Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-05

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 6.5)

In modern society, individuals face severe challenges in maintaining work-life balance due to excessive workloads. Some people argue that the workweek should be shorter and employees should be offered longer weekends. I strongly agree that workweeks must be shortened since it fosters creativity and allows employees to strike a balance between work and personal life.

To start with, this opportunity will definitely foster creativity and productivity among workers. When they are bombarded with multiple tasks around the clock, it can stifle their productivity; as a result, they cannot innovate new ideas, which might affect their career growth. If working weeks are reduced, workers will dedicate their spare time to pursue their favorite activities; consequently, they will be able to produce new ideas and work with full of productivity. For instance, some developed countries have adopted four-day working weeks so that they can ensure employees' productivity.

Additionally, due to shorter working days, job holders can maintain their work-life balance. In fast-paced worlds, most employees encounter excessive work pressure throughout the week, which leads to poor work-life balance. For example, South Korea is renowned for its longer workdays, where individuals feel hesitant to have a new baby; consequently, they suffer from loneliness when they become older adults. Therefore, if governments and multinational companies introduce shorter working days, it will be helpful for job holders to strike a balance.

To conclude, I would argue that instead of long working days, governments and companies can promote four-day workweeks, as it fosters creativity and allows employees to lead stable lives.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

You have clearly stated your position in the introduction and maintained it throughout the essay. The ideas are relevant and logically developed, particularly the link between shorter workweeks and creativity, and the impact on work-life balance. You provided a specific example regarding South Korea to support your argument, which adds depth. To reach a higher band, ensure that your supporting points are fully extended; for instance, while you mention that shorter weeks foster creativity, you could briefly explain the mechanism behind this (e.g., reduced cognitive fatigue) to strengthen the argument further. Overall, the response addresses all parts of the prompt effectively.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. You use cohesive devices such as 'To start with', 'Additionally', and 'consequently' to guide the reader through your arguments. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct ideas. However, some transitions feel slightly mechanical or repetitive. To improve, try to vary your linking phrases and ensure that the progression of ideas within paragraphs is seamless. The referencing is generally clear, and the overall structure supports the development of your argument well.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

You demonstrate a sufficient range of vocabulary to discuss the topic with precision. Phrases like 'excessive workloads', 'fast-paced worlds', and 'stifle their productivity' are used effectively. There are some minor issues with collocation, such as 'work with full of productivity', which is slightly unnatural. You also rely on some common vocabulary. To achieve a higher score, incorporate more sophisticated, less common lexical items and ensure that collocations are natural. For example, instead of 'work with full of productivity', you could use 'work with optimal efficiency'.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.0

You use a mix of simple and complex sentence structures, which is appropriate for this task. Most of your sentences are clear and error-free, allowing for easy communication. There are occasional grammatical slips, such as 'innovate new ideas' (innovate is usually intransitive or used with a different object) and 'work with full of productivity'. Punctuation is generally accurate, though some sentence structures could be more varied to demonstrate greater flexibility. Overall, your control of grammar is good, and errors do not impede the reader's understanding of your arguments.

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

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