Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-10

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)

In recent years, working long hours has become increasingly widespread. Although this shift introduces certain notable benefits, like financial stability, I am convinced that its overall drawbacks far outweigh the potential positive impacts.

To provide some context, working extra hours nowadays has become a trend, due to which people stress their minds, which typically leads to health-related complications. Another major factor is that divorce rates are increasing because couples do not have time to spend with each other. This is happening due to an upset mindset, which is very uncertain in any relationship.

In addition, after a hectic schedule, people rarely get time to do leisure activities. For instance, one of my friends used to go to the gym with me every evening; now it has been a year since he went to the gym because he started working long hours so that he could buy a new house.

On the contrary, what I found most compelling about working long hours is the extent to which it facilitates a better lifestyle with a good bank balance. By working hard, a person could buy anything he wants, and the rest of his life would be stress-free. Apart from that, it is imperative to work more hours to gain a sufficient amount of expertise in a specific field.

In light of the aforementioned reasoning, it is understandable that working hard plays a vital role in achieving success, but it has more disadvantages that could lead to serious health implications and sometimes it could disturb relationships too.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the task and maintains a clear position throughout. The introduction states the writer's view that the drawbacks outweigh the benefits, and this is consistently supported. The ideas are relevant, such as health complications and relationship issues, though some points could be developed further. For instance, the explanation of 'upset mindset' is slightly vague and could be more precisely articulated to improve clarity. Overall, the response is well-structured and provides a balanced view before concluding, meeting the requirements for a Band 6.5 or 7.0. Given the depth of the arguments, it sits comfortably at a 6.5.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate the drawbacks from the benefits. Cohesive devices such as 'In addition', 'For instance', and 'On the contrary' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and the referencing in the second paragraph ('This is happening due to...') is a bit imprecise. Despite these minor issues, the flow is generally smooth, and the logical structure is easy to follow, warranting a 7.0.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The range of vocabulary is adequate for the task. The student uses some effective collocations like 'financial stability', 'health-related complications', and 'hectic schedule'. There are attempts to use less common vocabulary, though some phrasing is slightly unnatural, such as 'upset mindset' or 'stress their minds'. While the vocabulary is sufficient to convey meaning clearly, it lacks the sophistication and precision required for a higher band. The word choices are generally accurate but remain somewhat predictable, placing this in the 6.5 range.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There is good control over basic grammar, and most sentences are error-free. However, there are occasional minor errors in phrasing and punctuation, such as 'due to which people stress their minds' and 'now it has been a year since he went to the gym'. While these errors do not impede communication, they prevent the essay from reaching the higher bands where a wider range of error-free complex structures is expected. The control is consistent, justifying a 6.5.

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