Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · 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 5.5)

Many people argue that weekends should be extended while working week days should be reduced. I strongly disagree with the statement because it will have detrimental affect on economy and productivity.

Due to technological advancements, it is easier for humans to perform tasks that took hours or even days in past. Technology is responsible for making humans lazy and less capable of using cognitive abilities. Similarly, if weekend days are increased, productivity levels will decrease because humans will not use their cognitive abilities as often as they should. Consequently, this will affect businesses, government, schools, and hospitals which in turn decreases the economy of a country. Furthermore, it will create a snowball effect affecting a countries every aspect which will lower standard of living.

In todays fast paced environment, humans stress level, anxiety, blood pressure are high in comparison to previous generations. Weekend of two days is not adequate enough for an individuals physical and mental well-being. Moreover, a person has personal chores or commitments that need to fulfilled for which a period of 48 hours is not enough. Doctors advise that for a fresh active brain, an individual needs 7-8 hours of sleep which is often compromised during the week and on the weekend because of less time available for activities other than work. However, offices have policies in place for their workers to take longer holidays by informing in advance. One of the main reason for declining health in this generation is our diet and fitness which is poor in comparison to our ancestors.

My own view is that the system of week days with respect to work days and holidays should not be changed because the downside has greater negative effect as compared to positive effect on an individual and nation.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the prompt by taking a clear position against shortening the working week. However, the development of ideas is somewhat inconsistent. The argument regarding technology making humans 'lazy' is a bit tangential and not fully linked to the core issue of work-life balance. While the second body paragraph attempts to address the counter-argument regarding stress, the logic is slightly contradictory; you argue that two days are not enough for well-being, yet conclude that the current system should not be changed. To reach a higher band, ensure that each paragraph directly supports your central thesis with more cohesive reasoning rather than introducing conflicting points.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.0

The essay is organized into clear paragraphs, and there is a logical progression of ideas. You use some cohesive devices such as 'consequently', 'furthermore', and 'moreover' to link sentences. However, some transitions feel a bit mechanical, and the referencing is occasionally unclear, such as in the final paragraph where the link between the 'downside' and the 'positive effect' is vague. Improving the variety of cohesive devices and ensuring that each sentence flows naturally into the next would enhance the overall coherence of your writing.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

You demonstrate an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, using terms like 'detrimental', 'technological advancements', and 'fast-paced environment'. However, there are some inaccuracies in word choice and collocation, such as 'affect on economy' (should be 'effect on the economy') and 'a countries every aspect' (should be 'a country's every aspect'). There is also some repetition of basic vocabulary. To improve, focus on using more precise academic collocations and ensure correct word forms are used consistently throughout the essay.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay contains a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While you attempt complex sentences, there are frequent errors in grammar and punctuation, particularly with articles ('the economy', 'the standard of living') and pluralization ('humans stress level' should be 'human stress levels'). Subject-verb agreement is also occasionally problematic. While these errors do not generally impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent a higher score. Focusing on proofreading for basic grammatical accuracy, especially regarding articles and possessives, will significantly improve your writing.

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

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