Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · 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 6.5)

The traditional five-day working week has become a common feature of modern employment, although some people believe that it should be reduced. I agree that employees should work fewer days and have a longer weekend because this would improve their well-being and could also increase their productivity.

Firstly, a shorter working week would give people more time to rest and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Many employees spend considerable time travelling to and from work, in addition to dealing with household responsibilities. Consequently, they may have insufficient time for exercise, family activities and personal interests. An extra day away from work would allow them to recover physically and mentally, reducing stress and exhaustion. For example, employees could use the additional day to spend time with their families or participate in activities that support their physical health.

Moreover, reducing working days could improve productivity because well-rested employees are generally better able to concentrate on their responsibilities. Working for long periods without adequate breaks can lead to fatigue, which may result in mistakes and reduced motivation. Additionally, companies could introduce flexible schedules or longer working hours on the remaining days to maintain their overall output. For instance, a business could operate for the same number of hours each week by slightly extending employees’ daily shifts while providing them with an additional day off.

In conclusion, I believe that a shorter working week and longer weekend would be beneficial for employees and businesses. More time for rest and personal activities could improve workers’ well-being, while flexible scheduling could allow organisations to maintain productivity. Therefore, reducing the length of the working week is a practical change that deserves consideration.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.0

The response fully addresses all parts of the task by presenting a clear position right from the introduction ('I agree that employees should work fewer days') and maintaining it throughout the essay. The writer develops well-supported ideas in the body paragraphs, focusing on well-being and productivity respectively. Each main point is extended with logical explanations and relevant examples, such as mentioning how employees can spend time with their families or how businesses can adjust daily shifts. The arguments are directly relevant to the prompt, demonstrating a strong understanding of the topic. The response satisfies all requirements for a Band 7.0 or higher in Task Achievement due to its clear position and well-developed supporting arguments.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay displays a clear logical organisation and progression throughout. Each paragraph has a distinct central topic, starting with a well-defined introduction, moving through two body paragraphs exploring well-being and productivity, and finishing with a concise conclusion. Cohesive devices are used effectively and flexibly, as seen with transition markers like 'Firstly', 'Moreover', and 'Additionally'. Paragraphing is used appropriately, and referencing throughout the text is clear and logical. There are no notable faults in cohesion, making the progression of ideas smooth and easy to follow. The organisational structure easily meets the criteria for Band 7.0.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.5

The student demonstrates a sufficient range of vocabulary for the task, allowing for some flexibility and precision. Words and phrases such as 'well-being', 'work-life balance', 'exhaustion', and 'flexible scheduling' are used accurately. The writer also attempts less common items with a good awareness of collocation, such as 'maintain their overall output' and 'support their physical health'. While the vocabulary does not reach the highest thresholds of rare or sophisticated idiomatic control, it is more than adequate to convey precise meanings without any noticeable word-choice errors that might impede communication. This performance aligns comfortably with a Band 7.0.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.5

The essay contains a good variety of complex structures alongside simple forms, displaying frequent error-free sentences. Examples of complex structures include conditional or participial clauses such as 'Working for long periods without adequate breaks can lead to fatigue, which may result in mistakes...' and 'An extra day away from work would allow them to recover physically and mentally, reducing stress and exhaustion.' Control of grammar and punctuation is strong throughout, with only very occasional minor slips, which does not interfere with the overall fluency of the piece. The accurate control of complex grammatical forms warrants a solid Band 7.0.

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.