Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

In many parts of the world, the working week is becoming a major topic of discussion. Although some people might view a shorter working week negatively, I strongly agree that workers should have a shorter working week and a longer weekend. This is not only because it can improve employees' mental and physical well-being, but also because it can increase productivity and improve work-life balance.

There are multiple advantages associated with having a shorter working week. Firstly, workers can have more time to rest and recover, as working for long hours can cause stress and exhaustion. Take employees in demanding office jobs as an example, where having an additional day off can give them sufficient time to relax and spend time with their families. Thus, a shorter working week can be highly beneficial for workers' health and well-being.

Secondly, a longer weekend can also improve employees' productivity. In order to perform effectively, workers need adequate time to recover from their daily responsibilities. For instance, employees who receive an additional day off may return to work feeling more energetic and motivated. Hence, a longer weekend can be beneficial for people by providing better concentration and increased productivity.

Finally, a shorter working week is often considered to be extremely beneficial for work-life balance, as it is a lot easier to spend time with family, pursue hobbies and complete personal responsibilities compared with working five or six days a week. Furthermore, employees may have more opportunities to participate in social and recreational activities, which can help them lead happier and more balanced lives.

To sum up, even though some businesses may be concerned about reduced working hours, I strongly agree that the working week should be shorter and workers should have a longer weekend. This approach can improve workers' well-being, increase productivity, and provide a better work-life balance.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.0

You have clearly addressed the prompt by taking a strong, consistent position in favor of a shorter working week. Each paragraph introduces a distinct, relevant argument—well-being, productivity, and work-life balance—which are logically developed with supporting explanations and examples. The response covers all parts of the task effectively. To reach a higher band, you could provide more specific, real-world examples (such as mentioning a country or a specific industry that has successfully implemented a four-day work week) to further substantiate your claims and move beyond general assertions.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is well-organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic sentence, and the progression of ideas is logical. You make good use of cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'Finally', and 'To sum up' to guide the reader through your argument. The referencing is clear, and the paragraphing is appropriate. The flow is smooth, and the relationship between ideas is easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'demanding office jobs', 'recover from their daily responsibilities', and 'pursue hobbies' are used accurately. While the vocabulary is appropriate and conveys your meaning clearly, it is somewhat functional. To achieve a higher score, try to incorporate more sophisticated, less common lexical items or idiomatic collocations (e.g., 'burnout', 'optimal performance', or 'strenuous') to show greater flexibility and stylistic awareness.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

Your writing is characterized by a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. You demonstrate strong control over grammar, and the majority of your sentences are error-free. Punctuation is used correctly, and the overall clarity of your writing is high. There are no significant grammatical errors that impede communication. To improve further, you could experiment with a wider variety of complex structures, such as using more conditional sentences or passive voice constructions to add variety to your academic tone.

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