Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · 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 6.0)

Many people believe that the working week should be reduced and employees should enjoy longer weekends. I strongly agree because this change can improve productivity and workers’ overall well-being today.

A working week can increase productivity because employees would have more time to rest and recover from stress. When workers are mentally refreshed, they can concentrate better, make fewer mistakes, and complete tasks more efficiently. Additionally, longer weekends could improve work-life balance. Employees would have more opportunities to spend time with their families, pursue hobbies, exercise, or simply relax. As a result, they may return to work with greater motivation and renewed energy, which can benefit employees and employers.

Another important reason is that longer weekends can improve employees’ mental health. More free time allows people to manage personal responsibilities and reduce pressure, helping them maintain a healthier and more satisfying lifestyle, without feeling constantly tired or overwhelmed.

Body Paragraph 3 — Disagree — 80 words

However, some people disagree with reducing the working week because it could create difficulties for businesses. If companies operate for fewer hours, they may struggle to complete the amount of work, especially in industries that depend on customer service. Furthermore, employers might need to hire staff to maintain productivity, which could increase labour costs. Smaller businesses may find these expenses challenging. Therefore, although shorter working weeks can benefit employees, they may also place pressure on companies, particularly those with resources.

In conclusion, although a shorter working week may create financial and operational challenges for some businesses, I believe longer weekends are beneficial because they improve productivity, mental health, work-life balance, employee motivation, and workplace performance, overall, for everyone involved today.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

You have clearly addressed the prompt by taking a strong position and providing supporting arguments for both sides of the debate. The ideas are relevant and well-developed, particularly the points regarding productivity and mental health. However, the inclusion of a paragraph explicitly labeled 'Body Paragraph 3 — Disagree — 80 words' is a significant structural error that detracts from the formal academic tone required for IELTS Task 2. While the content is sound, the presentation style prevents this from reaching the higher bands. To improve, ensure that your arguments are integrated seamlessly into the essay structure without meta-commentary or labels.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay follows a logical progression, moving from your main arguments to a counter-argument and finally a conclusion. You use cohesive devices such as 'Additionally', 'As a result', and 'Furthermore' effectively to link your ideas. However, the paragraphing is problematic; the inclusion of a label for the third paragraph disrupts the flow and cohesion of the text. While the individual paragraphs are internally coherent, the overall structure is marred by the inclusion of non-essay text. To achieve a higher band, ensure that your paragraphing is clean and that you use transitions to connect paragraphs more fluidly.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'productivity', 'work-life balance', and 'operational challenges' appropriately. The language is generally precise and conveys your meaning clearly. To reach a higher band, you should aim to incorporate more sophisticated, less common lexical items and collocations. For example, instead of repeating 'improve', you could use 'enhance', 'bolster', or 'foster'. Your spelling is accurate throughout, and your word choice is generally natural, though there is room for more variety to demonstrate a wider command of the English language.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, such as 'When workers are mentally refreshed, they can concentrate better'. Your control of grammar is generally good, and there are very few errors that impede communication. Most of your sentences are clear and grammatically sound. To improve, try to incorporate a wider variety of complex structures, such as conditional sentences or passive voice, to demonstrate greater flexibility. Ensure that your punctuation is consistent, as this will help elevate the overall quality of your writing.

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

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