Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer
Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-17
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)
the working week should be shorter for employees of most of the sectors and should not be shorter for the sensitive sectors. if i have to choose from these options , i would say i am agree for this statement.
on the one side, employees from sectors such as school, colleges, universities should have shorter weekend and they deserve longer weekend to relieve from the hectic schedule. however, shorter working week should not be at the expense of childern's education. there should be online classes for the rest of days. it will help both teachers and students. on the other hand, employees from other sectors such as banking , security and defence should not have longer weekends as alot of people depends on them. Security and defence personnels are important part of the integrity of the country. The employees from banking sector should work seven days a week.
for example, last month, i need to go to bank to deposit the fees for an international university and after getting the token , i stood in line for 2 hours as banking system is very slow in my country. after two hours, when it was my turn the bank closes and it will open after two days on monday. i wasted two hours and still could not pay my fees and i have lost my admission due to unable to pay my fees on time.
i argue that whether employees should have longer weekend or not should depend on the problems of the people.
AI examiner evaluation
| Criterion | Band |
|---|---|
| Task Achievement / Task Response | 5.5 |
| Coherence and Cohesion | 5.0 |
| Lexical Resource | 5.5 |
| Grammatical Range and Accuracy | 5.5 |
| Overall | 5.5 |
Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 5.5
You give a clear, qualified position: shorter weeks may suit many workers, but not sectors you consider essential. The education example and your bank visit are relevant, and the personal account explains a practical consequence of limited opening days. However, the response only partly develops the task. The claim that banking staff should work seven days a week is very broad, and the reasons for treating schools differently from banking, security and defence are not fully explained. The proposed online classes also need more discussion of how they would work or why they justify a shorter week. To strengthen the response, explain the benefits of a longer weekend and weigh them against service needs, then support each main point with a more balanced explanation.
Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0
The response has a recognisable sequence: an opening position, contrasting points about education and essential services, a personal example, and a concluding view. Phrases such as “on the one side” and “on the other hand” signal contrast, while “for example” introduces supporting detail. However, the progression is not consistently clear. The opening says workers in most sectors should have a shorter week, but the body shifts between shorter weekends, longer weekends and seven-day service without clearly connecting these ideas. The long bank anecdote also dominates the argument, and the final sentence does not fully draw together the earlier points. Use separate, focused paragraphs and clearer links between each claim, its explanation and the overall position.
Lexical Resource: Band 5.5
You use some topic-relevant vocabulary, including “hectic schedule,” “sensitive sectors,” “integrity of the country” and “admission,” and the bank example communicates a specific situation. However, the range is limited and several word choices or collocations are inaccurate or awkward, such as “shorter weekend” when you mean a shorter working week, “a lot of people depends on them,” and “banking system is very slow.” Spelling and word-form errors, including “childern's” and “personnels,” also reduce accuracy. Aim for more precise expressions for work schedules and public services, and check spelling and collocations. This would make your ideas easier to follow and give the vocabulary more flexibility.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 5.5
You attempt both simple and complex sentences, including the contrast introduced by “however” and the conditional phrase “if I have to choose.” The main meaning is generally recoverable, but errors occur across sentence structures, verb forms, agreement, articles and punctuation. For example, “I am agree” should be “I agree,” “last month, i need” needs past-tense forms, and “a lot of people depends” has subject–verb disagreement. The sentence beginning “after two hours, when it was my turn” also shifts between past and present (“closes” and “will open”). Capitalisation and comma spacing need attention as well. Practise accurate past-tense narration and agreement, then proofread each sentence for complete, consistent grammar.
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