Band 7.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 7.5 · 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 7.5)

In recent years, there has been increasing discussion about whether the working week should be reduced and employees should be given a longer weekend. I strongly agree with this view because a shorter working week can improve workers’ mental and physical well-being while also increasing their productivity.

Firstly, reducing working hours can help employees maintain a better work-life balance. People who work long hours often have limited time for their families, friends and personal activities. As a result, they may experience stress and exhaustion. In contrast, having an additional day off would give workers more time to rest and participate in activities that improve their overall well-being. For example, employees could spend more time with their families, exercise regularly or pursue hobbies, which could help them return to work feeling more refreshed.

Secondly, a shorter working week could potentially improve productivity. Although employees would spend fewer hours at work, they may be more focused and motivated during their working hours. When people are physically and mentally tired, they are more likely to make mistakes and work less efficiently. For instance, an employee who has sufficient time to rest over a three-day weekend may be able to concentrate better and complete important tasks more effectively during the following week.

In addition, longer weekends could benefit society more broadly. Workers would have more opportunities to travel, shop, visit restaurants and participate in recreational activities. This could increase spending in local businesses and support sectors such as tourism and hospitality.

In conclusion, I strongly agree that the working week should be shorter and weekends should be longer. In my view, this change could improve employees’ quality of life while maintaining or even increasing productivity and benefiting the wider economy.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 7.5

The response clearly addresses all parts of the task, maintaining a well-developed position throughout in favor of a shorter working week. Ideas are extended and supported with relevant explanations and examples, such as mentioning how extra rest days help employees avoid exhaustion and return to work feeling refreshed. While the arguments are well-reasoned, there is a slight tendency to over-generalise typical workplace outcomes without deeper nuance, which prevents the response from reaching a higher descriptor level. However, the overall stance is clear, and all main prompts of the question are thoroughly covered.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 7.5

There is a clear logical organisation and progression throughout the essay. The writer makes effective use of paragraphing, with each paragraph centring on a distinct main point, such as work-life balance, productivity, and broader societal benefits. Cohesive devices are used flexibly and appropriately, including transition markers like 'Firstly', 'Secondly', 'In addition', and 'In conclusion'. Referencing across sentences and paragraphs is clear, ensuring the reader can easily follow the flow of arguments, though a slightly more sophisticated integration of cohesive links would be required for the highest band.

Lexical Resource: Band 7.0

The student uses a sufficient range of vocabulary to allow some flexibility and precision, employing appropriate academic phrasing such as 'well-being', 'work-life balance', and 'recreational activities'. Less common items are attempted with some awareness of style and collocation, as seen in expressions like 'support sectors such as tourism and hospitality'. There are occasional minor inaccuracies or common word choices, but the vocabulary is adequate to convey the message clearly and effectively throughout the text.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 7.5

The writing demonstrates a good variety of complex structures alongside simple sentence forms, featuring frequent error-free sentences. There is solid control of grammar and punctuation, with complex clauses integrated smoothly, such as in the sentence 'When people are physically and mentally tired, they are more likely to make mistakes and work less efficiently.' A few minor errors or slips persist, but grammatical control remains strong overall and punctuation is handled accurately, ensuring communication is never impeded.

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

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