Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-17
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 7.5)
In recent years, whether working long hours with little time for leisure activities brings more advantages than disadvantages has attracted considerable attention. Although people hold different views on this issue, I believe that the disadvantages of working long hours outweigh the advantages because it can harm people's well-being and reduce their work-life balance. This essay will examine the main aspects of this issue.
To begin with, working longer hours can provide financial benefits because employees may earn additional income and improve their career prospects. This can have a considerable impact on people's everyday lives. For example, an employee who regularly works overtime can earn extra money and use it to support their family or achieve financial goals. This demonstrates the practical importance of this point.
Furthermore, working excessively can negatively affect people's well-being because they have less time to rest, exercise and spend with their families. Its effects can also extend beyond individuals and influence the wider community. For instance, a person who works ten or twelve hours every day may become exhausted and have very little time to maintain relationships with family and friends. This illustrates why this aspect deserves attention.
However, it should also be recognised that these disadvantages can have long-term consequences because continuous pressure and insufficient leisure time may reduce both personal satisfaction and work performance. This perspective should not be overlooked when considering the issue as a whole.
In conclusion, I believe that the disadvantages of working long hours outweigh the advantages because it can harm people's well-being and reduce their work-life balance. This is mainly because excessive working hours can reduce personal well-being and leave people with insufficient time for their personal lives. Overall, these factors should be considered together when evaluating this issue.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 7.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 7.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 8.0 |
| Overall | 7.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
The response addresses all parts of the task by discussing both sides of the issue (advantages and disadvantages of working long hours) and clearly presents a position that disadvantages outweigh advantages. The ideas are relevant and supported with explanations and examples, such as an employee working overtime to support family or the impact of exhaustion on relationships. However, the development of ideas leans somewhat towards generalisations rather than deep exploration. For example, in the third paragraph, the mention that effects extend beyond individuals to the wider community is introduced but not fully exemplified or expanded. Overall, the task is addressed well, matching the requirements of Band 7 for Task Achievement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0
The response is logically organised with a clear progression from introduction to body paragraphs and conclusion. Each paragraph has a clear central topic, such as financial benefits in the second paragraph and well-being in the third. Cohesive devices are used effectively and flexibly throughout the essay, including phrases like 'To begin with', 'Furthermore', 'However', and 'In conclusion'. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate different aspects of the argument. Referencing is clear, and the overall arrangement creates a coherent text, aligning comfortably with the Band 7 descriptors.
Lexical Resource — Band 7.0
The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary that allows for flexibility and precision, using terms like 'financial benefits', 'career prospects', 'excessively', and 'work-life balance'. There is some attempt to use less common vocabulary with an awareness of style and collocation, such as 'continuous pressure' and 'insufficient leisure time'. Word choice is generally appropriate, and spelling and word formation are accurate throughout the response. While it does not consistently display the wide and fluent range of Band 8, it comfortably exceeds Band 6 by showing natural control and precision.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0
The essay displays a good variety of complex structures, such as concessive clauses ('Although people hold different views...') and relative clauses ('...an employee who regularly works overtime...'). There are frequent error-free sentences, and the student maintains good control of grammar and punctuation. Errors are extremely rare, with the grammar supporting clear communication of complex ideas. This performance satisfies the criteria for Band 8, where the majority of sentences are error-free and control over complex structures is well demonstrated.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.