This is my IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay from the newly released Cambridge 19 book of past IELTS tests on the topic of the working week and longer weekends.
Check out the other Cambridge 19 essays here:
Task 1:
Task 2:
IELTS Essay: Working Week
The working week should be shorter and workers should have a longer weekend.
Do you agree or disagree?
Many today make the argument that the average work week should be shortened in order to allow for longer weekends. In my opinion, though there would be potential economic drawbacks, this approach is both sensible and advisable.
Critics of reduced working days point to the repercussions for productivity. Shortening the number of workdays in a week would logically entail a decline in the amount of work a person can complete. In the majority of industries, this would result in lower sales and earnings figures. The result for the entire economy of such a drastic step could be potentially disastrous as companies would have to reduce profit forecasts and revisit investment models. In developed nations, such a sacrifice for the sake of more free time might be feasible but developing countries would certainly struggle to compete on a global scale.
Nonetheless, there are more significant advantages to a longer weekend related to quality of life. Current weekends make it challenging for individuals to enjoy enough free time to take trips, engage in long-term projects outside of work, and spend enough time with family. An additional day would allow for greater flexibility in all these respects. For instance, the average worker who is occupied at an office or company for the majority of the week, might only think of resting and relaxing on the weekend. Given an extra day on the weekend, this person might be more encouraged to take a more active role in family life or develop an interest outside of work, such as making art or playing a sport, that requires more energy and commitment.
In conclusion, despite the possible implications for productivity, a shorter working week would engender a variety of significant benefits for the average person and should therefore be considered by policymakers. In an age of increased automation, longer weekends are becoming a more realistic possibility.
Analysis
1. Many today make the argument that the average work week should be shortened in order to allow for longer weekends. 2. In my opinion, though there would be potential economic drawbacks, this approach is both sensible and advisable.
1. Critics of reduced working days point to the repercussions for productivity. 2. Shortening the number of workdays in a week would logically entail a decline in the amount of work a person can complete. 3. In the majority of industries, this would result in lower sales and earnings figures. 4. The result for the entire economy of such a drastic step could be potentially disastrous as companies would have to reduce profit forecasts and revisit investment models. 5. In developed nations, such a sacrifice for the sake of more free time might be feasible but developing countries would certainly struggle to compete on a global scale.
1. Nonetheless, there are more significant advantages to a longer weekend related to quality of life. 2. Current weekends make it challenging for individuals to enjoy enough free time to take trips, engage in long-term projects outside of work, and spend enough time with family. 3. An additional day would allow for greater flexibility in all these respects. 4. For instance, the average worker who is occupied at an office or company for the majority of the week, might only think of resting and relaxing on the weekend. 5. Given an extra day on the weekend, this person might be more encouraged to take a more active role in family life or develop an interest outside of work, such as making art or playing a sport, that requires more energy and commitment.
- Write a new topic sentence with a new main idea at the end.
- Explain your new main idea.
- Include specific details and examples.
- Add as much information as you can and make sure it links logically.
- This essay is a bit long – aim for about 275 words.
1. In conclusion, despite the possible implications for productivity, a shorter working week would engender a variety of significant benefits for the average person and should therefore be considered by policymakers. 2. In an age of increased automation, longer weekends are becoming a more realistic possibility.
- Summarise your main ideas.
- Include a final thought. Read more about conclusions here.
Vocabulary
What do the words in bold below mean? Make some notes on paper to aid memory and then check below.
Many today make the argument that the average work week should be shortened in order to allow for longer weekends. In my opinion, though there would be potential economic drawbacks, this approach is both sensible and advisable.
Critics of reduced working days point to the repercussions for productivity. Shortening the number of workdays in a week would logically entail a decline in the amount of work a person can complete. In the majority of industries, this would result in lower sales and earnings figures. The result for the entire economy of such a drastic step could be potentially disastrous as companies would have to reduce profit forecasts and revisit investment models. In developed nations, such a sacrifice for the sake of more free time might be feasible but developing countries would certainly struggle to compete on a global scale.
Nonetheless, there are more significant advantages to a longer weekend related to quality of life. Current weekends make it challenging for individuals to enjoy enough free time to take trips, engage in long-term projects outside of work, and spend enough time with family. An additional day would allow for greater flexibility in all these respects. For instance, the average worker who is occupied at an office or company for the majority of the week, might only think of resting and relaxing on the weekend. Given an extra day on the weekend, this person might be more encouraged to take a more active role in family life or develop an interest outside of work, such as making art or playing a sport, that requires more energy and commitment.
In conclusion, despite the possible implications for productivity, a shorter working week would engender a variety of significant benefits for the average person and should therefore be considered by policymakers. In an age of increased automation, longer weekends are becoming a more realistic possibility.
Answers
For extra practice, write an antonym (opposite word) on a piece of paper to help you remember the new vocabulary:
- the average work – typical workload
- shortened – reduced
- in order to allow for – to facilitate
- longer weekends – extended weekends
- potential economic drawbacks – possible economic disadvantages
- sensible – reasonable
- advisable – recommended
- Critics of – Opponents of
- reduced working days – shortened workdays
- point to – highlight
- repercussions – consequences
- productivity – efficiency
- Shortening – Trimming
- logically entail – logically result in
- decline in the amount of work – decrease in workload
- complete – accomplish
- In the majority of industries – In most sectors
- lower sales and earnings figures – decreased sales and earnings numbers
- The result for the entire economy – The impact on the overall economy
- drastic step – extreme measure
- potentially disastrous – potentially catastrophic
- reduce profit forecasts – curtail profit projections
- revisit investment models – reexamine investment models
- developed nations – industrialized countries
- sacrifice for the sake of – compromise for the purpose of
- feasible – viable
- certainly struggle to compete on a global scale – likely face challenges in global competition
- Nonetheless – However
- significant advantages to – notable benefits of
- related to quality of life – associated with quality of life
- take trips – go on vacations
- engage in long-term projects outside of work – pursue long-term endeavors beyond work
- greater flexibility in all these respects – enhanced flexibility in all these aspects
- occupied – engaged
- majority – bulk
- Given an extra day on the weekend – With an additional day off on weekends
- encouraged – urged
- take a more active role in family life – actively participate in family life
- develop an interest outside of work – cultivate a personal interest beyond work
- requires – demands
- energy – vigor
- commitment – dedication
- despite – regardless of
- possible implications – potential consequences
- engender – generate
- variety of significant benefits – diverse array of notable advantages
- for the average person – for the typical individual
- considered by policymakers – deliberated by policymakers
- In an age of – In an era of
- automation – mechanization
- more realistic possibility – more feasible prospect
Pronunciation
Practice saying the vocabulary below and use this tip about Google voice search:
ði ˈævᵊrɪʤ wɜːk
ˈʃɔːtᵊnd
ɪn ˈɔːdə tuː əˈlaʊ fɔː
ˈlɒŋɡə ˌwiːkˈɛndz
pəˈtɛnʃᵊl ˌiːkəˈnɒmɪk ˈdrɔːbæks
ˈsɛnsəbᵊl
ədˈvaɪzəbᵊl
ˈkrɪtɪks ɒv
rɪˈdjuːst ˈwɜːkɪŋ deɪz
pɔɪnt tuː
ˌriːpɜːˈkʌʃᵊnz
ˌprɒdʌkˈtɪvəti
ˈʃɔːtnɪŋ
ˈlɒʤɪkᵊli ɪnˈteɪl
dɪˈklaɪn ɪn ði əˈmaʊnt ɒv wɜːk
kəmˈpliːt
ɪn ðə məˈʤɒrəti ɒv ˈɪndəstriz
ˈləʊə seɪlz ænd ˈɜːnɪŋz ˈfɪɡəz
ðə rɪˈzʌlt fɔː ði ɪnˈtaɪər ɪˈkɒnəmi
ˈdræstɪk stɛp
pəˈtɛnʃᵊli dɪˈzɑːstrəs
rɪˈdjuːs ˈprɒfɪt ˈfɔːkɑːsts
ˌriːˈvɪsɪt ɪnˈvɛstmənt ˈmɒdᵊlz
dɪˈvɛləpt ˈneɪʃᵊnz
ˈsækrɪfaɪs fɔː ðə seɪk ɒv
ˈfiːzəbᵊl
ˈsɜːtᵊnli ˈstrʌɡᵊl tuː kəmˈpiːt ɒn ə ˈɡləʊbᵊl skeɪl
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs
sɪɡˈnɪfɪkᵊnt ədˈvɑːntɪʤɪz tuː
rɪˈleɪtɪd tuː ˈkwɒləti ɒv laɪf
teɪk trɪps
ɪnˈɡeɪʤ ɪn ˈlɒŋtɜːm ˈprɒʤɛkts ˌaʊtˈsaɪd ɒv wɜːk
ˈɡreɪtə ˌflɛksəˈbɪləti ɪn ɔːl ðiːz rɪˈspɛkts
ˈɒkjəpaɪd
məˈʤɒrəti
ˈɡɪvᵊn ən ˈɛkstrə deɪ ɒn ðə ˌwiːkˈɛnd
ɪnˈkʌrɪʤd
teɪk ə mɔːr ˈæktɪv rəʊl ɪn ˈfæmᵊli laɪf
dɪˈvɛləp ən ˈɪntrɛst ˌaʊtˈsaɪd ɒv wɜːk
rɪˈkwaɪəz
ˈɛnəʤi
kəˈmɪtmənt
dɪˈspaɪt
ˈpɒsəbᵊl ˌɪmplɪˈkeɪʃᵊnz
ɪnˈʤɛndə
vəˈraɪəti ɒv sɪɡˈnɪfɪkᵊnt ˈbɛnɪfɪts
fɔː ði ˈævᵊrɪʤ ˈpɜːsᵊn
kənˈsɪdəd baɪ ˈpɒləsɪˌmeɪkəz
ɪn ən eɪʤ ɒv
ˌɔːtəˈmeɪʃᵊn
mɔː rɪəˈlɪstɪk ˌpɒsəˈbɪləti
Vocabulary Practice
I recommend getting a pencil and piece of paper because that aids memory. Then write down the missing vocabulary from my sample answer in your notebook:
Many today make the argument that t___________________k week should be s_____________d _____________________r l_______________________s. In my opinion, though there would be p___________________________s, this approach is both s_________e and a______e.
C________________________________o the r______________s for p___________y. S__________g the number of workdays in a week would l_____________l a d_________________________k a person can c__________e. I______________________s, this would result in l_________________________s. T___________________________y of such a d___________p could be p____________________s as companies would have to r____________________________s and r___________________s. In d_______________s, such a s_________________________f more free time might be f_________e but developing countries would c______________________________________e.
N_________s, there are more s_____________________o a longer weekend r______________________e. Current weekends make it challenging for individuals to enjoy enough free time to t_______s, e____________________________________k, and spend enough time with family. An additional day would allow for g_________________________s. For instance, the average worker who is o_________d at an office or company for the m________y of the week, might only think of resting and relaxing on the weekend. G________________________________d, this person might be more e___________d to t______________________________e or d__________________________________k, such as making art or playing a sport, that r_______s more e_______y and c_______t.
In conclusion, d________e the p___________s for productivity, a shorter working week would e__________________________________________________n and should therefore be c___________________s. I_____________f increased a____________n, longer weekends are becoming a m________________________y.
Listening Practice
Learn more about this topic by watching from YouTube below and practice with these activities:
Reading Practice
Read more about this topic and use these ideas to practice:
Speaking Practice
Work
Do you like your job?
What do you find most interesting about your work/job?
Writing Practice
Some countries have introduced laws to limit the working hours that an employer can ask from an employee.
Why are these law introduced?
Is this a positive or negative trend?
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