Band 8.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 8.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-01

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 8.5)

In recent years, the concept of a reduced working week and a three-day weekend has gained significant traction globally. I strongly agree with this proposal, as shortening the workweek offers substantial benefits for employee productivity and well-being without hindering business performance.

The primary argument for a shorter working week is the dramatic improvement in employee mental and physical health. The standard five-day work routine often leaves individuals with insufficient time to rest, attend to domestic responsibilities, and engage in leisure activities, frequently leading to chronic stress and burnout. A three-day weekend allows workers to properly disconnect from professional pressure, recharge, and maintain a healthier work-life balance. Consequently, employees return to their duties with reduced stress levels, lower rates of absenteeism, and improved overall job satisfaction.

Furthermore, reducing working hours actually enhances workplace efficiency and overall output rather than diminishing it. Research and trial programs in several countries have consistently shown that employees working a four-day week tend to be more focused, organized, and motivated during their shift hours. Unproductive time spent on minor distractions or drawn-out meetings is naturally minimized when time becomes more precious. As Parkinson’s Law suggests, work expands to fill the time allotted for its completion; shortening the timeframe forces teams to streamline processes and prioritize high-value tasks, resulting in equal or superior productivity.

From an economic and environmental perspective, a longer weekend also generates broader societal advantages. An extra day of leisure boosts spending in sectors such as tourism, hospitality, and recreation. Additionally, eliminating one day of commuting per week significantly cuts down on traffic congestion and carbon emissions, making it a sustainable strategy for modern urban planning.

In conclusion, transitioning to a shorter working week and a longer weekend is a forward-thinking policy that aligns with modern economic and human needs. Far from reducing output, it fosters a healthier, more motivated workforce while driving productivity and environmental benefits

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 8.5

The response fully addresses all parts of the prompt with a well-developed, clear position. The writer strongly agrees with the proposal of a shorter working week and supports this stance with comprehensive arguments covering employee well-being, productivity, and broader socio-economic impacts. For instance, the discussion on mental health and absenteeism is thoroughly explored in the second paragraph, followed by an insightful analysis of workplace efficiency and Parkinson’s Law in the third paragraph. Ideas are logically extended and well-supported with relevant examples and reasoning, reflecting a high level of task fulfillment. To reach an even higher standard, the response could incorporate more specific real-world examples or statistical references from actual trial programs, rather than relying solely on general economic and psychological principles, thereby adding even greater depth to the argumentation.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 8.5

The essay demonstrates a sophisticated level of coherence and cohesion. Information and ideas are logically sequenced, guiding the reader smoothly from the introduction through well-defined body paragraphs to a neat conclusion. Each paragraph has a clear central topic, such as employee health in the second paragraph and economic benefits in the fourth. Cohesive devices are managed skilfully and unobtrusively, as seen in transitions like 'Consequently' and 'Furthermore', which establish clear logical relationships between sentences. Paragraphing is used effectively and appropriately throughout the text. To elevate this criterion further, the writer could employ more subtle, advanced referencing techniques and cohesive transitions between paragraphs, ensuring that the progression of ideas feels entirely organic without any reliance on standard transitional markers.

Lexical Resource: Band 8.5

The candidate displays a wide, fluent, and flexible lexical resource, utilizing sophisticated vocabulary with natural control throughout the essay. Words and phrases such as 'gained significant traction', 'chronic stress and burnout', 'streamline processes', and 'forward-thinking policy' demonstrate a skillful use of uncommon lexical items and strong collocations. Word choice and phrasing are precise, contributing to the professional tone of the academic response. There are only occasional minor inaccuracies, but these do not impede communication. To push towards the absolute highest band, the writer could incorporate even rarer idiomatic expressions or more nuanced stylistic variations, while maintaining the formal academic register required for Task 2.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 8.5

The response utilizes a wide and impressive range of complex sentence structures with a high degree of flexibility and accuracy. The vast majority of sentences are error-free, showcasing excellent control over verb forms, tenses, agreement, and subordinate clauses. Examples such as 'Research and trial programs in several countries have consistently shown that employees working a four-day week tend to be more focused...' illustrate a strong command of complex syntax. Punctuation and grammatical patterns within phrases are handled impeccably. To achieve perfection in this category, the writer would need to eliminate even the most occasional, minor slips and demonstrate an even broader variety of stylistic sentence inversions or rhetorical devices while retaining absolute grammatical precision.

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