Band 6.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-07

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 6.0)

It is often suggested that employees should have less working days and more longer weekends. I agree with this statement, because it helps individuals to be more productive, future-oriented and having work-life balance.

Firstly, having shorter working weeks enhances overall well-being of working population. For instance, a study was conducted in University of Toronto in 2000, on 56 employees. The results stated that working 4 days a week, leads to same amount growth in companies as compared to individuals working 6 days a week. Working less does not hinder the overall functioning of the companies. Limited working days enhances mental well-being, being more fruitful in work, focused and self-sufficient. Whereas, long working hours often give rise to fatigue, careless mistakes, burnout and slower work.

Secondly, having longer weekends help individuals indulge more in family gatherings, thoughtful conversations, building relationships, getting enough time to recover from burnout by work. In Japan, working individuals have balance in their work and life. They are not allowed to work more than 5 hours a day, as they strongly believe that family should be a priority over long working hours. As, it also improves social skills and awareness among each other. Furthermore, longer weekends could boost local economies, as people would have more time and energy to spend on leisure activities, travel, and entertainment.

However, it must be acknowledged that shorter working weeks may not suit every sector. Industries such as healthcare and emergency services require constant staffing, making reduced hours more difficult to implement without additional recruitment.

In conclusion, although certain industries may face practical challenges, I believe the overall benefits of a shorter working week, including improved productivity, better health, and stronger family relationships, make it a change worth pursuing.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the prompt, clearly stating a position in favor of a shorter working week. The ideas are relevant and supported by examples, such as the study in Toronto and the mention of Japanese work culture. However, the development is slightly uneven; the example regarding Japan contains factual inaccuracies (the claim that workers are not allowed to work more than 5 hours a day is not a standard national policy), which weakens the argument's credibility. To reach a higher band, ensure that examples are accurate and more deeply analyzed to fully support the main points. Overall, the position is clear and maintained throughout the essay.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Paragraphing is used effectively to separate distinct ideas. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'However', and 'In conclusion' are used to guide the reader through the argument. While the flow is generally smooth, some transitions feel slightly mechanical, and there are minor issues with referencing, such as the vague use of 'As, it also improves...' which lacks a clear antecedent. Despite these minor issues, the progression of ideas is clear and easy to follow throughout the text.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.0

The vocabulary is generally adequate and allows for the expression of ideas with reasonable precision. There is an attempt to use less common items like 'self-sufficient', 'hindered', and 'implement'. However, there are some awkward collocations and word choices, such as 'more longer weekends' (should be 'longer weekends') and 'same amount growth' (should be 'same amount of growth'). The range is sufficient to convey the intended meaning, but more sophisticated vocabulary and precise collocations would be required for a higher band score. The errors do not impede communication.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The essay displays a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. There are several grammatical errors, such as 'less working days' (should be 'fewer working days'), 'in University of Toronto' (should be 'at the University of Toronto'), and 'awareness among each other' (should be 'mutual awareness'). While these errors are noticeable, they do not significantly impede communication. The control of punctuation is generally good, but the sentence structure could be more varied to demonstrate greater flexibility. To improve, focus on subject-verb agreement and the correct use of quantifiers like 'fewer' versus 'less'.

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

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