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)

In recent years, there has been a growing debate about whether the traditional five-day working week should be reduced to give employees more leisure time. I completely agree with this view, primarily because of the benefits to both mental well-being and overall productivity.

To begin with, a shorter working week would significantly improve employees' physical and mental health. Many workers today suffer from stress and burnout due to long hours spent at their desks, which often lead to fatigue, anxiety and even long-term illness. If people had an extra day off each week, they would have more time to rest, exercise and spend quality time with their families, all of which contribute to a healthier and more balanced lifestyle. For example, several companies in countries such as Iceland and New Zealand have trialled four-day working weeks and reported that employees returned to work feeling more refreshed and motivated.

Furthermore, reducing work hours does not necessarily mean a drop in productivity. In fact, evidence from these trials suggests the opposite is true. When working professionals are well-rested, they tend to concentrate better, make fewer mistakes and complete tasks more efficiently. This means that companies could maintain, or even increase, their output despite employees working fewer days. In addition, a longer weekend could give people more opportunities to pursue personal interests and hobbies, which can boost creativity and, in turn, benefit their performance at work.

In conclusion, I strongly believe that shortening the working week is likely to be advantageous both for individual employees and for businesses as a whole. Given the clear improvements in well-being and efficiency. More companies should consider adopting this model.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by taking a clear, well-supported position agreeing that the working week should be shorter. The candidate presents a fully developed argument throughout the essay. In the second paragraph, the ideas regarding physical and mental health are well extended and supported with relevant examples, such as the trials in Iceland and New Zealand. Furthermore, the third paragraph successfully links shorter hours to maintained productivity and enhanced creativity through personal pursuits. The position is maintained consistently from the introduction through to the conclusion, meeting all the requirements for a high band in this criterion.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.0

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organization and progression from start to finish. Each paragraph has a clear central topic, starting with health benefits, moving to productivity, and concluding with a strong summary of the stance. Cohesive devices such as 'To begin with', 'Furthermore', and 'In addition' are used effectively to guide the reader through the argument. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, and referencing throughout the text remains clear and unambiguous, contributing to the overall smooth flow of ideas.

Lexical Resource — Band 7.0

The writer demonstrates a sufficient and flexible range of vocabulary suited to an academic discussion. Less common lexical items are used effectively with good awareness of style and collocation, such as 'mental well-being', 'burnout', 'trialled', and 'pursue personal interests'. Word choice is generally precise, as seen in phrases like 'concentrate better' and 'maintain, or even increase, their output'. While there are no major lexical errors, the vocabulary reaches a solid Band 7 level through appropriate topic-specific terminology without attaining the fully sophisticated range required for Band 8.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.0

The candidate employs a good variety of complex sentence structures alongside simple forms, displaying good overall control. Examples of effective complex structures include 'Many workers today suffer from stress and burnout due to long hours spent at their desks, which often lead to fatigue...' and 'When working professionals are well-rested, they tend to concentrate better...'. The majority of sentences are error-free, and punctuation is well handled. There is a minor fragment error in the final sentence ('Given the clear improvements in well-being and efficiency. More companies should consider adopting this model.'), but this occasional slip does not impede communication.

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

Browse more IELTS Writing model answers or get your own writing scored by the same AI examiner.