You have approximately 40 minutes to complete this task. You need to write an essay addressing the topic below The working week should be shorter and workers should have a longer weekend. Do you agree or disagree? Your essay should comprise a minimum of 250 words.
Sample Response
In recent years, the idea of shortening the working week and lengthening the weekendreducing the working week and extending the weekend has gained significant attention. I completely agree that a shorter working week togethercoupled with a longer weekend would bring substantial benefitswould be highly beneficial.
First and foremost, a shorter working week can substantially improve productivitycan significantly enhance productivity. When employees have fewer days to complete their tasks, they are likely to concentrate more effectivelyfocus better and work more efficiently. For instance, a study conducted by Microsoftresearch conducted by Microsoft in Japan demonstrated that a four-day workingwork week led to a 40% increase in productivity. This example clearly illustrates that a condensed work schedule can lead to more concentrated efforts and improved outcomes, thereby supporting the notion that shorter work weeks boost productivity.
Another important reason is thatAnother reason worth mentioning is that extending the weekend would greatly improve workers' mental health and well-being. Longer weekends provide employees with more time to relax, pursue personal interests, and spend quality time with their families, which helps them maintain a healthy work-life balancewhich is essential for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. For example, a study by the American Psychological Association found that employees who had longer breaksmore extended breaks reported lower stress levels and higher job satisfaction. This evidence highlights the positive impact of longer weekends on employees' overall well-being, underlining the importance of giving workers more time to recharge.
In conclusion, I strongly believe that a shorter working week and a longer weekend would be highly advantageous. Enhanced productivity and improved mental health are compelling reasons to support this change to working patternschange in work schedules. Under this arrangementBy adopting this approach, both businesses and employees can benefit significantly.
Why this response received Band 8.0
The response is focused, fully relevant, and easy to follow, with two well-developed reasons supported by specific examples and consistently controlled language. The main limitation is a slightly formulaic pattern of signposting and explanation, which makes an otherwise strong argument feel somewhat rehearsed. To improve further, vary the transitions and add a little more nuanced analysis of how shorter weeks could be implemented across different workplaces.
IELTS Writing Criteria Scores
Task Response
The position is direct and both supporting reasons are relevant, clearly extended, and illustrated with specific evidence.
Add a brief qualification about which workplaces may benefit most to make the argument even more nuanced.
Coherence and Cohesion
Ideas progress logically through well-focused paragraphs, with cohesive devices used clearly throughout the response.
Vary the repeated reason-example-explanation pattern so the progression feels less formulaic.
Lexical Resource
A wide and precise vocabulary conveys the argument fluently, with only occasional slightly rehearsed phrasing.
Use more varied wording for the central concepts instead of repeatedly returning to shorter weeks and longer weekends.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy
A broad range of complex structures is used accurately, and errors are rare and non-impeding.
Experiment with more concise clause combinations and varied sentence openings while maintaining the same high accuracy.
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IELTS Writing Task 2
You have approximately 40 minutes to complete this task. You need to write an essay addressing the topic below The working week should be shorter and workers should have a longer weekend. Do you agree or disagree? Your essay should comprise a minimum of 250 words.
Your response
Write the task yourself, then compare your choices with the annotated response.