Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-08-31

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)

In many countries, people are expected to work for long hours during the week, leaving them with limited time for rest and personal activities. I largely agree with this view that the working week should be shorter and employees should have enough time to improve their well-being and make them more productive.

one major reason for reducing working hours is that employees need sufficient time to rest and recover from work-related stress. Working continuously for five to six days can lead to mental exhaustion, which can negatively affect people's health and family life. A longer weekend would give workers more opportunities to spend time with their families, pursue hobbies, and participate in different social activities. For example, people who have an extra day off could use it for exercise, travel, or simply relax, helping them return to work fully refreshed.

Another important advantage is that a shorter working week may actually increase productivity when employees have enough time to rest; they are more likely to be focused and motivated during working hours. In contrast, overworked people may become tired and make more mistakes. For instance, some companies that have experimented four-day working week have found that employees can maintain their performance while experiencing greater job satisfaction.

In conclusion, I strongly agree that the working week should be shorter and the weekend should be longer. A better balance between work and personal life can improve employees' health, motivation, and productivity, while also allowing them to spend more quality time with their loved ones.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the prompt clearly. You have taken a firm position in the introduction and maintained it throughout the essay. The ideas are relevant and well-supported, particularly the points regarding mental health and productivity. To reach a higher band, you could further extend your examples; for instance, when mentioning companies that have experimented with a four-day week, naming a specific industry or a general trend in a country like Iceland or Japan would add more depth and authority to your argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central topic, and the transition between the benefits for the individual and the benefits for the employer is smooth. You use cohesive devices such as 'In contrast' and 'For instance' effectively. However, the paragraphing could be improved by ensuring the introduction and conclusion are distinct, and the flow could be slightly more sophisticated by using a wider variety of linking phrases to connect sentences within paragraphs.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'mental exhaustion', 'job satisfaction', and 'well-being' are used correctly and appropriately. There is an attempt to use less common vocabulary, though some phrasing is slightly repetitive. To improve, try to incorporate more academic collocations or topic-specific terminology related to labor economics or organizational psychology to elevate the tone of the essay further.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

The essay displays a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are clear and grammatically accurate, which ensures that communication is never impeded. There are minor slips, such as the capitalization error at the start of the second paragraph ('one major reason') and a slight punctuation issue in the third paragraph ('...rest; they are...'). To achieve a higher band, focus on using a wider variety of complex structures, such as conditional sentences or passive voice, while maintaining the high level of accuracy you currently possess.

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

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