Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-22

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 7.5)

In many countries, employees are expected to work long hours, often leaving them with little time for rest, family and personal pursuits. Some people therefore argue that the working week should be reduced so that employees can enjoy a longer weekend. I strongly agree with this view, because a shorter working week can improve both employees’ well-being and their productivity, while also benefiting society more broadly.

Firstly, reducing working hours can have a significant positive effect on people’s physical and mental well-being. Employees who work excessively long hours may experience stress, exhaustion and burnout, particularly when they have insufficient time to recover between working days. A longer weekend would provide workers with more opportunities to sleep adequately, exercise, spend time with their families and pursue hobbies. For example, an employee who currently spends most of Saturday recovering from a demanding working week could use an additional day off to participate in recreational activities or spend meaningful time with their children. Consequently, workers could return to their jobs feeling more refreshed and motivated.

Secondly, a shorter working week does not necessarily mean lower productivity. On the contrary, employees who are well rested are likely to concentrate more effectively and make fewer mistakes. Long working hours can lead to declining concentration, meaning that the additional hours spent at work may not produce a corresponding increase in output. For instance, a company that reduces its employees’ weekly hours while maintaining clear performance targets may find that staff complete tasks more efficiently because they are less fatigued. In addition, greater job satisfaction could improve employee retention and reduce the costs associated with recruiting and training replacement workers.

Admittedly, some industries, such as healthcare, transport and emergency services, require continuous staffing, and reducing working hours could create practical difficulties. However, this problem could be addressed through shift systems, flexible schedules and the recruitment of additional staff where necessary. Therefore, these challenges do not outweigh the potential benefits of a shorter working week.

In conclusion, I firmly support reducing the length of the working week and extending the weekend. This change could promote better physical and mental well-being while allowing employees to work with greater concentration and efficiency. If implemented carefully, a shorter working week could therefore benefit both individuals and employers.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 7.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task. The student clearly states their position in the introduction ("I strongly agree with this view") and maintains this clear stance throughout the essay. Both body paragraphs are well-developed with relevant arguments and appropriate examples, such as "an employee who currently spends most of Saturday recovering from a demanding working week". Furthermore, the candidate anticipates and refutes a counter-argument concerning continuous staffing industries like healthcare, which demonstrates a high level of task response and fully developed ideas. The conclusion neatly summarizes the main points without introducing new information, satisfying all requirements for Band 8.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 7.5

The essay is logically organized with a clear progression from introduction to body paragraphs, a well-managed counter-argument paragraph, and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are used naturally and effectively throughout the text, including sequential markers like "Firstly" and "Secondly", as well as logical transition phrases such as "On the contrary" and "Consequently". Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately, with each paragraph focusing on a distinct central topic. Referencing throughout the response is clear and unambiguous, ensuring seamless reading from start to finish.

Lexical Resource — Band 8.0

The student demonstrates a wide and flexible vocabulary range appropriate for an academic essay. Words and phrases such as "excessive long hours", "insufficient time to recover", "employee retention", and "continuous staffing" are used naturally and with accurate collocation. There is good control of less common lexical items without awkward phrasing or noticeable errors. Although it stops just short of the effortless, sophisticated mastery required for a Band 9, the vocabulary is precise and contributes significantly to the clarity and academic tone of the writing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 7.5

The response exhibits a wide range of complex grammatical structures used with a high degree of accuracy. The student successfully employs conditional clauses, relative clauses, and participial phrases (e.g., "Employees who work excessively long hours may experience..."). The majority of sentences are entirely error-free, and any complex structures attempted are well-controlled. Punctuation is accurate, and punctuation errors are virtually nonexistent. The grammatical control shown throughout the essay strongly aligns with the criteria for Band 8.

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