Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-27

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 6.5)

Nowadays, there is considerable discussion about whether the working week should be shorter and employees should have longer weekends. I largely agree with this view because a shorter working week can improve employees' work-life balance, while modern technology allows many tasks to be completed efficiently without workers being physically present in the workplace.

One major advantage of a shorter working week is that it can give employees more time to rest and spend with their families. For example, some companies can introduce a four-day working week in which employees work slightly longer hours from Monday to Thursday and have a longer weekend. This allows workers to enjoy more continuous leisure time without necessarily reducing their total weekly working hours. In addition, modern technology has made remote working much easier. For instance, a few days ago, I was on vacation with my family when a server error occurred in an e-commerce application that I had developed. Fortunately, I had my laptop with me and was able to resolve the problem remotely as soon as I was informed about it. This demonstrates how technology can allow employees to deal with urgent problems even when they are away from the workplace.

However, there can also be some drawbacks to giving employees longer weekends, particularly for businesses that depend on staff being available for important projects. For example, if an employee responsible for an important project takes an extended weekend without completing their tasks beforehand, the company may experience delays or financial losses. This can be particularly problematic when an unexpected issue occurs and no other employee has enough knowledge to deal with it. Therefore, companies should establish clear policies requiring workers to complete urgent tasks before taking a long weekend and ensure that responsibilities are properly handed over to other team members.

In conclusion, I believe that employees should have shorter working weeks and longer weekends because this can improve their work-life balance and provide more time for rest and family. However, workers should complete important responsibilities beforehand, while companies should have suitable arrangements for dealing with genuine emergencies.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the task. The student takes a clear position in the introduction ('I largely agree with this view') and maintains it throughout the essay. Ideas are well developed and supported with relevant explanations and examples, such as the personal anecdote about resolving a server error remotely and the discussion around potential drawbacks for businesses. The arguments regarding work-life balance and technological capability are extended appropriately, meeting all the criteria for Band 7.0.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay demonstrates a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, moving smoothly from introduction to supporting points, counter-arguments, and a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are used effectively and flexibly, such as 'One major advantage', 'In addition', and 'However', without feeling mechanical. Paragraphing is used sufficiently and appropriately to separate distinct ideas, easily satisfying the requirements for a Band 7.0 score.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow some flexibility and precision. Phrases such as 'work-life balance', 'continuous leisure time', and 'genuine emergencies' demonstrate an appropriate command of less common lexical items with a good awareness of style and collocation. Word choices are generally natural and accurate, with occasional minor limitations, placing this securely in the Band 7.0 category.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The writer employs a good variety of complex structures alongside simple sentences, showing good control of grammar and punctuation. Examples like 'This allows workers to enjoy more continuous leisure time without necessarily reducing their total weekly working hours' and conditional structures like 'if an employee responsible for an important project takes an extended weekend...' display frequent error-free sentences. Minor slips occur, but they never impede communication, fully justifying a Band 7.0.

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