Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

In recent times, people have become very busy in their daily lives. They have long working hours and very little time for leisure activities. Although working long hours may enhance the productivity of people, it also affects their physical and mental health. I firmly believe that the disadvantages of a busy work-life outweigh the advantages.

Many people who support the idea of long, hectic working hours contend that it provides individuals with the opportunity to be more productive. People utilize long working hours to fulfill their professional tasks, sometimes beyond their capacity, which will eventually earn a good name for them in their jobs. Moreover, those who work long hours have a better opportunity to learn professional skills, as sometimes they have to handle issues in the absence of their boss. For instance, when I was working for long hours in my hospital, I learned how to manage and treat patients in the absence of a senior consultant doctor. This significantly boosted my confidence.

Conversely, the disadvanatges of working at a long stretch are manifold. It has a lasting impact on the physical health, if someone continues to neglect it. To illustrate, my brother used to work 16 hours a day. He had a sedentary lifestyle and would often have no time for any exercise due to his busy job routine. Eventually, he was diagnosed with hypertension. Continuous stress with no time to unwind drastically impacted his heart health. Furthermore, mental health of people is also likely to be affected if people do not have leisure time for themselves to relax. This leisure time is very important so that one can achieve peace of mind. It also allows people to spend some quality time with their families. Therefore, a work-life balance must be achieved for a healthy and prosperous life.

In conclusion, I reitrate that the disadvantages of working long hours drastically impacts the physical and mental health of individuals. Some leisure time is important to relax and unwind from a daily stressful routine.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

Your position is clear from the introduction—“the disadvantages … outweigh the advantages”—and remains consistent in the conclusion. You address both sides of the question: the benefits include productivity and professional learning, while the drawbacks include physical and mental health effects and reduced family time. The hospital and brother examples make the discussion relevant and help extend your points. This fits the band because the main ideas are explained and supported, although some claims remain broad: for example, the link between long hours and earning “a good name” is asserted rather than explored. Develop the comparison more explicitly by explaining why the health and relationship costs outweigh the career benefits.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.0

The response has a clear four-paragraph structure, with an introduction, separate discussion of advantages and disadvantages, and a conclusion. The progression is easy to follow, and signposts such as “Moreover,” “Conversely,” and “To illustrate” help readers recognise how ideas relate. The examples are placed alongside the points they support, and the conclusion returns to the central position. Cohesion is generally effective, though some linking is a little formulaic, and “This leisure time” repeats the preceding idea rather than developing the connection. To strengthen progression further, make the contrast between the two sides more explicit within the body paragraphs and use clearer references when moving from health effects to family life.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

You use a suitable range of vocabulary for the topic, including “productivity,” “professional skills,” “sedentary lifestyle,” “hypertension,” and “peace of mind.” These choices communicate the argument clearly, and some less common expressions show awareness of appropriate style. The range is sufficient for flexibility, but occasional spelling, word-form, and collocation problems prevent consistently precise use. For example, “disadvanatges” and “reitrate” are misspelled, while “working at a long stretch” is not a natural collocation in this context. “Busy work-life” is also less precise than a phrase such as “demanding work schedule.” Proofread carefully and prioritise natural combinations of words to make the vocabulary more controlled.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.0

You use a variety of sentence forms, including complex clauses with “Although,” “as,” and “if,” and many sentences are grammatically clear. For example, “Although working long hours may enhance the productivity of people, it also affects their physical and mental health” is well controlled. A few errors persist in otherwise understandable writing. In “It has a lasting impact on the physical health, if someone continues to neglect it,” the comma interrupts the conditional structure, and “the physical health” needs a more natural article pattern. The conclusion also has subject–verb disagreement: “the disadvantages … impacts” should be “the disadvantages … impact.” Review agreement, articles, and punctuation around subordinate clauses while retaining your range of complex structures.

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