Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-17
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 5.5)
Many people argue that workers should have less working week and should get longer break during weekends. I totally agree with this view because i believe having longer weekends can be beneficial for tourism as well as allows individuals to less stressfull during working days.
First and foremost, longer breaks gives people more time to enjoy. If people have more days off, they are more likely to go travelling alongside the country with their familes and friends. This will result in growth of national tourism which will also be beneficial for the government of the nation. For example, a report illustrates that the national tourism of Nepal has increased by 45% after the government implemented public holidays on Sundays as well as Saturdays.
In addition to this, workers will have more time for their families and other interests. This will create a relaxed environment during working hours as workers will be more happy and dedicated towards their work. This also give professionals extra time to focus on themselves and improve their habits, diets and so on. Similarly, a long break can refresh workers minds and improve their mental wellbeing. For refrence, a report from a survey in New York City showcases that individuals are more motivated towards their work after a long holiday break.
In conclusion, I agree with people who believe that the authorities should provide longer breaks and shorter working week for professionals as it improves their mental health and allows them to spend more time with their loved ones. Additionally, it can also be beneficial for the government as it can increase national tourism.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 6.0 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 6.0
The response addresses all parts of the task by clearly presenting a position and supporting it with relevant ideas. The writer agrees that a shorter working week and longer weekend are beneficial, justifying this with arguments regarding tourism growth and mental well-being. For example, the student points out that longer breaks give people more time to enjoy, travel with families, and reduce stress levels during working days. However, the development of some ideas tends to be slightly generalized, and the examples provided, such as the reference to Nepal or New York City, remain somewhat superficial rather than deeply elaborated. Nonetheless, the main position is clear throughout the essay, fulfilling the requirements for Band 6.5 or 7.0. Given the solid coverage and clear viewpoint, a band score of 6.5 is well justified.
Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5
The essay displays a clear logical organization with an introduction, two distinct body paragraphs, and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are used to signal progression, such as 'First and foremost', 'In addition to this', and 'In conclusion'. Paragraphing is handled appropriately, ensuring that each main idea is separated logically. However, some minor mechanical errors in cohesion occur, such as the slightly repetitive transitional structures and occasional awkward referencing. For instance, 'For refrence, a report from a survey...' relies on basic linking mechanisms rather than sophisticated referencing. Despite these minor issues, the overall arrangement is coherent and the progression of ideas is easy to follow, supporting a solid Band 6.0 performance.
Lexical Resource — Band 5.5
The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary suitable for the task, successfully attempting less common items such as 'national tourism', 'mental wellbeing', and 'dedicated towards their work'. However, there are noticeable lexical inaccuracies and awkward word choices throughout the text. For example, the writer uses 'less working week' instead of 'a shorter working week', 'less stressfull' instead of 'less stressful', and 'refresh workers minds' instead of 'refresh workers' minds'. Spelling errors like 'refrence' also appear. While these lexical slips and minor errors do not impede communication, they prevent the vocabulary score from reaching a higher band. Overall, the lexical range is sufficient and demonstrates functional control, matching the Band 6.0 descriptors.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5
The response features a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, demonstrating attempts at subordination and relative clauses, such as 'If people have more days off, they are more likely to go travelling...' and 'Many people argue that workers should have less working week and should get longer break during weekends.' However, frequent grammatical errors are present, particularly with articles, subject-verb agreement, and prepositions. Examples include 'shorter working week' missing an article, 'longer break' used singularly without a plural or article, and 'because i believe' with a lowercase pronoun. There are also tense and word form issues like 'breaks gives people' instead of 'breaks give people'. Although these errors occur frequently, they rarely impede the overall communication of the writer's ideas, leading to a fair grade of 6.0.
See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.
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