Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 14 · 2026-10-15

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 6.0)

Today's life is tough compare to what it was not long time ago. Our ancestors used to spend only the standard working hours at their working places whether it be a farm, shop or the office. I don't recall seeing my elders not having any leisure time left to spend on the activities they love, families they adore and work towards dream they wanted to achieve.

But, unfortunately, now people often don't get time to even rest properly. The main reason behind this is the "competition" and everyone is honestly seem like running a marathon to win! Little they realize that while running that marathon they're leaving behind things that require their attention too.

While working long hours one might achieve the "status" or the dream "position" or secure the "seat" on the Board, but this will come with a cost. I started my career with an esteemed Audit Firm where the long hours were norm and soon I got indulged in the environment of late sittings. That costed me a lot in terms of family, health, friends, my dreams and a lot more. One day on the way back to home at middle of the night from the office, I realized if all this had been perfect? Considering I didn't spend a single second on my personal goals and all I was focusing on proving my worth at the office with the long-hours? That was the ice breaker for me and since then I haven't sat late unless it was very necessary. And now, I am in a better shape personally, having time to spend with my family and friends. And guess what, I still got promoted at the office becuase this shift in mindset ignited efficieneies in my work.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

Your position is clear: you argue that the disadvantages of long working hours outweigh the advantages, and the personal account of your audit-firm job gives the response relevant support. You explain several costs—family life, health, friendships and personal goals—and show how changing your approach improved your wellbeing without preventing promotion. However, the advantages are only briefly acknowledged through references to status, a senior position and promotion; these are not explored as fully as the disadvantages. The opening comparison with ancestors is also broad and not supported with much explanation. To strengthen the response, develop both sides more evenly before making the comparison explicit in a focused conclusion, explaining why the personal and social costs are more significant overall.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.0

The response has a generally coherent progression: it introduces the change in working life, identifies competition as a cause, and then uses a personal example to illustrate the consequences. Paragraph breaks help distinguish these stages, and transitions such as “But, unfortunately” and “since then” guide the reader. Some connections are less smooth or precise, however. The opening paragraph moves from ancestors’ working hours to family and personal dreams without clearly linking those points to the question. The final paragraph also contains several shifts—from possible career rewards, to your realisation, to the outcome—within one long sequence. Organise the argument into clearer stages, use references such as “this situation” more precisely, and add a concise conclusion that restates your judgement.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

You use a relevant range of vocabulary to discuss work and its effects, including “competition,” “personal goals,” “late sittings,” “promoted” and “shift in mindset.” These choices help communicate your experience and show attempts to use topic-specific language. Some word choices and collocations are inaccurate or unnatural, though, and occasionally make the reader pause: “Today's life is tough compare,” “got indulged in the environment,” “costed me a lot,” and “ignited efficieneies” are examples. Spelling errors such as “becuase” and “efficieneies” also reduce accuracy. Aim for more natural combinations and check spelling carefully; for example, use “work long hours,” “became accustomed to late nights,” and “improved my efficiency.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5

You attempt a mix of simple and complex structures, including conditional phrasing (“if all this had been perfect?”) and longer sentences explaining cause and effect. The main message remains understandable, but some grammatical errors occur in both sentence construction and verb forms. For example, “Today's life is tough compare to what it was” needs a comparative structure, while “everyone is honestly seem like running” combines incompatible verb forms. “I didn't spend a single second … and all I was focusing” also has an incomplete, awkwardly connected structure, and the question “if all this had been perfect?” is not formed as an indirect question. Work on accurate tense and verb patterns, articles, and sentence boundaries, while keeping the complex structures you are attempting.

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.