Band 7.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-18

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)

Nowadays, some people believe that the working week should be shorter and workers should have a longer weekend. I completely agree with this view.

One of the main reasons why I agree is that a shorter working week would improve employees' physical and mental well-being. Many employees work long hours throughout the week, leaving them with little time to rest or spend time with their families. As a result, they often experience stress, fatigue, and even burnout, which can negatively affect both their health and overall quality of life. Having an additional day off would allow them to exercise regularly, pursue hobbies, and spend more quality time with their loved ones. Consequently, employees would return to work feeling refreshed, motivated, and better prepared to perform their duties.

Another reason why I support this view is that a shorter working week would increase employees' productivity. Employees who are well-rested are more likely to remain focused and complete their tasks more efficiently. In contrast, overworked employees often become tired, lose concentration, and make more mistakes, reducing the quality of their work. As a result, businesses may experience lower efficiency and even financial losses due to these avoidable errors. For example, several companies that have introduced a four-day working week have reported improved productivity while maintaining the same level of performance. Therefore, reducing the working week can benefit both employees and employers.

In conclusion, I firmly believe that reducing the working week would benefit both employees and employers by promoting a healthier work-life balance and improving productivity.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response7.5
Coherence and Cohesion7.5
Lexical Resource6.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy7.0
Overall7.0

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by clearly stating a position agreeing with the prompt and supporting it with well-developed ideas. The writer explores two distinct, major supporting points: physical and mental well-being, and increased productivity. Each body paragraph presents a clear central topic, expands on the consequences of overworking, and provides a logical rationale including a relevant example regarding companies introducing a four-day working week. The position is maintained consistently throughout the essay, leading directly to a concise and relevant conclusion. The ideas are extended and supported effectively without any digressions. Therefore, the response fulfills all the requirements of the task admirably, matching the descriptors for a high band.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

Ideas are logically sequenced and progress naturally from the introduction through two distinct supporting arguments to a clear conclusion. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with each main paragraph dedicated to a single, coherent theme. Cohesive devices such as 'One of the main reasons', 'As a result', 'Consequently', and 'In contrast' are managed well to guide the reader through the argumentation. Referencing is clear throughout, and the essay flows without any noticeable disruptions or mechanical repetition, maintaining a high level of readability.

Lexical Resource — Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient and appropriate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully using less common items and academic collocations such as 'physical and mental well-being', 'quality of life', 'pursue hobbies', and 'avoidable errors'. Word choice is generally precise, and spelling is accurate throughout the text. While the vocabulary is fluent and clear, it occasionally lacks the subtle flexibility and sophistication of top-tier bands, yet it comfortably meets the criteria for Band 7 by demonstrating good control over style and collocation.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The essay displays a good variety of complex sentence structures, including conditional or participial clauses like 'leaving them with little time to rest' and 'Employees who are well-rested are more likely to remain focused'. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the writer demonstrates good control of grammar and punctuation. Only minor errors or awkward formulations might occasionally appear, but they do not impede communication at all. The control over complex syntax is consistent and robust.

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

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