Band 6.5 IELTS Writing Task 2 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 6.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-28

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)

Workers should have a longer weekend, while their working week should get shorter. I think workers deserve a longer weekend so that they can work on their give time to their families.

Weekends should get longer so workers can have a work-life balance. Nowadays, working conditions are getting intense. Employees have to do over-time more than once every week because of the increased workload. This affects their personal life, and leaves them with little time for themselves. The two day weekend does not give them enough time to rest or spend it with their family. They only have Saturday to rest or plan something with their family, as they have to spend most of their Sunday preparing for their work on Monday. For example, if workers have a longer weekend, they can easily manage their personal and professional life. They can spend one day resting and plan something with their family for the next day, and still have a day to prepare for their office next day.

However, some people might argue that longer weekends can reduce productivity, especially in the government sector. Some people think that if workers have a longer weekend, it might increase their workload and reduce their efficiency in the working days. They might have more work and less hours to complete it, which can increase psychological pressure on them. For instance, people have to complete their work in three days, which was earlier completed in five days. This can increase pressure on them instead of helping them. Nonetheless, it is a problem that can easily be handled with better administration. If employers give one task per day to their employees, it would be easy for them to manage. In addition, not all employees have the same mental capacity, and if the employeer assign tasks according to their employees mental capacity, it is more likely that they can easily manage their tasks and time.

In conclusion, longer weekends help workers to create work-life balance by giving them enough time to spend with their family. Nevertheless, some people might argue that longer weekends can increase workers' pressure instead of helping them, but this problem can be easily handled with better administration.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 6.5

Your position is clear from the opening and conclusion: you support longer weekends, while acknowledging the concern that compressed work could increase pressure. The response addresses both the benefits and a counterargument, and the examples about family time and completing five days’ work in three days are relevant. This gives the argument a sound foundation. However, the case for a shorter working week is not always developed separately from the case for a longer weekend, and the claim that better administration can solve the workload problem is asserted rather than explained in detail. To strengthen the response, clarify how employers could reduce or reorganise work, and develop the practical benefits with more specific support rather than relying on broad claims about workers generally.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 6.5

The essay has a clear overall structure: an introduction, a paragraph supporting longer weekends, a counterargument with a response, and a conclusion. Ideas generally progress logically, and signposts such as “However,” “Nonetheless,” and “In conclusion” help readers follow the argument. Some connections are less smooth or precise, though. For example, the opening sentence of the first body paragraph repeats the main claim, while the later explanation moves between rest, family time, and preparation for Monday without clearly distinguishing these points. The repeated use of “some people” in the counterargument also makes the progression feel somewhat mechanical. Use clearer topic sentences and more varied referencing, and ensure each example directly advances the point of its paragraph.

Lexical Resource: Band 6.0

You use an adequate range of vocabulary for the topic, including “work-life balance,” “increased workload,” “productivity,” “efficiency,” and “psychological pressure.” These choices communicate the main ideas clearly, and some topic-specific language helps the argument sound appropriate. However, several phrases are imprecise or awkward, such as “work on their give time to their families,” “manage their personal and professional life,” and “one task per day.” There is also repetition of “longer weekend,” “work,” and “family,” which limits flexibility. Aim for more natural collocations and precise wording—for example, describe how work is “redistributed” or how employees “reconcile professional and personal commitments.” Check spelling and word forms, including “employer” and “employees’.”

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 6.0

The response includes a mix of simple and complex forms, including conditional sentences (“if workers have a longer weekend…”) and subordinate clauses explaining consequences. Most meaning remains clear, and the argument is not difficult to follow. Some grammatical errors and awkward constructions remain, however. The opening phrase “so that they can work on their give time” is structurally unclear, and “spend it with their family” has an unclear pronoun reference. In “if the employeer assign tasks according to their employees mental capacity,” the verb form and possessive marking need correction; “employees’ mental capacity” is also more naturally expressed in the plural. Review sentence construction, subject–verb agreement, and apostrophes, and proofread punctuation and spacing. More consistently accurate complex sentences would improve control.

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