Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-07-25

IELTS Writing Task 2 question

The working week should be shorter and workers should have a longer weekend.

Do you agree or disagree?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Student answer (Band 8.0)

It is argued that employees should work fewer hours per week and have longer weekends. I agree that a shorter working week is beneficial because it helps people maintain a healthy work-life balance, boosts productivity, reduces stress and allows them to spend more time with their families, provided that their income remains sufficient to meet their financial needs.

It is imperative to maintain a healthy work-life balance to be productive at work, which benefits not only the employees but also the employers. A study shows that when people work excessive overtime hours, it makes them exhausted, which lowers productivity and reduces the quality of work. Consequently, it is pointless to work more hours when it hampers productivity, which ultimately poses a threat to job security. Several companies have introduced a four-day working week, and it has been proven that this strategy allows more time for workers to rest and leads to greater efficiency and productivity in the workplace.

Having fewer working hours also improves mental health, reducing stress levels and allowing more time for family. If a person has long weekends, it allows time for them to engage in different leisure activities, like travelling with their family and spending more quality time with them. As a result, this enhances both mental and physical health, minimizes stress and strengthens family relationships. A good family relationship is important to focus more and helps people concentrate better at work, which ultimately brings job satisfaction.

In conclusion, I am in favour of longer weekends and a shorter working week as it improves productivity, brings more joy to people's lives, reduces anxiety, and strengthens family bonds.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 8.0

You have clearly addressed all parts of the prompt, maintaining a consistent position throughout the essay. Your arguments regarding work-life balance, productivity, and mental health are relevant and well-developed. You provide logical support for your claims, such as the mention of companies implementing four-day work weeks and the link between stress and job performance. To reach a higher band, you could further extend your ideas by providing a more specific example or a counter-argument to show a deeper exploration of the topic. Overall, the response is well-focused and directly answers the question.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 8.0

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and you use cohesive devices such as 'consequently', 'as a result', and 'in addition' effectively to link your points. The paragraphing is appropriate, with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The flow of information is smooth, and the relationship between ideas is easy to follow. To improve, ensure that you vary your transition words slightly more, as some are used in a somewhat repetitive manner, but the overall structure is very sound and coherent.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'imperative to maintain', 'hampers productivity', and 'strengthens family relationships' show a good command of language. You avoid repetitive phrasing and use words that are appropriate for an academic context. While the vocabulary is accurate and fits the task well, it lacks some of the more sophisticated or idiomatic collocations that would characterize a Band 8 or 9 performance. However, your word choice is consistently natural and there are no errors that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Your control over grammar is strong, and the majority of your sentences are error-free. You correctly use conditional structures ('If a person has...') and relative clauses ('which benefits not only...'). Punctuation is generally accurate, aiding the clarity of your writing. While there are no major errors, the range of complex structures could be slightly more ambitious to reach the highest band. Nevertheless, the grammatical accuracy is high, and the writing is consistently clear and professional throughout the entire response.

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