# Four-day working week: agree or disagree: IELTS Writing Task 2 samples

Writing Task 2 - Work

Some people think that all companies should introduce a four-day working week for their employees. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

Source: Sample answers and examiner notes are written by Testmigo.

## Band 6 sample

In recent years, some companies have started a four-day working week, and some people think every company should do this. In my opinion, this idea is good for some companies but it is not possible for all of them, so I mostly disagree.

On the one hand, a four-day week has many benefits for workers. They have three days of rest, so they can spend more time with their family and do their hobbies. When people are not tired, they work more harder and make less mistakes. For example, my cousin works in a marketing company which changed to four days last year. He told me that he feels more happy and his team finish their work faster than before. Also, the company can save money on electricity because the office is closed one more day.

On the other hand, many businesses cannot close for one extra day. Hospitals need doctors and nurses every day and every night, because people get sick at any time. If nurses only work four days, the hospital must to hire more staff, and this is very expensive. Similarly, small shops and restaurants depend on the customers who come every day. If the owner close the shop on Friday, he will lose a lot of money. Some workers also prefer to work five days because they get paid by the hour.

In conclusion, I think a four-day working week is a good idea for offices and some other companies, but it should not be for all companies. Every company is different, so the government should not force them to change. Each company should decide what is best for their workers and also for their customers.

**Examiner notes.** This Band 6 essay states a position ("I mostly disagree") and gives relevant reasons on both sides, including the cousin's marketing company and the needs of hospitals. Development is uneven: the point about workers paid by the hour appears in one sentence and is not explained. Linking relies on "On the one hand" and "Similarly", and errors such as "more harder", "less mistakes" and "must to hire" are noticeable but do not block meaning. For Band 7, the writer would focus on the word "all" and extend each reason.

## Band 7 sample

The idea of a four-day working week has attracted growing attention, and some people argue that every company should adopt it. While I accept that a shorter week can benefit many employees and employers, I disagree that it should be introduced by all companies, because it is simply unworkable in many sectors.

There are clear reasons why some businesses find the idea appealing. Employees who have an extra day off each week usually return to work feeling rested, which can make them more focused during the hours they do work. A shorter week can also help companies attract and keep talented staff, since many people, especially those with young children, value free time as much as a higher salary. In office-based industries such as software development or advertising, where results are measured by output rather than hours, these advantages may well outweigh the costs.

However, the word "all" makes the proposal unrealistic. Hospitals, police services and public transport must operate every day of week, so giving every employee a three-day weekend would mean recruiting many additional staff, which would be extremely costly and, in some areas, impossible because of existing shortages. Small businesses face a different problem. A family-run café or a local hardware shop depends on being open when customers need it, and the owner can afford neither to close for a day nor to pay extra workers to cover the gap.

In conclusion, although a four-day working week can be a sensible choice for many organisations, I do not believe it should be imposed on every company. It would be better for governments to allow businesses to choose the working pattern that suits their own employees and customers, rather than introducing a single rule for everyone.

**Examiner notes.** This Band 7 essay presents a clear position from the introduction to the conclusion and correctly identifies the key word "all" as the weakness of the proposal. The examples of hospitals and a family-run café are relevant, although the claim that rested staff are "more focused" is asserted rather than explained. There is an occasional slip, such as "every day of week". A Band 8 essay would extend every supporting point, explain the reasoning behind each benefit and use a wider range of precise vocabulary.

The Band 8 and 9 samples are free with an account on the [topic page](https://testmigo.com/ielts/writing/topics/task-2/four-day-working-week).

## Common questions

### How many words should I write?

At least 150 words for Task 1 and 250 for Task 2. Writing a little more is fine; an answer under the minimum loses marks.

### Can I use these sample answers in my test?

No. Memorised material is marked down and you will not get this exact question. Use the samples to see what each band does with the same task.