Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-20

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)

The idea that working week should be shorter so that workers can enjoy longer weekend. I agree with this statement and in below i will give some reasons to support my point.

Firstly, it is very important that working week should be shorter so that workers can spend some quality time with their family and friends which gives them joy. It keeps their spirit high which helps them to work whole heart. They fell more refreshed at work after spending time with family.

Secondly, spending more time with family will reduce their stress level caused by excessive work load. spending leisure time with family o doing the work which is your hobby can reduce stress level significantly.

Thirdly, pending most of time on job can cause many diseases while these weekends play a crucial role to get rid of many diseases specially psychological problems which are caused by extreme workload. After all this work our body goes in a recovery state for which weekends are very important.

Fourthly, a person should keep a balance between the time he spends with his family and time he spends at work otherwise he may become anti-social such people are like completely cut-off from the world and family gatherings. So avoid this problem it is very important to spend time with children and relatives.

As a result, it is more important to have longer weekends than being busy for all day long . In my opinion you should focus on workers health too instead of just taking work from them which causes stress and health issues.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response partially addresses the task, presenting a clear argument in favor of shorter workweeks and longer weekends. However, the argument could be more focused with clearer topic sentences for each point made. For instance, the phrase "it is very important that working week should be shorter" seems vague as it doesn't directly refer to the benefits of a longer weekend. Additionally, reinforcing the link between the reasons and the main question could enhance task achievement. Overall, it does convey a clear position throughout.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

While the response is coherent, the organization of ideas needs improvement. For example, the transition to the second point could be smoother, such as using linking phrases or sentences to connect the ideas better. Introducing each paragraph with a clearer topic sentence will also help the reader follow the argument more easily. This will enhance coherence and allow for greater flow throughout the essay.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary used is somewhat repetitive and lacks range. While phrases like "stress level" and "psychological problems" are relevant, more varied synonyms or phrases would enhance the essay's lexical resource. For instance, using "stress" instead of "stress level" or employing expressions like "mental health issues" could improve clarity and sophistication. The essay does demonstrate some understanding of work-life balance, yet lexical diversity is needed.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The grammatical structures used generally communicate the ideas, but there are several errors which affect clarity. For example, "workers can enjoy longer weekend" should be "longer weekends" to ensure correct pluralization. Additionally, the phrase "they fell more refreshed" should be "they feel more refreshed". Correcting such errors would significantly increase the overall clarity and impact of the writing. Sentence structures are mostly simple, which does not demonstrate a wide range of grammatical skills.

Overall feedback

You have made a valid argument in support of shorter workweeks, using relevant examples that highlight the benefits of family time and mental health. For improvement, focus on enhancing the organization of your essay: make sure each paragraph starts with a clear topic sentence that relates directly to your main argument. Additionally, try to vary your vocabulary and incorporate more complex grammatical structures to demonstrate a broader range of language skills. Regular practice and revising common errors will boost both clarity and coherence in your writing.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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