Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · 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 7.0)

Nowadays, many employees do not have a good work-life balance and are mentally stressed. Due to this, I completely agree that working hours should be reduced and weekends should be longer so that people have more leisure time and experience less mental stress.

One major advantage of a shorter working week is that people can be more productive and focused on their work. This is because less working time leads to less tiredness and mental stress. As a result, individuals can concentrate better and have a calmer mind, which not only improves their productivity but also speeds up work processes. For example, Google introduced a four-day working week because they believe that it will help maintain work-life balance, which directly benefits the organisation as well as its employees.

Another notable advantage of a longer weekend is that employees can have more leisure time to relax and enjoy themselves after long working days. This is because having more free time means people can spend more time with their families and participate in extracurricular activities that help them stay mentally active and healthy. As a result, spending more time with family and participating in activities can reduce stress and improve performance at work. For instance, people who have a three-day weekend use the extra day to spend time with their families, exercise, or pursue a hobby. These activities not only create stronger family bonds but also help maintain a healthy lifestyle.

In conclusion, I firmly believe that a longer weekend and fewer working hours can be beneficial for both companies and employees because having less mental stress from long working hours not only helps maintain a work-life balance but also results in a stronger relationship with the organisation.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response clearly addresses the prompt and maintains a consistent position throughout. The arguments regarding productivity and personal well-being are relevant and logically extended. The use of the Google example provides a concrete illustration of the argument. To reach a higher band, the response could benefit from a more nuanced exploration of potential counter-arguments or a deeper analysis of the economic implications of a shorter work week, which would demonstrate a more sophisticated level of task development.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is well-organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic sentence, and ideas progress logically. Cohesive devices such as 'As a result', 'This is because', and 'For instance' are used effectively to link ideas. The paragraphing is appropriate and contributes to the overall clarity of the argument. The flow is smooth, and the reader is guided through the writer's reasoning without difficulty.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is sufficient and appropriate for the task. The writer uses terms like 'work-life balance', 'extracurricular activities', and 'organisation' correctly. While the range is adequate, it lacks a high degree of sophistication or 'less common' lexical items that would elevate the score to an 8.0. The word choices are generally accurate and natural, though there is some repetition of phrases like 'mental stress' and 'working hours' throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures. Most sentences are error-free, and the grammar is controlled throughout. There are no significant errors that impede communication. The use of complex structures, such as 'which not only improves their productivity but also speeds up work processes', is handled well. To achieve a higher score, the writer could incorporate a wider variety of complex grammatical structures, such as conditional clauses or passive voice, with greater frequency.

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

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