but the progression of ideas is hindered by the incomplete ending. You use some basic cohesive devices like 'To begin with' and 'The foremost reason', which help the reader follow the structure. However, the transition between the health impacts and the conclusion is abrupt. To achieve a higher band, focus on using a wider range of cohesive devices to link sentences more fluidly and ensure that each paragraph has a clear topic sentence that is fully supported before moving to the next point.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for higher bands. You rely on somewhat repetitive phrasing, such as 'long hours' and 'work'. There are also some awkward collocations, such as 'near and dear once' (should be 'ones') and 'poor position of back'. To improve, try to incorporate more sophisticated vocabulary related to the workplace and health, and pay closer attention to word choice and spelling to ensure your meaning is conveyed accurately and professionally.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally impede clarity. Examples include 'people are spending their most of time', 'less concentration at work' (should be 'lesser' or 'a lack of'), and 'because of changing in work pattern'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, particularly regarding commas. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles. Practicing the construction of complex sentences while ensuring they remain error-free will help you move toward a higher band score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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