Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-09
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 5.5)
It is argued that the working week should be shorter and workers should have a longer weekend. I strongly agree with this perspective because it allows workers to take a break and spend quality time.
I believe, working time should be shorter ,and companies should allow their employees spend a longer weekend. Firstly, the reason behind that workers also need rest and respite as like humans need. When workers continuously keep engaged in works, their body and mind may break down and unable to do their jobs properly. Heavy workload without proper rest may hamper their health, which will set back in their professional lives. In contrast, if workers get enough time to have rest, they can begin their works with energy and enthusiasm.
In addition, workers should have given enough time to spend quality time, especially with families and friends. When they get enough time to spend, they can be motivated to keep their works effectively. For example, after a couple of months of heavy working period, if workers get enough time to spend a proper time with their families or friends, this can be an inspiration for them to continue their journey with more motivation. One the other side, if they do not get enough time to spend, heavy workloads may create stress and lose their motivation to work hard.
To conclude, I strongly believe that the working week should be shorter and should provide a longer weekend for the workers. Because it allows to relax and spend a good time with friends and family members.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5
The response addresses the prompt by clearly stating a position in favor of a shorter working week. The ideas are relevant, focusing on health benefits and the importance of work-life balance. However, the development is somewhat repetitive; the arguments regarding 'rest' and 'spending time with family' are restated in similar terms across paragraphs without significant expansion or depth. To reach a higher band, you should aim to provide more specific examples or explore the broader societal or economic implications of a shorter working week, rather than focusing solely on individual well-being.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, each with a clear focus. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'In addition', and 'To conclude' are used to guide the reader. However, some transitions feel mechanical, and the flow between sentences is occasionally hindered by awkward phrasing (e.g., 'One the other side'). Referencing is generally clear, but the connection between ideas could be more sophisticated. The paragraphing is appropriate, but the internal structure of the paragraphs could benefit from more varied linking words to improve the overall flow.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is adequate for the task but lacks variety and precision. You rely on basic terms like 'works', 'time', and 'good', which are repeated frequently. There are some instances of slightly unnatural collocations, such as 'keep engaged in works' or 'set back in their professional lives'. While the meaning is always clear, the range of vocabulary is limited, and there is little evidence of less common or idiomatic language. To improve, focus on using more precise synonyms and academic collocations to express your ideas more effectively.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. However, there are frequent grammatical errors, particularly with verb forms and prepositions, such as 'workers should have given' (should be 'should be given') and 'as like humans need'. Punctuation is also inconsistent, with unnecessary spaces before commas. While these errors do not prevent the reader from understanding your argument, they occur frequently enough to impact the overall fluency of the writing. Increasing your control over complex sentence structures and proofreading for basic subject-verb agreement will help improve your score.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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