Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-12

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)

It is often argued that the working week should be reduced so that employees can enjoy an extended weekend. I agree with this statement because less work in a week can enhance workers' well-being and contribute to a significant increase in productivity.

One of the reasons I believe that the working week should be shorter than usual is that this strategy helps workers maintain better mental and physical health. Furthermore, during long weekends, most workers spend their time with family and friends, which helps them relieve stress and improve their overall well-being. Most employees spend their free time involving themselves in physical activities such as running and going on road trips; therefore, they can experience new environments. For example, many global companies have shorter working weeks and provide their employees with the basic amenities they need during their weekends. Some companies also allow their employees to work remotely for two to three days a week.

Moreover, a shorter working week and an extended weekend can boost the productivity of employees. This can motivate them, and well-rested employees are more relaxed, so they can focus better on their work. They can use their competencies in the right direction. As a result, better outcomes can be produced. For instance, companies that provide flexible working schedules can encourage their employees to work with greater determination and concentration.

In conclusion, I believe that an extended weekend and a shortened working week are more beneficial for the overall well-being of employees and can lead to higher productivity.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.5

The response addresses all parts of the task by clearly stating a position agreeing with the prompt and supporting it with relevant ideas. The arguments regarding employee health and productivity are extended and supported with general reasoning. For example, the student explains how longer weekends allow individuals to spend time with family and engage in physical activities, which relieves stress. Similarly, the link between being well-rested and increased workplace focus is explained clearly. However, the development remains somewhat general, relying on broad statements rather than fully elaborated specific instances. This places the performance firmly in Band 7, as the main parts of the task are adequately addressed and supported with a clear overarching position throughout the essay.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 6.5

The essay presents a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct focus, moving smoothly from the introduction to the first body paragraph on health, the second body paragraph on productivity, and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'Moreover', and 'As a result' are used effectively to signal transitions between ideas and paragraphs. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate distinct central topics. Referencing and substitution are generally clear, contributing to the overall coherence of the text, matching the expectations for Band 7 where ideas flow logically and organisational features are managed well.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The writer demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary for the task, allowing for some flexibility and precision with phrases like 'enhance workers' well-being', 'relieve stress', and 'flexible working schedules'. There are attempts to use less common lexical items such as 'competencies' and 'amenities', showing some awareness of style and collocation, although word choice is occasionally slightly unnatural, as seen in 'involving themselves in physical activities'. Spelling and word formation are generally accurate throughout the response, ensuring that communication is never impeded. These characteristics correspond directly to a Band 7 performance for lexical resource.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 6.5

The response exhibits a good mix of simple and complex sentence structures, incorporating relative clauses and conditional-style reasoning effectively. Examples such as 'One of the reasons I believe that the working week should be shorter than usual is that this strategy helps workers maintain better mental and physical health' demonstrate a variety of complex structures with frequent error-free sentences. Control of grammar and punctuation is generally strong, with only minor awkwardness in phrasing rather than systemic grammatical errors. Communication is smooth and clear throughout, making Band 7 an appropriate score for grammatical range and accuracy.

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

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