Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-09-30

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)

Workers has played a crucial role in the development of different sectors in an economy. Some people argue that working week should be reformed by having a streched weekend. I largely agree with this view because it may helps the worker to live stress free and increase productivity, although longer weekends as may decrease the total revenue of certain sectors.

One main reason for prioritising shorter working week can directly address workers mental problems. In this competitive era, workers have to deal with many tasks within the dedicated deadline. In order to remain top in an economy, many individuals are forced for working longer hours with low financial payments .By reforming into shorter working days, they can fully dedicate their efforts towards company's revenue.

Secondly, it makes possible to spend their most of time with their families and can explore in new places without worrying about their job. Shorter working week helps a worker to enjoy himself/herself in new destinations. Moreover, after having more day off they can guide their children's in their academics and lead them to positive way. Other than that, they can try their hobbies and can learn new skills, strategies for their respective works.

However, longer weekends may hamper big companies status and country's economy as whole. While it may offer happiness to workers, the development of country goes in slower pace affecting their own livelihood. For instance, long working weeks made modern advancement in technologies such as smartphones, desktops etc which wouldn't be possible by having longer weekend.

In conclusion, I largely agree that reforming shorter working weeks fulfills worker's desired activities. Nevertheless, longer weekends isn't impossible, but it should be carefully examined about its effects.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.0

The response addresses all parts of the task by taking a clear position on whether the working week should be shortened and providing reasons for this view. Ideas are presented and supported, such as discussing mental health, family time, and potential economic drawbacks like reduced revenue. However, some arguments lack full extension. For instance, the counterargument regarding economic impact is somewhat abrupt and could have been more deeply explored. Furthermore, there is a minor contradiction in the conclusion where the writer states 'longer weekends isn't impossible', which slightly blurs the stance initially established. Nevertheless, the main task requirements are met, earning a solid Band 6.5.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.5

The essay displays a generally coherent overall arrangement with a clear paragraph structure. Each paragraph has a discernible focus, moving from an introduction to benefits regarding mental health and personal life, followed by a counterargument and a conclusion. Cohesive devices are employed, including transition markers such as 'Secondly', 'Moreover', and 'However'. However, referencing and cohesion are sometimes mechanical or slightly faulty, as seen with phrases like 'goes in slower pace' and occasional awkward linking between sentences. Paragraphing is used appropriately, but the logical progression within paragraphs occasionally stumbles due to abrupt shifts in ideas. This performance aligns well with the Band 6 descriptors.

Lexical Resource: Band 5.5

The student uses an adequate range of vocabulary for the task, successfully attempting less common lexical items such as 'competitive era', 'respective works', and 'modern advancement'. However, there are noticeable inaccuracies in word choice, collocation, and word forms. Examples include 'streched weekend' (spelled incorrectly as stretched), 'financial payments' instead of 'financial compensation', 'guide their children's in their academics', and 'country goes in slower pace'. Despite these errors, the vocabulary is sufficient to convey the intended meaning without severely impeding communication, which is characteristic of a Band 6 level.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.0

The writer attempts a mix of simple and complex sentence forms, utilizing structures like conditional and subordinate clauses (e.g., 'In order to remain top in an economy, many individuals are forced for working longer hours...'). However, grammatical errors are frequent throughout the text. Notable issues include subject-verb agreement ('Workers has played', 'longer weekends as may decrease', 'longer weekends isn't impossible'), incorrect prepositions ('forced for working', 'guide their children's in'), and missing articles. While these errors do not completely obscure the message, they cause occasional difficulty for the reader and prevent the grammar score from reaching Band 6.0, placing it securely at Band 5.5.

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

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