Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-06

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 6.0)

Many people believe that the standard five day working week should be shortened so that employees can enjoy a longer weekend. I strongly agree with this idea, as a reduced working week can boost productivity, improve workers mental health, and promote a better work life balance. I will discuss my points in further essay.

One major advantage of a shorter working week is that it often increases efficiency rather than reducing it. When employees work fewer days, they tend to concentrate more effectively and manage their time better. For instance, several companies in Iceland that introduced a four day week found that staff completed the same amount of work, or even more, while reporting higher levels of motivation. This evidence suggests that long working hours do not necessarily lead to better results.

Furthermore, longer weekends give people essential time to rest and recover from the pressures of work. Continuous five day schedules frequently cause stress, fatigue, and burnout. Having three consecutive days off allows workers to spend quality time with their families, pursue hobbies, and recharge both physically and mentally. As a result, they return to work feeling more energetic and focused. From my own observation, colleagues who regularly enjoy extended weekends appear less stressed and more productive than those who follow a traditional schedule.

In conclusion, reducing the working week and extending the weekend is a positive development. It can raise productivity while protecting employees well being. Therefore, governments and businesses should seriously consider adopting this approach to create a healthier and more sustainable working culture.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response fully addresses the prompt by taking a clear position and supporting it with relevant arguments. You have covered all parts of the task, including the benefits of productivity and mental health. The ideas are well-developed, particularly the reference to the Icelandic study, which provides concrete evidence for your argument. The position is consistent throughout the essay, and the conclusion effectively summarizes your main points. To reach a higher band, you could further extend your ideas by briefly acknowledging the potential counter-argument (e.g., the challenges for certain industries) and refuting it, which would demonstrate a more nuanced approach to the topic.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the progression of ideas is smooth. You use a range of cohesive devices effectively, such as 'Furthermore', 'For instance', and 'As a result', which help guide the reader through your argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct points. The referencing is clear, and the flow of information is natural. To improve further, ensure that you avoid minor mechanical repetition of sentence structures, which would elevate the sophistication of your transitions.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'sustainable working culture', 'pursue hobbies', and 'manage their time better' are used accurately. There is an awareness of collocation, and your word choice is generally appropriate for an academic context. However, there are a few minor errors, such as the missing apostrophe in 'workers mental health' (should be 'workers'') and 'employees well being' (should be 'employees' well-being'). Addressing these minor punctuation and possessive errors would help you reach a higher band, as your vocabulary is otherwise quite effective.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay displays a good variety of complex structures, such as conditional sentences and relative clauses. The majority of your sentences are error-free, and your control over grammar is generally strong. There are a few minor slips, such as the missing hyphen in 'four day week' (should be 'four-day week') and the missing possessive apostrophes mentioned previously. These are non-systematic errors that do not impede communication. To improve, focus on consistent punctuation and ensuring that compound adjectives are correctly hyphenated, which will demonstrate a higher level of grammatical precision.

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