Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-15

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 6.5)

In recent years, the idea of shortening the working week and extending the weekend has become a popular topic of discussion. While some employers worry about falling productivity, I agree that a shorter workweek benefit both individuals and society as a whole.

On the one hand, reducing working days can significantly improve employees' well-being. Modern work life is highly stressful, leading to burnout and health problems like anxiety and fatigue. A three-day weekend would give workers enough time to rest, spend quality time with family, and pursue personal hobbies. Consequently, when employees return to work, they feel refreshed and more motivated. For example, recent trials of a four-day workweek in several countries showed that workers were happier and actually maintained or increased their daily output because they were less tired.

On the other hand, critics argue that fewer working hours could harm businesses and the economy. Some industries, such as manufacturing and healthcare, require continuous operations. If staff work fewer hours, companies might need to hire more workers, which increases operational costs. Furthermore, there is a fear that urgent tasks might be delayed, leading to poor customer service and lower profits.

In conclusion, although a shorter working week may cause initial scheduling challenges for certain industries, the long-term benefits are much greater. It enhances mental health and boosts worker efficiency. Therefore, governments and companies should transition towards a longer weekend.Nevertheless, if in the future a optimistic and pragmatic approach is adopted than the negative consequences of working week entirely fall away.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have addressed all parts of the prompt, providing a clear position that supports a shorter working week. Your ideas are well-developed, particularly in the second paragraph where you discuss the benefits of employee well-being and cite relevant examples like the four-day workweek trials. The counter-argument is also effectively presented, acknowledging the challenges for specific industries. Your position is consistent throughout the essay, and the conclusion effectively summarizes your stance. To reach a higher band, ensure that all arguments are fully explored; for instance, the final sentence of your conclusion feels slightly disconnected and could be integrated more smoothly into your overall argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. You use a variety of cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand,' 'On the other hand,' 'Consequently,' and 'Furthermore,' which help guide the reader through your argument. Paragraphing is used appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct aspect of the topic. The transition between the body paragraphs and the conclusion is generally smooth. However, the final sentence of the essay is somewhat abrupt and lacks a clear cohesive link to the preceding sentences, which slightly disrupts the flow of the final paragraph.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'continuous operations,' 'operational costs,' and 'pragmatic approach' show an ability to use less common lexical items effectively. There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication. To improve further, try to incorporate more sophisticated collocations or idiomatic expressions to enhance the naturalness of your writing. For example, instead of 'popular topic of discussion,' you could use 'a subject of considerable debate.' Your vocabulary is adequate for the task and shows a good level of flexibility.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures effectively. Most of your sentences are error-free, and your control over grammar is generally strong. However, there are a few minor slips, such as 'a shorter workweek benefit' (should be 'benefits') and 'a optimistic' (should be 'an optimistic'). Additionally, the final sentence contains a grammatical error: 'adopted than the negative consequences... fall away' is awkward and should be phrased as 'adopted, the negative consequences... would disappear.' Despite these minor issues, your grammatical control is solid and does not hinder the clarity of your message.

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