Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-27
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)
It is considered that there should be a reduction in working hours and employees should have a longer weekend. I partly agree with this stataement as it can provide the better work-life to workers but it will not be suitable for all the industries.
On the one hand, a shorter working week can provide a better work- life balance to workers as they have limited time to spend with their families due to long shifting hours. An additional day off would allow workers to participate in different hobbies, exercise and social activities. As a result, they will strengthen their bond with their families and become more relaxed and healthy that will help them to fully concentrate on their work to increase the productivity of their organisation.
On the other hand, a shorter working week may create some difficulties for some businesses such as healthcare transportation and hospitality. These types of business provide 24/7 service, so they have to hire more staff that will definitely increase the operating cost. Furthermore, some staff want to work for long hours because they are totally depended on their income to fulfil their desires and needs. Therefore, reducing the working hours is not good for everyone.
In my opinion, On the other hand, a longer weekend is a good idea but it should not be introduced exact in the same way in all the professions. Companies should consider flexible working hours for their workers by giving them three days off and four days full working days while essential services should follow the same schedule.
In conclusion, although a longer weekend can balance work life of employees and provide them a convenient lifestyle by reducing stress and increase productivity but this approach will not suit to every profession.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 7.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 6.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 6.0 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 6.0 |
| Overall | 6.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0
The response addresses all parts of the prompt, presenting a clear position that is maintained throughout. The student acknowledges the benefits of a shorter working week while highlighting the practical limitations for specific industries like healthcare. The ideas are relevant and generally well-developed, though the conclusion could have been more concise. The argument is balanced, and the inclusion of specific examples (e.g., 24/7 services) demonstrates a good understanding of the complexities involved. To reach a higher band, the student should ensure that the final recommendation is more clearly integrated with the preceding arguments rather than introducing a slightly different suggestion at the end.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5
The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'On the one hand,' 'On the other hand,' and 'Furthermore' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. However, there is a minor error in the final paragraph where 'On the other hand' is repeated unnecessarily, which disrupts the flow. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. The progression of ideas is generally smooth, although some transitions could be more sophisticated to avoid a slightly mechanical feel.
Lexical Resource — Band 6.0
The vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended meaning clearly. The student uses some topic-specific terms like 'operating cost,' 'flexible working hours,' and 'productivity.' However, there are some minor inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'stataement' (spelling), 'fully concentrate on their work to increase the productivity,' and 'introduced exact in the same way.' While these do not impede communication, they prevent the essay from reaching a higher band. A wider range of less common lexical items would improve the score.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0
The student demonstrates a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'it can provide the better work-life' (article usage), 'they are totally depended on' (should be 'dependent'), and 'reduce stress and increase productivity but this approach' (faulty sentence structure). Despite these errors, the meaning remains clear throughout the response. To improve, the student should focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of articles. The range of structures is adequate for the task, but more consistent control over complex sentences is needed for a higher band.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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