Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-03

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 7.5)

It is often argued that the number of working days should be reduced in order to extend the weekend for employees. Although some people may disagree with this idea, I completely agree that workers should have longer weekends. This is because additional time off can improve their mental well-being, increase their productivity, and allow them to spend more time with their families and friends.

There are several reasons why longer weekends would be beneficial. Firstly, employees can feel mentally and physically relaxed after a demanding working week. When a person works from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, performing the same tasks repeatedly can make them feel like a machine. Moreover, working in front of a computer for long hours can not only affect physical health, such as eyesight, but can also have a negative impact on mental well-being. Therefore, employees need sufficient time to relax and recharge their bodies and minds before returning to work. For example, some multinational companies have introduced three-day weekends or flexible working schedules to improve the health and well-being of their employees.

Secondly, a longer weekend could help employees maintain a better work-life balance. Many workers spend several hours travelling to and from their workplaces and may also have to work long hours. After returning home, they still need to take care of personal responsibilities and spend time with their families. As a result, such a hectic routine can lead to stress, exhaustion, and other mental health problems. Providing workers with additional days off would give them more time to recover and reduce the negative effects of an overly demanding lifestyle.

Finally, employees often spend a significant amount of time away from their friends and families because of their work commitments. Consequently, their social lives may suffer, and they may begin to feel isolated and lonely. In some cases, prolonged loneliness and stress can contribute to serious psychological problems. Increasing the duration of weekends could therefore strengthen employees' relationships and social connections, helping them maintain a healthier and happier life.

In conclusion, I strongly believe that weekends should be extended. Longer breaks would not only allow workers to recover from a monotonous and demanding routine and improve their mental health, but they would also give them valuable opportunities to spend more time with their families and friends. As a result, employees may return to work feeling refreshed, motivated, and more productive.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response7.5
Coherence and Cohesion7.5
Lexical Resource6.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy7.5
Overall7.5

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses the prompt by clearly stating a position in the introduction and maintaining it throughout the essay. Each paragraph introduces a distinct, relevant argument—mental well-being, work-life balance, and social connections—which are well-developed with supporting explanations and examples. The ideas are logically extended, and the conclusion effectively summarizes the main points without introducing new information. The response is balanced and demonstrates a clear understanding of the task requirements, meeting all criteria for a high band score.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression of ideas. Each paragraph has a central theme, and the transition between paragraphs is smooth, using appropriate cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Moreover', 'Secondly', and 'Consequently'. The use of referencing is accurate, and the paragraphing is skillful, ensuring that the argument flows naturally from one point to the next. The structure is coherent throughout, and the reader is guided clearly through the writer's line of reasoning without any confusion.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The writer uses a range of topic-specific language such as 'monotonous', 'demanding routine', 'work commitments', and 'psychological problems'. While the vocabulary is accurate and conveys meaning effectively, it lacks some of the more sophisticated or idiomatic collocations that would characterize a band 8 or 9. However, the word choice is precise, and there are no errors that impede communication or cause confusion for the reader.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The essay demonstrates a good command of grammatical structures. The writer uses a mix of simple and complex sentences effectively, such as 'Although some people may disagree with this idea, I completely agree that workers should have longer weekends.' Punctuation is used correctly, and there are very few grammatical errors. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the control over complex structures is consistent. The writing is clear and professional, showing a high level of accuracy throughout the text.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.