Band 8.0 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.0 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-19

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 8.0)

In recent years, the standard five-day working week has faced increasing scrutiny, with many advocating for a condensed schedule and an extended weekend. I strongly agree with this proposition, as a shorter workweek enhances individual well-being and boosts workplace productivity without compromising economic output.

The primary argument for extending the weekend is the profound benefit to employee health and work-life balance. Modern workplaces are characterized by high stress levels and prolonged sedentary behavior, both of which contribute to chronic physical and mental fatigue. A three-day weekend provides individuals with sufficient time to rest, engage in regular exercise, and nurture relationships with family and friends. For example, pilot programs testing a four-day workweek in countries like Iceland and the United Kingdom revealed significant reductions in burnout and stress levels among participants. When workers are given time to truly recharge, their long-term health improves, leading to lower absenteeism and higher overall life satisfaction.

Furthermore, a shorter working week often increases efficiency and output during working hours. According to Parkinson’s Law, work expands to fill the time allotted for its completion. In a traditional 40-hour week, considerable time is lost to low-value activities such as inefficient meetings, procrastination, and administrative clutter. When the working schedule is shortened, both employers and employees are incentivized to streamline processes, eliminate redundancies, and focus on high-impact tasks. Consequently, companies participating in recent four-day week trials reported stable or even improved revenue levels, proving that output is driven by focus and task optimization rather than sheer hours logged.

In conclusion, transitioning to a shorter working week and a longer weekend offers a superior balance between work and personal life while maintaining, if not enhancing, labor efficiency. Governments and corporations should actively adopt flexible four-day models to foster a healthier and more sustainable workforce.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by clearly stating a strong position in the introduction and maintaining it throughout the essay. The writer explores two well-developed central arguments: employee health and work-life balance, and increased workplace efficiency and output. Ideas are extended with relevant, specific examples, such as pilot programs in Iceland and the United Kingdom, and the application of Parkinson’s Law. The position is well-supported and fully developed, satisfying all the requirements for a high band score under Task Achievement.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay demonstrates clear logical organisation and progression from introduction to conclusion. Paragraphing is used effectively, with each body paragraph dedicated to a distinct, well-defined central theme (health benefits and efficiency gains). Cohesive devices such as 'Furthermore', 'Consequently', and 'In conclusion' are managed well and used flexibly to guide the reader through the argument. Referencing is clear and unambiguous throughout the response, ensuring that the relationships between ideas are always transparent and easy to follow.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

The student exhibits a wide, fluent, and flexible range of vocabulary appropriate for an academic task. Less common lexical items are used skilfully, including expressions like 'profound benefit', 'prolonged sedentary behavior', 'administrative clutter', and 'task optimization'. Word choice and collocations are natural and precise, with only occasional minor inaccuracies. Spelling and word formation are flawless, contributing to a high level of fluency and sophistication that reads very smoothly.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 8.0

The response makes use of a wide range of complex grammatical structures executed with a very high degree of accuracy. The majority of sentences are error-free, and the writer demonstrates excellent control over subordinate clauses, conditional elements, and passive constructions, as seen in 'When workers are given time to truly recharge, their long-term health improves'. Punctuation is used correctly throughout, and there are no noticeable slips or awkward phrasing that might 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.