Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-18

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 7.0)

In the modern world, some individuals believe that the working week should be reduced and employees should have a longer weekend. This idea has attracted significant public attention because of its possible impact on workers and businesses. I agree with this view because a longer weekend can improve mental well-being and help employees work more efficiently.

To commence, one of the major benefits of a longer weekend is better mental health and personal development. Employees can get enough rest after a busy working week and spend more time with their families and friends. In addition, they can focus on their hobbies and other activities, such as travelling, exercising or learning new skills. As a result, they can reduce their stress and maintain a better balance between their professional and personal lives. Thus, it will be beneficial for individuals and society in the long term.

Furthermore, a shorter working week can help employees work more efficiently. When people have enough time to relax, they can return to work with a fresh mind and better concentration. This can improve their creativity and productivity and may also reduce mistakes during working hours. For example, an employee who gets sufficient rest may be able to complete important tasks more effectively than someone who is continuously working without enough time to recover.

In my opinion, a shorter working week and a longer weekend would be a positive development. Although some businesses may initially face difficulties in managing their working hours, the benefits of happier, healthier and more productive employees can be more valuable in the long term.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

The response clearly addresses the prompt by taking a definitive stance in favor of a shorter working week. The position is maintained throughout the essay. Each body paragraph presents a distinct, relevant argument—mental well-being and increased efficiency—which are logically extended and supported with explanations. While the ideas are well-developed, the essay could reach a higher band by incorporating more specific, real-world examples or data to bolster the claims, rather than relying solely on general assertions. Overall, the response fully addresses all parts of the task with a clear, consistent position.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay demonstrates a clear logical progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central topic sentence, and the flow between paragraphs is smooth, aided by appropriate cohesive devices such as 'To commence,' 'In addition,' and 'Furthermore.' The use of referencing is accurate, and the paragraphing is logical and functional. The essay is easy to follow, and the relationship between ideas is consistently clear. To reach a higher band, the writer could experiment with a wider variety of cohesive devices to ensure that the transitions feel even more natural and less formulaic.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary used is adequate and appropriate for the task. The writer successfully employs topic-specific terms such as 'mental well-being,' 'professional and personal lives,' and 'productivity.' While the range is sufficient to convey ideas with precision, it lacks the 'less common' or 'sophisticated' lexical items that would characterize a higher band score. The word choices are generally accurate, and there are no significant spelling or collocation errors. To improve, the student should aim to incorporate more nuanced vocabulary or idiomatic expressions to demonstrate a more flexible command of the language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay displays a good control of grammar. There is a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as the use of conditional clauses ('When people have enough time...') and concessive clauses ('Although some businesses...'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is used correctly throughout. The grammatical control is consistent, and there are no errors that impede communication. To achieve a higher score, the writer should aim for a greater variety of complex structures, such as inverted sentences or more sophisticated passive constructions, to demonstrate a wider grammatical range.

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