Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-04

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)

It is often argued that the working week should be shortened so that employees can have a longer weekend. I agree with this view because additional time away from work can improve employees' work-life balance and may also increase their productivity.

One major benefit of a shorter working week is that employees would have more time for their personal lives. People who work long hours over five or six days may have little opportunity to spend time with their families, complete personal responsibilities or simply rest. This can make it difficult to maintain a healthy balance between professional and personal commitments. For example, when I worked six days a week for up to 12 hours a day, I often struggled to manage my university assignments and family commitments, while having insufficient time to recover before the next working week. A longer weekend would therefore give workers more opportunity to fulfil these responsibilities and rest properly.

Furthermore, additional time off could improve employees' performance at work. Adequate rest allows people to return to their jobs feeling more refreshed and motivated, which may enable them to concentrate better and work more efficiently. This can benefit employers as well as their staff. For instance, after moving to a five-day working schedule, I had considerably more time for my studies and hobbies at weekends and returned to work feeling better rested and more enthusiastic. Therefore, reducing the number of working days does not necessarily mean that companies will become less productive; better-rested employees may actually perform more effectively during the time they spend at work.

In conclusion, I strongly agree that employees should have a shorter working week and a longer weekend. This would allow them to maintain a healthier work-life balance while potentially improving their motivation and productivity at work.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses the prompt by taking a clear position in favor of a shorter working week. The ideas are well-developed and supported with relevant personal examples, such as the mention of managing university assignments and family commitments. The argument is consistent throughout, and the conclusion effectively summarizes the main points. The response meets all the requirements of the task, providing a balanced discussion on both work-life balance and productivity. The ideas are extended logically, demonstrating a strong understanding of the topic and a clear ability to sustain an argument.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph has a central topic sentence that is well-supported by the subsequent sentences. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'For instance', and 'Therefore' are used effectively to link ideas and ensure a smooth flow of information. The progression of ideas is logical, moving from the personal benefits of a shorter week to the broader professional benefits for employers. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct points, making the text easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The vocabulary is accurate and appropriate for an academic essay. The student uses a range of topic-specific vocabulary such as 'work-life balance', 'professional commitments', 'enthusiastic', and 'efficiently'. While the vocabulary is sufficient and precise, it lacks a high degree of sophistication or 'uncommon' lexical items that would typically characterize a band 8 or 9. However, the word choice is consistently natural and there are no errors that impede communication. The range is adequate to express complex ideas clearly and effectively.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a good command of grammatical structures. There is a mix of simple and complex sentences, such as the use of conditional structures ('If I worked...') and relative clauses ('People who work...'). The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is used correctly throughout. While the range of structures is solid, it does not consistently display the 'full flexibility' or 'wide range' required for the highest bands. Nevertheless, the control over grammar is strong, and the writing is clear and professional.

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

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