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)
It is often debated whether the weekend should be increased and working hours should be less. While this view has some merit, I firmly believe that work days should be shorten and the working hours should be reduce for all because reducing the working hours will increase productivity of an employee and less working hours will give better focus on work.
The primary reason why I believe that reducing work days will increase the productivity because this gives enough time to rest our brain and mind. Most employees went under immense pressure during the working days and reducing number of working days will help to recover their brain. For example, Oxford University scientist implemented a research on two groups and they found that the group which had less work days outperformed the group of more week days when scientist gave them a challenge. As a result, this research gave us the proof why it is important to have less workdays.
Another compelling reason is that reducing number of working hours help to focus more on the work. People who gives more focus, they often do better on the assigned task and it is difficult to focus for longer hours. For instance, a group of scientist found that humans can not give 30 minutes focus constantly. Therefore, doing longer hours of job doesn't mean better outcome.
In conclusion, reducing number of weekdays and working hours are beneficial for the companies and that is why I strongly believe this view.
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 taking a clear position in favor of shorter working hours. However, the essay falls slightly short of the 250-word minimum requirement, which impacts the overall development of ideas. While the main arguments regarding productivity and focus are relevant, they are somewhat repetitive and lack depth. The examples provided, such as the reference to Oxford University, are generalized and could have been more effectively integrated to support the central argument. To reach a higher band, you should expand on your points with more specific details or nuanced explanations to ensure the response is fully developed and meets the length requirement.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, which helps the reader follow the argument. There is a logical progression from the introduction to the body paragraphs and the conclusion. However, the use of cohesive devices is somewhat mechanical and repetitive. For instance, the phrase 'The primary reason' and 'Another compelling reason' are standard but basic. Some transitions between sentences are slightly abrupt, and the referencing could be smoother. To improve, try using a wider variety of linking words and phrases to connect your ideas more fluidly and to show the relationship between your arguments more clearly.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is generally adequate for the task but lacks the range and precision required for a higher band. You rely on simple, repetitive phrasing such as 'reducing number of working hours' and 'better outcome'. There are also some minor errors in word choice and collocation, such as 'scientists implemented a research' (conducted research) and 'humans can not give 30 minutes focus' (maintain focus). To improve, focus on using more sophisticated vocabulary and collocations that are appropriate for an academic context, and ensure you use words in their correct grammatical form.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, but there are frequent grammatical errors that occasionally distract the reader. Examples include 'work days should be shorten' (shortened), 'working hours should be reduce' (reduced), and 'Most employees went under immense pressure' (are under). Subject-verb agreement is also inconsistent, such as 'People who gives' (give). While these errors do not completely impede communication, they are frequent enough to lower the score. You should focus on proofreading for basic verb forms, tense consistency, and subject-verb agreement to improve your accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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