Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-28
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 5.5)
In recent years, there has been a debate about whether the working week should be shorter and workers should have a longer weekend. Some working people want more working days rather than a long weekend, whereas other working-class people think that there should be smart work, not hard work, in the era of technology, and that they should have a longer weekend. In my recommendation to the state, there should be a longer weekend rather than more working days.
Firstly, there are professional individuals who believe that working days are beneficial for their career. For instance, when they work in the office, they are more comfortable working in that environment, and individuals who have any trouble or queries consequently have the opportunity to ask their seniors and resolve them at the moment. Another factor that they argue about is routine and punctuality, which are crucial for success, as they assume that if a person can follow the same schedule daily, it reflects their patience and discipline. Consequently, they can achieve their goals, as they deserve it.
On the other hand, some members of the workforce feel that working days should be shorter in the era of advancement. For example, the tasks can be done more efficiently with the help of artificial intelligence. This is not necessary for working long days. Everyone should know how to use technology smartly and take the benefit from it.
In conclusion, working smartly is more important than wasting hours in the office. Professionals should know how to use this opportunity in less time.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.5 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.0 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
The response addresses the prompt by discussing both sides of the issue—the arguments for maintaining traditional working weeks and the arguments for a shorter working week enabled by technology—and clearly states a personal position in the introduction. However, the ideas are relatively brief and underdeveloped. For instance, the discussion on routine and discipline is introduced but not thoroughly explored in relation to the wider societal or economic impacts. Similarly, the argument regarding artificial intelligence is stated in a single, simple example without deep elaboration. It fits the Band 6 descriptor because it addresses all parts of the task and presents relevant ideas, but these ideas remain somewhat under-developed.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5
The essay presents a coherent overall arrangement with a clear introduction, body paragraphs representing contrasting viewpoints, and a brief conclusion. Paragraphing is used appropriately to separate ideas. Cohesive devices such as 'Firstly', 'On the other hand', and 'In conclusion' are employed to guide the reader through the text, although some referencing and transitional phrasing feel a bit mechanical or repetitive (e.g., 'Consequently, they can achieve their goals, as they deserve it'). Logical progression is maintained throughout, placing this response comfortably at Band 6, where ideas are arranged coherently, though some cohesive links are slightly faulty or overly simplistic.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
The vocabulary used is adequate for the task, allowing the student to communicate basic concepts about work environments and technology. The writer attempts some less common vocabulary such as 'smart work', 'punctuality', 'artificial intelligence', and 'efficiency'. However, there are noticeable limitations and awkward collocations, such as 'working people', 'working-class people' (used incorrectly to mean employed individuals), and 'take the benefit from it' instead of 'benefit from it'. Spelling is generally accurate, but the restricted precision in word choice keeps the Lexical Resource score at Band 5.5, reflecting a mix of adequate and limited phrasing.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0
The essay displays a mix of simple and complex sentence forms. The writer attempts complex structures using subordinate clauses, such as 'when they work in the office, they are more comfortable working in that environment'. However, there are frequent grammatical errors and awkward phrasing, including 'Another factor that they argue about is...', 'this is not necessary for working long days', and issues with preposition use and tense consistency. While these errors do not severely impede communication, they are frequent enough to prevent the response from reaching Band 6, aligning more closely with Band 5 due to frequent grammatical inaccuracies in complex structures.
See this exact question answered at other band scores. The same prompt compared across bands.
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