Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-23

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)

### The working week should be shorter and workers should have a longer weekend. Do you agree or disagree?

Nowadays, many people work for long hours during the week and have limited time for their personal lives. Some people believe that the working week should be shorter and employees should have a longer weekend. I agree with this view because it can reduce stress and improve employees' work-life balance.

Firstly, workers can spend more time with their families and relax when they work fewer hours. Many employees have busy schedules and do not have enough time for their family or personal activities. As a result, they may feel less stressed and happier if they have more free time. For example, workers can use their longer weekend to spend time with their children, meet friends or take part in recreational activities. Therefore, a shorter working week can have a positive effect on people's personal lives.

Secondly, a shorter working week can improve employees' work-life balance. When workers have enough time to rest, they may have more energy and perform better at work. This can also help them become more productive and satisfied with their jobs. For instance, employees who get enough rest may return to work with better concentration and motivation. As a result, companies may also benefit from having healthier and more productive workers.

In conclusion, I agree that the working week should be shorter and workers should have a longer weekend. Although companies may need to make some changes to their working schedules, the benefits of reducing working hours are greater because it can reduce stress, improve work-life balance and increase productivity.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position in the introduction and maintaining it throughout. The ideas are relevant and logically developed, particularly the points regarding stress reduction and increased productivity. However, the development is somewhat predictable and could benefit from more specific, real-world examples or deeper analysis to reach a higher band. For instance, mentioning specific industries or studies on the four-day work week would strengthen the argument. The conclusion effectively summarizes the main points without introducing new information, ensuring the position remains clear and consistent.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay is well-organized with a clear structure consisting of an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic sentence, and ideas are sequenced logically. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'As a result', and 'In conclusion' are used effectively to guide the reader. The progression of ideas is smooth, and the paragraphing is appropriate. While the use of cohesive devices is functional, it is somewhat standard; incorporating a wider variety of linking phrases or more sophisticated transitions could elevate the coherence further.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is adequate and appropriate for the task, allowing the writer to express ideas clearly. There is a sufficient range of topic-specific vocabulary, such as 'work-life balance', 'recreational activities', and 'productivity'. However, the range is somewhat limited, and the essay relies on fairly common collocations. To achieve a higher score, the student should aim to incorporate more precise or less common lexical items (e.g., 'diminish' instead of 'reduce', or 'well-being' instead of 'healthier'). There are no significant spelling or word-choice errors that impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a good control of grammar with a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the punctuation is generally accurate. The writer successfully uses conditional structures ('If they have more free time', 'When workers have enough time') and relative clauses. While the grammatical control is solid, the range of structures is somewhat limited; the essay lacks more sophisticated complex structures, such as inversion or advanced passive constructions, which would be expected at a higher band level. Nevertheless, the errors are rare and do not interfere with meaning.

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

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