Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-30
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)
For workers the working week should be shorter and they should have a longer weekend. I personally disagree to this statement. The reason to it is human tends to become more relaxed and lose the will power to function properly after a long weekend. In the subsequent paragraphs, I will further elaborate to how my explanation justifies my given statement.
It's just the matter of fact, that human beings are capable of more then they think they are. If they set their mind to something and work hard for it they will reach to their goals. For instance, if we look around a bit successful people don't even waste a single day without working on their tasks. However, this habit knowing unknowningly leads them to achieve their dreams.
Furthermore, after the hectic days of working week and the burden of work the break surprisingly feels nice. But I would say it has more drawbacks then pros. For example, some company has the policy of paying according to the days you work on. So if a person works as a cleaner in a company that already have a less pay. So it would be a bad idea to give longer weekend as it deducts their salary.
On the contrary, If I talk about giving workers a longer weekend it would definitely make them feel happy. Moreover, they can rest and relax, hangout with their friends and family.
To wind up my disscusion, I would say longer weekend might sounds fantastic but it has more cons. In this economy, for a good survival it is necessary to have a good sum of money so that they can enjoy their lives more comfortably.
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 and maintains a clear position throughout. However, the development of ideas is somewhat superficial. For instance, the argument regarding cleaners and salary deductions is a valid point, but it is not fully explored in the context of the broader economic implications of a shorter work week. The essay tends to over-generalize, such as the claim that successful people do not waste a single day. While the position is clear, the supporting arguments lack depth and academic rigor, which limits the score. To improve, ensure that each point is supported by more detailed reasoning or concrete, well-explained examples.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay is organized into logical paragraphs, and there is a clear introduction and conclusion. Cohesive devices are used, such as 'Furthermore', 'On the contrary', and 'To wind up', which help guide the reader. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical or forced. The referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the second paragraph where the connection between 'successful people' and the main argument about the working week is tenuous. Paragraphing is used appropriately, but the flow between sentences could be smoother to achieve a higher band score.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The vocabulary is generally adequate for the task but lacks the precision and range required for higher bands. There are several instances of awkward phrasing or incorrect word choices, such as 'It's just the matter of fact' (a cliché) and 'knowing unknowningly' (a redundant and incorrect construction). The student relies on basic vocabulary like 'nice', 'bad idea', and 'happy'. To reach a higher band, the student should aim for more sophisticated collocations and precise academic terminology, moving away from conversational or repetitive language.
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 impede the flow. Examples include 'human tends to' (subject-verb agreement), 'more then' (should be 'more than'), 'some company has' (should be 'some companies have'), and 'might sounds' (should be 'might sound'). Punctuation is generally functional, but the frequency of these minor errors prevents the essay from reaching a higher band. The student should focus on subject-verb agreement, correct comparative forms, and pluralization to improve accuracy.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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