Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-09-23

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 8.0)

In the contemporary era, a significant proportion of the global workforce dedicates exhaustive hours to professional duties, thereby severely curtailing their allocation for recreational pursuits. In my view, while this phenomenon may yield certain short-term financial dividends, the resulting detrimental effects on individual health, familial stability, and workplace culture far outweigh any economic gains.

On the one hand, dedicating extended periods to employment can offer substantial economic dividends. Proponents argue that sustained hard work accelerates career progression and amplifies corporate productivity, which ultimately translates to higher financial rewards and national economic growth. For instance, professionals working in highly competitive corporate hubs often log extensive hours to secure rapid promotions and lucrative bonuses. Consequently, this intensive work ethic can significantly elevate an individual’s material standard of living and provide immediate financial security.

On the other hand, the ramifications of a leisure-starved lifestyle are profoundly alarming, particularly regarding public health and social cohesion. Chronically extended shifts invariably culminate in severe health hazards, including clinical depression, acute anxiety, and profound sleep deprivation. When individuals operate under such exhaustion, their cognitive functions diminish, leading to unhealthy decision-making and an escalated risk of fatal workplace or traffic accidents. Furthermore, when personal time is entirely cannibalized by professional obligations, an unavoidable communication gap forms within the household. This lack of interaction sparks severe conflicts in the family, deteriorating the foundational bonds between couples and their children. Compounding this systemic issue is the behavior of corporate executives; when bosses witness employees sacrificing their personal lives, they exploit this behavior to promote a toxic work culture that normalizes institutional overwork.

In conclusion, although prolonged working hours can catalyze professional advancement and economic prosperity, the toll it takes on physical health, psychological stability, and social well-being is excessively high. Therefore, it is imperative for both corporations and individuals to prioritize a balanced lifestyle, as the disadvantages of this exhausting trend undeniably eclipse its advantages.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 8.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by discussing both the financial advantages and the substantial disadvantages associated with long working hours. The writer establishes a very clear position right from the introduction, arguing that the disadvantages far outweigh the benefits, and maintains this stance throughout the essay. Ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant explanations and examples, such as corporate professionals logging extra hours for promotions, and the broader social and psychological ramifications like clinical depression, family conflicts, and toxic work cultures. The arguments are extended logically without digression, demonstrating a high level of task response that aligns strongly with the Band 8 descriptors.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8.0

The essay displays clear logical organisation and a seamless progression of ideas throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, moving smoothly from the introduction and economic advantages in paragraph two, to the health and social disadvantages in paragraph three, and concluding with a concise summary. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand', 'On the other hand', 'For instance', and 'Consequently' are used skillfully and naturally to guide the reader through the argumentation. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, ensuring the structure is well-managed and unobtrusive.

Lexical Resource: Band 8.0

The writer demonstrates a wide, fluent, and flexible lexical resource capable of conveying precise meaning. Advanced, less common vocabulary items and collocations are used skillfully throughout the text, including phrases like 'contemporary era', 'curtailing their allocation', 'short-term financial dividends', 'social cohesion', 'chronically extended shifts', and 'cannibalized by professional obligations'. Word choice and collocations are generally very accurate, with only occasional minor stylistic awkwardness such as 'cannibalized by professional obligations', which remains completely clear and appropriate for the formal tone. The range used easily meets the criteria for a high band.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.0

The response exhibits a wide range of complex grammatical structures used with a high degree of flexibility and control. The majority of sentences are error-free, featuring sophisticated syntactic constructions such as participial phrases ('leaving very little time for leisure activities', 'leading to unhealthy decision-making') and conditional or concessive clauses ('although prolonged working hours can catalyze professional advancement...'). Punctuation is handled accurately, and control over tense, agreement, and subordination is consistently strong, with only very occasional, non-systematic slips. This performance comfortably satisfies the criteria for Band 8.

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