IELTS Writing Task 2: The Impact of Overtime Work on Employees – Sample Essays Band 6-9 with Analysis

Introduction

The topic of overtime work and its consequences for employees has become increasingly prevalent in IELTS Writing Task 2 examinations, particularly as work-life balance issues gain global attention. This subject appears frequently in actual tests, requiring candidates to demonstrate their ability to discuss workplace dynamics, employee welfare, and modern employment challenges.

In this comprehensive guide, you’ll discover three authentic sample essays spanning Band 6 to Band 9, complete with detailed scoring analyses, essential vocabulary, and high-scoring grammatical structures. Understanding how to approach this topic effectively can significantly boost your writing score, as it connects to broader themes of health, productivity, and social well-being.

Here are verified past IELTS questions related to this topic:

1. “Some employers offer their employees subsidized membership of gyms and sports clubs, believing that this will make their staff healthier and thus more effective at work. Other employers see no benefit in doing so. Consider the arguments from both aspects of this possible debate, and reach a conclusion.” (Reported 2019)

2. “Working long hours can lead to stress and other negative impacts on health and family life. Some people believe that limits should be placed on working hours. To what extent do you agree or disagree?” (Reported 2021)

3. “Some people think that employers should not care about the way their employees dress, but the quality of work. To what extent do you agree or disagree?” (Reported 2020, tangentially related)

For this article, we’ll focus on a commonly appearing question format that directly addresses the impact of overtime work on employees.

Question & Analysis

Many employees are now expected to work overtime regularly, which can have both positive and negative effects on their lives. Discuss both the advantages and disadvantages of working overtime and give your own opinion.

Question Type: This is a discussion essay with an opinion component. You must present both sides of the argument before stating your own position.

Key Terms Explained:

• Overtime: Working hours beyond the standard contracted schedule
• Advantages and disadvantages: Both positive and negative impacts must be explored equally
• Give your own opinion: A clear personal stance is required in either the introduction or conclusion

Common Pitfalls:

• Focusing only on disadvantages while neglecting advantages
• Failing to provide a clear personal opinion
• Writing about general work issues rather than specifically addressing overtime
• Providing opinion without supporting it with relevant examples

Strategic Approach:

1. Introduction: Paraphrase the question and state your position
2. Body Paragraph 1: Discuss advantages (financial benefits, career advancement)
3. Body Paragraph 2: Discuss disadvantages (health issues, family relationships)
4. Conclusion: Summarize both sides and reinforce your opinion

Understanding work-life balance policies for employee well-being provides valuable context for approaching this question effectively, as overtime work directly impacts the equilibrium between professional and personal life.

Band 8-9 Sample Essay

What Makes a Band 8-9 Essay:
A Band 8-9 response demonstrates sophisticated vocabulary, complex sentence structures, logical coherence, and fully developed arguments with relevant examples. The essay flows naturally with seamless transitions and addresses all parts of the task comprehensively.

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In contemporary workplaces, extended working hours have become increasingly commonplace, generating considerable debate about their impact on employees’ well-being. While overtime can offer certain professional and financial advantages, I firmly believe that the detrimental effects on physical health and personal relationships far outweigh these benefits.

Admittedly, working beyond standard hours can yield tangible rewards for employees. From a financial perspective, overtime typically commands premium pay rates, enabling workers to supplement their income substantially and achieve financial goals more rapidly. Furthermore, demonstrating willingness to work additional hours may enhance one’s professional reputation, potentially leading to promotions or expanded responsibilities. In competitive industries such as finance and technology, those who consistently exceed expectations often find themselves on accelerated career trajectories.

Nevertheless, the disadvantages of prolonged working hours are both profound and far-reaching. Most significantly, excessive overtime contributes to chronic stress and physical exhaustion, which have been empirically linked to serious health conditions including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and mental health disorders. A recent study by the World Health Organization revealed that individuals working more than 55 hours weekly face a 35% higher risk of stroke compared to those maintaining standard schedules. Equally concerning is the erosion of family bonds and social connections. When employees routinely sacrifice evenings and weekends, they miss crucial family moments and gradually become disconnected from loved ones, which can lead to relationship breakdown and profound feelings of isolation.

In conclusion, whilst overtime work offers financial incentives and career advancement opportunities, these advantages pale in comparison to the severe health consequences and damaged relationships it engenders. Organizations should prioritize sustainable working practices that protect employee well-being rather than normalizing excessive hours.

Word count: 295

IELTS Writing Task 2 overtime work effects on employee health and productivity

Band Score Analysis

Criteria	Band	Justification
Task Response	9	Fully addresses all parts of the task with well-developed ideas. Clear position is maintained throughout with sophisticated argumentation. Provides specific, relevant examples (WHO study) that strengthen the response.
Coherence & Cohesion	9	Seamlessly organized with sophisticated paragraph structure. Uses a wide range of cohesive devices naturally (“Nevertheless,” “Most significantly,” “Equally concerning”). Logical progression from advantages to disadvantages with clear signposting.
Lexical Resource	8.5	Demonstrates sophisticated vocabulary control with precise word choices (“empirically linked to,” “erosion of family bonds,” “engenders”). Minor room for more varied collocations, but no noticeable errors. Uses less common lexical items skillfully.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy	9	Wide range of complex structures used accurately (relative clauses, participle phrases, conditional forms). Demonstrates full flexibility and control. Error-free with sophisticated punctuation usage.

Why This Essay Excels:

1. Sophisticated Thesis Statement: “the detrimental effects on physical health and personal relationships far outweigh these benefits” – establishes a clear, nuanced position immediately

2. Advanced Cohesive Devices: Uses high-level transitions like “Admittedly,” “Nevertheless,” “Equally concerning” that demonstrate mature writing

3. Specific Evidence: Incorporates concrete data (WHO study showing 35% higher stroke risk) rather than vague generalizations

4. Complex Sentence Structures: “When employees routinely sacrifice evenings and weekends, they miss crucial family moments and gradually become disconnected from loved ones, which can lead to relationship breakdown…”

5. Precise Vocabulary Choices: “tangible rewards,” “accelerated career trajectories,” “empirically linked to,” “engenders”

6. Balanced Treatment: Despite having a clear opinion, gives fair consideration to both advantages and disadvantages

7. Natural Flow: Ideas connect seamlessly without forced transitions or repetitive phrasing

Band 6.5-7 Sample Essay

What Characterizes a Band 6.5-7 Essay:
A Band 6.5-7 response demonstrates good vocabulary and grammar control with generally clear organization. While ideas are relevant and supported, they may lack the sophistication and development of higher band scores. Some errors may be present but don’t impede communication.

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These days, many workers need to work overtime regularly, and this situation has both positive and negative sides. In this essay, I will discuss both advantages and disadvantages and give my personal view.

On the one hand, working extra hours can bring several benefits to employees. Firstly, overtime work usually provides additional income because companies pay more for extra hours. This extra money can help workers save for important things like buying a house or paying for their children’s education. Secondly, employees who work overtime often show their dedication to the company, which can lead to better career opportunities. For example, my friend who worked extra hours for six months received a promotion because his manager noticed his hard work and commitment.

On the other hand, there are some serious disadvantages of working too much. The main problem is that overtime can damage people’s health. When workers spend long hours in the office, they don’t have enough time to exercise or rest properly, which can cause stress and tiredness. This might lead to serious illnesses in the long term. Another important issue is that overtime affects family life negatively. Employees who work late every day cannot spend quality time with their family members, and this can create problems in relationships. Many couples have arguments because one partner is always working.

In my opinion, although overtime work has some benefits like extra money and career growth, the disadvantages are more significant. Health and family should be more important than money and career success. Companies should try to reduce overtime and create better work-life balance for their employees.

Word count: 283

Band Score Analysis

Criteria	Band	Justification
Task Response	7	Addresses all parts of the task with relevant ideas and examples. Position is clear but could be more nuanced. Development is adequate though some points remain somewhat general.
Coherence & Cohesion	6.5	Clear overall progression with logical paragraph structure. Uses basic cohesive devices (“Firstly,” “Secondly,” “On the other hand”) but with some mechanical application. Paragraphing is appropriate.
Lexical Resource	6.5	Adequate vocabulary range for the task with some less common items (“dedication,” “commitment”). Some attempts at sophisticated vocabulary but with limited flexibility. Occasional awkward collocations (“damage people’s health”).
Grammatical Range & Accuracy	7	Uses a variety of complex structures with good control. Some errors present (“need to work” could be “are expected to work”) but they don’t impede understanding. Generally accurate with occasional slips.

Direct Comparison with Band 8-9:

Aspect	Band 8-9	Band 6.5-7
Opening	“extended working hours have become increasingly commonplace”	“many workers need to work overtime regularly”
Vocabulary Sophistication	“erosion of family bonds,” “empirically linked to”	“damage people’s health,” “affects family life negatively”
Supporting Evidence	WHO study with specific statistics (35% higher risk)	Personal anecdote about friend’s promotion
Sentence Complexity	Multiple embedded clauses with seamless flow	Simpler structures with basic coordination
Cohesive Devices	“Nevertheless,” “Most significantly,” “Equally concerning”	“Firstly,” “Secondly,” “On the other hand”

The Band 6.5-7 essay is competent and clear but uses more straightforward vocabulary and grammatical structures. It relies on personal examples rather than authoritative data, and transitions are more mechanical. The argumentation, while logical, lacks the depth and sophistication of the Band 8-9 response.

Band 5-6 Sample Essay

What Characterizes a Band 5-6 Essay:
A Band 5-6 response shows basic competence with limited vocabulary range and simpler sentence structures. Organization is present but may be mechanical. Ideas are relevant but underdeveloped. Errors are more frequent but meaning is generally clear.

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Nowadays, working overtime become very common in many companies. This essay will talk about good points and bad points of working extra time.

First, I want to discuss about advantages. Working overtime is good because people can get more money. When you work more hours, the company give you extra salary and this money is useful for many things. Also, if you work overtime, your boss will think you are good worker and maybe he will give you promotion. This is important for people who want to success in their career.

However, working too much time have many problems. The biggest problem is health. If people always working and don’t have rest, they will become very tired and sick. I think this is very bad because health is most important thing in life. Another problem is family. When father or mother always work late, they cannot see their children and spend time together. The children will feel sad and the family relationship will become bad. This topic closely relates to The impact of stress on health because overtime creates significant pressure on workers.

In conclusion, overtime working has some benefits like earning more money and getting promotion, but it also has bad effects on health and family life. I think the disadvantages is more than advantages. Company should not make employee work too much overtime because it is not good for their life.

Word count: 251

Band Score Analysis

Criteria	Band	Justification
Task Response	6	Addresses the task with relevant ideas but development is limited. Position is stated but not strongly supported. Examples are generic rather than specific.
Coherence & Cohesion	5.5	Basic organization is present with introduction, body, and conclusion. Uses simple linking words (“First,” “However,” “Also”) but with limited range. Some mechanical paragraphing with abrupt transitions.
Lexical Resource	5.5	Limited vocabulary range with noticeable repetition (“work,” “overtime,” “problem”). Attempts to use topic vocabulary but with errors (“success” instead of “succeed”). Collocations are basic or incorrect.
Grammatical Range & Accuracy	5.5	Mix of simple and complex sentences with frequent errors (“become” instead of “has become,” “have many problems” instead of “has”). Errors sometimes affect clarity but message remains understandable.

Learning from Mistakes

Mistake	Error Type	Correction	Explanation
“working overtime become very common”	Subject-verb agreement	“working overtime has become very common”	Gerund subjects (working overtime) are singular and require singular verbs. Present perfect is more appropriate here for a change over time.
“the company give you extra salary”	Subject-verb agreement	“the company gives you extra salary”	Third person singular subjects require -s/-es verb forms in present simple tense.
“people who want to success”	Word form error	“people who want to succeed”	After “want to,” we need the infinitive form of the verb (succeed), not the noun (success).
“working too much time have many problems”	Subject-verb agreement	“working too much has many problems”	Gerund subjects are singular. Also, “too much time” is redundant; “too much” alone is sufficient.
“If people always working”	Tense error	“If people are always working”	After “if” in present conditions, use present simple or present continuous (are working), not present participle alone.
“I think the disadvantages is more”	Subject-verb agreement	“I think the disadvantages are greater”	Plural subjects require plural verbs. “Greater” is more appropriate than “more” when comparing abstract concepts.

How to Improve from Band 6 to 7:

1. Expand Vocabulary Range: Replace repetitive words with synonyms and collocations

   • Instead of repeating “work overtime,” use: “work extended hours,” “work beyond standard schedules,” “put in extra time”

2. Master Subject-Verb Agreement: Review rules for singular/plural subjects, especially with gerunds and third-person singular

3. Use More Complex Sentences: Combine simple sentences using relative clauses, participles, and subordination

   • Before: “This is important. People want to success in their career.”
   • After: “This is particularly important for individuals seeking career advancement.”

4. Provide Specific Examples: Replace generic statements with concrete details or research findings

5. Improve Cohesion: Learn transitional phrases beyond basic ones (Firstly, Secondly)

   • Try: “Furthermore,” “Moreover,” “In addition to this,” “What is more significant”

6. Fix Common Errors: Practice articles (a/an/the), prepositions, and word forms through targeted exercises

Strategies to improve IELTS Writing Task 2 band score from 6 to 7 or higher

Essential Vocabulary

Word/Phrase	Type	Pronunciation	Definition	Example	Collocations
extended working hours	noun phrase	/ɪkˈstendɪd ˈwɜːkɪŋ ˈaʊəz/	Time worked beyond standard schedule	Extended working hours have become the norm in many industries.	excessive extended hours, regularly working extended hours
detrimental	adjective	/ˌdetrɪˈmentl/	Causing harm or damage	Overtime has detrimental effects on health.	detrimental to health, detrimental impact, highly detrimental
tangible rewards	noun phrase	/ˈtændʒəbl rɪˈwɔːdz/	Concrete, measurable benefits	Overtime offers tangible rewards such as higher pay.	provide tangible rewards, receive tangible benefits
professional reputation	noun phrase	/prəˈfeʃənl ˌrepjuˈteɪʃn/	One’s standing or image in their career	Working overtime can enhance your professional reputation.	build/damage professional reputation, solid professional reputation
chronic stress	noun phrase	/ˈkrɒnɪk stres/	Long-term, persistent stress	Chronic stress from overwork leads to serious illness.	suffer from chronic stress, experience chronic stress
empirically linked	adverb + verb	/ɪmˈpɪrɪkli lɪŋkt/	Connected based on evidence/research	Long hours are empirically linked to heart disease.	empirically proven, empirically demonstrated
erosion of	noun + preposition	/ɪˈrəʊʒn ɒv/	Gradual destruction or weakening of	Overtime causes erosion of family bonds.	erosion of trust, erosion of health, gradual erosion
sustainable practices	adjective + noun	/səˈsteɪnəbl ˈpræktɪsɪz/	Methods that can be maintained long-term	Companies need sustainable working practices.	adopt sustainable practices, implement sustainable practices
accelerated career trajectory	adjective + noun phrase	/əkˈseləreɪtɪd kəˈrɪə trəˈdʒektəri/	Faster career advancement path	Overtime can lead to an accelerated career trajectory.	follow a trajectory, career trajectory upward
work-life equilibrium	noun phrase	/wɜːk laɪf ˌiːkwɪˈlɪbriəm/	Balance between job and personal life	Maintaining work-life equilibrium is essential for wellbeing.	achieve equilibrium, disturb equilibrium, restore equilibrium
supplementary income	adjective + noun	/ˌsʌplɪˈmentri ˈɪnkʌm/	Additional earnings beyond main salary	Overtime provides supplementary income for many families.	earn supplementary income, provide supplementary income
relationship breakdown	noun phrase	/rɪˈleɪʃnʃɪp ˈbreɪkdaʊn/	Failure or collapse of personal connections	Excessive work hours can cause relationship breakdown.	lead to breakdown, experience breakdown, prevent breakdown

The vocabulary list above connects directly to themes explored in The benefits and drawbacks of working overtime, where similar terminology appears in context.

High-Scoring Sentence Structures

1. Complex Subordination with Participle Phrases

Formula: Present/Past participle phrase + main clause + relative clause

Example from Band 8-9 Essay:
“Demonstrating willingness to work additional hours may enhance one’s professional reputation, potentially leading to promotions or expanded responsibilities.”

Why It Scores Well: This structure shows ability to condense information efficiently while maintaining clarity. The participle phrase adds sophistication and demonstrates control over non-finite clauses.

Additional Examples:

• “Working consistently beyond standard hours, employees often sacrifice their personal wellbeing, which can result in long-term health complications.”
• “Motivated by financial pressures, many workers accept overtime shifts, thereby compromising their relationships with family members.”
• “Having experienced chronic fatigue firsthand, professionals increasingly advocate for stricter regulations on working hours.”

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

• ❌ Dangling participles: “Working late every night, health problems developed.” (Who was working late?)
• ✅ Correct: “Working late every night, employees developed health problems.”

2. Non-Defining Relative Clauses for Additional Information

Formula: Main clause + , which/who + additional comment/consequence

Example from Band 8-9 Essay:
“When employees routinely sacrifice evenings and weekends, they miss crucial family moments and gradually become disconnected from loved ones, which can lead to relationship breakdown and profound feelings of isolation.”

Why It Scores Well: Non-defining relative clauses demonstrate sophisticated punctuation skills and the ability to layer information naturally. They show maturity in writing by adding evaluative comments.

Additional Examples:

• “Extended working hours reduce time for physical exercise, which has been shown to exacerbate cardiovascular problems.”
• “Many corporations now mandate overtime for salaried employees, which effectively reduces their hourly compensation.”
• “The normalization of excessive work hours, which began during the industrial revolution, continues to shape modern workplace culture.”

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

• ❌ Using “that” instead of “which”: “Overtime affects health, that is concerning.”
• ✅ Correct: “Overtime affects health, which is concerning.”
• ❌ Missing commas: “Overtime work which is increasingly common causes stress.”
• ✅ Correct: “Overtime work, which is increasingly common, causes stress.”

3. Cleft Sentences for Emphasis

Formula: It is/was + noun/adjective + that/who + clause

Example Modified from Band 8-9 Concepts:
“It is the erosion of family bonds that represents the most serious consequence of excessive overtime.”

Why It Scores Well: Cleft sentences allow writers to emphasize particular information, showing sophisticated control over information structure and creating variety in sentence patterns.

Additional Examples:

• “It is not the financial compensation but rather the career advancement opportunities that motivate employees to work overtime.”
• “What concerns health professionals most is the cumulative effect of chronic sleep deprivation.”
• “It was the World Health Organization’s research that first highlighted the correlation between long working hours and stroke risk.”

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

• ❌ Incorrect verb after “what”: “What make overtime harmful is stress.”
• ✅ Correct: “What makes overtime harmful is stress.”
• ❌ Missing “that”: “It is health which is most important.”
• ✅ Correct: “It is health that is most important.”

4. Advanced Conditional Structures (Mixed Conditionals)

Formula: If + past perfect + would/could + present infinitive (discussing past action with present consequence)

Example for This Topic:
“If companies had implemented reasonable working hour limits decades ago, employees would not currently face the epidemic of stress-related illnesses we observe today.”

Why It Scores Well: Mixed conditionals demonstrate sophisticated understanding of time relationships and cause-effect logic, particularly valued in Task 2 essays requiring analysis.

Additional Examples:

• “If organizations had prioritized employee wellbeing over profit margins, the current crisis in workplace mental health might have been prevented.”
• “Were companies to enforce strict overtime limits, employees could achieve better work-life balance.”
• “Had workers been educated about the long-term health risks, fewer would have volunteered for excessive overtime shifts.”

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

• ❌ Mixing tenses incorrectly: “If companies implement limits, employees would not faced problems.”
• ✅ Correct: “If companies implemented limits, employees would not face problems.”

Examples of complex grammatical structures for IELTS Writing Task 2 high band scores

5. Inversion for Formal Academic Tone

Formula: Negative adverb + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb

Example for This Topic:
“Not only does excessive overtime compromise physical health, but it also deteriorates mental wellbeing and family relationships.”

Why It Scores Well: Inversion creates variety in sentence structure while adding formality appropriate for academic writing. It’s particularly effective for emphasis and listing multiple effects.

Additional Examples:

• “Rarely do employees recognize the cumulative damage of consistent overtime until serious health problems emerge.”
• “Never before have working hours been so extensively monitored by health organizations worldwide.”
• “Only when organizations prioritize sustainable practices can they expect long-term employee productivity and loyalty.”

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

• ❌ Forgetting auxiliary verb: “Not only overtime harms health…”
• ✅ Correct: “Not only does overtime harm health…”
• ❌ Incorrect word order: “Rarely employees do recognize…”
• ✅ Correct: “Rarely do employees recognize…”

6. Concessive Clauses Showing Sophisticated Argument

Formula: While/Whilst/Although + conceded point, main argument + consequence/evidence

Example from Band 8-9 Essay:
“Whilst overtime work offers financial incentives and career advancement opportunities, these advantages pale in comparison to the severe health consequences and damaged relationships it engenders.”

Why It Scores Well: Concessive structures demonstrate ability to acknowledge counterarguments before refuting them, showing mature, balanced thinking essential for high scores.

Additional Examples:

• “Although supplementary income from overtime appears attractive initially, the long-term medical costs often exceed these short-term financial gains.”
• “While employers argue that overtime reflects employee dedication, research suggests it more accurately indicates inadequate staffing levels.”
• “Despite the apparent career benefits of working extended hours, professionals who maintain boundaries often achieve more sustainable success.”

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

• ❌ Using “but” after “although”: “Although overtime pays well, but it causes stress.”
• ✅ Correct: “Although overtime pays well, it causes stress.”
• ❌ Comma placement errors: “While overtime provides income it damages health.”
• ✅ Correct: “While overtime provides income, it damages health.”

Self-Assessment Checklist

Before Writing (5 minutes)

• [ ] Have I fully understood the question type (discussion, opinion, problem-solution)?
• [ ] Have I identified all parts of the task I must address?
• [ ] Do I have a clear position on the topic?
• [ ] Have I brainstormed at least 2-3 ideas for each main paragraph?
• [ ] Do I have specific examples or evidence to support my points?
• [ ] Have I planned my essay structure (intro, 2-3 body paragraphs, conclusion)?

While Writing (40 minutes)

Introduction (5-7 minutes):

• [ ] Paraphrased the question effectively without copying?
• [ ] Stated my position clearly?
• [ ] Written 2-3 sentences (40-60 words)?

Body Paragraphs (25-30 minutes):

• [ ] Started each paragraph with a clear topic sentence?
• [ ] Developed each main idea with explanation and examples?
• [ ] Used cohesive devices to link ideas smoothly?
• [ ] Included specific examples rather than vague generalizations?
• [ ] Written 100-120 words per body paragraph?
• [ ] Varied sentence structures and vocabulary?

Conclusion (3-5 minutes):

• [ ] Summarized main points without introducing new ideas?
• [ ] Restated my position clearly?
• [ ] Written 2-3 sentences (40-50 words)?

After Writing (10-12 minutes)

Content Check:

• [ ] Addressed all parts of the question?
• [ ] Maintained consistent position throughout?
• [ ] Provided relevant supporting examples?
• [ ] Written at least 250 words? (Count quickly)

Grammar & Vocabulary Check:

• [ ] Subject-verb agreement correct throughout?
• [ ] Verb tenses used accurately?
• [ ] Articles (a/an/the) used where necessary?
• [ ] Plural/singular forms correct?
• [ ] Used topic-specific vocabulary appropriately?
• [ ] Avoided repetition through synonyms and paraphrasing?

Coherence Check:

• [ ] Logical flow between sentences and paragraphs?
• [ ] Appropriate linking words used naturally (not mechanically)?
• [ ] Clear paragraph divisions?
• [ ] Pronoun references clear?

Common Errors to Hunt For:

• [ ] “There is/are” agreement (There is many problems ❌ → There are many problems ✓)
• [ ] Uncountable nouns with plural -s (informations ❌ → information ✓)
• [ ] Missing articles before singular countable nouns (Working overtime is problem ❌ → is a problem ✓)
• [ ] Word form errors (They want to success ❌ → want to succeed ✓)

Time Management Tips

Strict Timeline:

• 0-5 minutes: Analyze question and plan
• 5-12 minutes: Write introduction and first body paragraph
• 12-25 minutes: Write second body paragraph and third if needed
• 25-30 minutes: Write conclusion
• 30-40 minutes: Review and edit

If Running Short on Time:

• Prioritize completing your conclusion over perfecting body paragraphs
• Write shorter but complete paragraphs rather than leaving essay unfinished
• Focus on fixing obvious grammar errors rather than restructuring sentences
• Ensure word count reaches minimum 250 words

Practice Strategy:

• Practice writing under timed conditions regularly
• Start with 50 minutes initially, gradually reducing to 40 minutes
• Track which sections take longest and work on efficiency
• Keep a log of common errors to address in future essays

This structured approach to essay writing closely mirrors strategies discussed in Work-life balance: achieving harmony, where planning and time management prove equally critical for success.

Conclusion

Mastering IELTS Writing Task 2 essays on the impact of overtime work requires understanding how to balance discussion of advantages and disadvantages while maintaining a clear personal position. As demonstrated through our three sample essays spanning Bands 6 to 9, the difference between scoring levels lies not just in grammatical accuracy but in sophistication of vocabulary, depth of argumentation, and natural coherence.

Key Takeaways:

1. Address All Task Requirements: Always discuss both sides when asked, provide specific examples, and state your opinion clearly
2. Develop Ideas Fully: Move beyond simple statements to explain why and how, supporting claims with evidence or relevant examples
3. Use Sophisticated Structures Naturally: Complex grammar should enhance clarity, not obscure meaning
4. Maintain Coherence: Ideas should flow logically with varied, natural-sounding cohesive devices
5. Choose Precise Vocabulary: Select words that convey exact meaning rather than approximate ones

Your Path to Improvement:

• Weeks 1-2: Analyze sample essays at your target band score, identifying specific features to emulate
• Weeks 3-4: Practice writing timed essays on similar topics, focusing on one improvement area per essay
• Weeks 5-6: Refine your editing skills by reviewing your own work against the checklist provided
• Weeks 7-8: Write complete essays under exam conditions, timing yourself strictly

The journey from Band 6 to Band 7+ typically requires 3-6 months of consistent practice with focused improvement on specific weaknesses. Understanding how overtime work impacts employees connects to broader workplace themes you’ll encounter in IELTS, including gig economy’s impact on employment laws and modern employment structures.

Take Action Now:

1. Write your own response to the question presented in this article
2. Time yourself strictly (40 minutes)
3. Use the self-assessment checklist to evaluate your work
4. Identify three specific areas for improvement
5. Share your essay in the comments below for peer feedback and community support

Remember, improvement comes from deliberate practice with reflection. Each essay you write provides valuable learning opportunities—analyze what worked well and what needs refinement. With consistent effort and strategic focus on the elements outlined in this guide, achieving your target band score is entirely within reach.

Additional Resources:

• Practice analyzing official IELTS band descriptors for Writing Task 2
• Record yourself explaining your essay ideas orally to improve clarity of thought
• Study high-scoring essays across various topics to internalize effective patterns
• Join online IELTS study groups for regular feedback and motivation

The skills you develop preparing for IELTS Writing Task 2—clear argumentation, coherent organization, and precise language use—will serve you well beyond the exam in academic and professional contexts. Start practicing today, and remember that every essay brings you one step closer to your goal.