The topic of implementing a four-day school week has been gaining traction in recent years, making it a potential subject for IELTS Writing Task 2. While not yet a common question, its relevance to modern education systems suggests it could appear in future tests. Let’s explore this topic through sample essays and analysis.
Some people think that schools should switch to a four-day week to improve student well-being and save resources. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Analyzing the Question
This question asks for your opinion on implementing a four-day school week. Key points to consider:
- The main argument for the change: improving student well-being and saving resources
- You need to state your position and provide reasons to support it
- Consider both advantages and disadvantages of a four-day school week
- Think about the impact on students, teachers, parents, and the education system as a whole
Sample Essays
Band 8-9 Essay
In recent years, there has been growing debate about whether schools should adopt a four-day week to enhance student welfare and conserve resources. While this proposal has some merit, I believe that the potential drawbacks outweigh the benefits, and therefore, I disagree with implementing such a change.
Proponents of the four-day school week argue that it could lead to improved student well-being. They contend that an extra day off would provide students with more time to rest, pursue hobbies, and spend time with family, potentially reducing stress and burnout. Additionally, schools might save on operational costs such as electricity, heating, and transportation by closing for an extra day each week.
However, these potential advantages are overshadowed by significant concerns. Firstly, reducing the school week to four days would likely necessitate longer school days to compensate for lost instructional time. This could lead to increased fatigue and decreased concentration among students, particularly younger ones who may struggle with extended periods of focused learning. Moreover, many working parents would face challenges in arranging childcare for the additional day off, potentially causing financial strain and stress for families.
Furthermore, a shortened school week might negatively impact educational outcomes. With less frequent classes, students may struggle to retain information and maintain academic momentum, particularly in subjects that require consistent practice such as mathematics and foreign languages. This could potentially widen the achievement gap between students who have access to additional educational resources at home and those who do not.
In conclusion, while the idea of a four-day school week may seem appealing at first glance, the potential negative consequences for student learning, family logistics, and educational equity are too significant to ignore. Instead of drastically altering the school schedule, education systems should focus on more targeted approaches to improve student well-being and resource efficiency, such as implementing stress-reduction programs, optimizing classroom environments, and adopting energy-saving technologies.
(Word count: 309)
Four-day school week benefits and drawbacks infographic
Band 6-7 Essay
The idea of changing schools to a four-day week has become popular recently. Some people think it’s good for students and can save money, but I don’t fully agree with this idea.
There are some good points about a four-day school week. Students might feel less stressed if they have an extra day off. They could use this time to relax, do homework, or enjoy hobbies. Also, schools could save money on things like electricity and bus fuel by being closed for one more day each week.
However, I think there are more problems with this plan than benefits. First, if schools only have four days, each school day would need to be longer. This could make students very tired, especially younger children. They might not be able to focus well in their last classes of the day. Also, many parents work five days a week, so they would have trouble finding someone to look after their children on the extra day off.
Another big problem is that students might learn less with a four-day week. Having a three-day weekend every week could make it harder for students to remember what they learned. This could be especially bad for subjects like math or languages, where regular practice is important.
In conclusion, while a four-day school week might seem like a good idea, I think it would cause too many problems for students, parents, and learning. Instead of changing the whole school week, schools should try other ways to help students feel less stressed and save resources, like having better break times or using less energy in school buildings.
(Word count: 268)
Band 5-6 Essay
Some people think schools should change to a four-day week. They say it’s good for students and saves money. I think this idea has some good points, but also some bad points.
A four-day school week might be good because students can have more free time. They can rest more and do things they like. Also, schools can save money because they use less electricity and water for one day.
But there are problems too. If schools have only four days, each day will be longer. Students might get very tired. Young children might not be able to study well for a long time. Also, parents who work might not know what to do with their children on the extra day off.
Another problem is that students might forget what they learn. If they don’t go to school for three days every week, they might not remember their lessons well. This could be bad for their grades.
In my opinion, a four-day school week is not a good idea. It might cause too many problems for students and their families. I think schools should find other ways to help students and save money without changing the whole week.
(Word count: 179)
Analysis of Essays
Band 8-9 Essay Analysis
This essay demonstrates excellent writing skills and a sophisticated approach to the topic, warranting a high band score:
Task Response: The essay fully addresses all parts of the task, presenting a clear position with well-developed arguments. It considers multiple perspectives and provides a balanced discussion.
Coherence and Cohesion: The essay is well-organized with clear progression throughout. It uses a variety of cohesive devices effectively (e.g., “However,” “Moreover,” “Furthermore”).
Lexical Resource: The vocabulary is precise and sophisticated (e.g., “proponents,” “compensate,” “necessitate”). There’s a good range of less common words used appropriately.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay demonstrates a wide range of complex structures used accurately. There’s a good mix of simple and complex sentences with no noticeable errors.
Critical Thinking: The essay shows depth of critical thinking, considering various stakeholders and long-term impacts of the proposed change.
Band 6-7 Essay Analysis
This essay demonstrates good writing skills but lacks some of the sophistication of the higher band essay:
Task Response: The essay addresses the task and presents a clear position, but the ideas are less fully developed compared to the Band 8-9 essay.
Coherence and Cohesion: The essay is generally well-organized, but the use of cohesive devices is less varied and sophisticated.
Lexical Resource: The vocabulary is appropriate but less precise and varied compared to the higher band essay. There are fewer instances of less common vocabulary.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay uses a mix of simple and complex sentences but with less variety than the Band 8-9 essay. There are no major grammatical errors, but the structures are less sophisticated.
Critical Thinking: The essay shows good critical thinking but doesn’t explore the implications of the four-day week as deeply as the higher band essay.
Band 5-6 Essay Analysis
This essay demonstrates basic writing skills but lacks the depth and sophistication required for higher band scores:
Task Response: The essay addresses the task but in a more limited way. The position is clear, but ideas are not fully developed.
Coherence and Cohesion: The essay has a basic structure, but paragraphing is less clear, and there’s limited use of cohesive devices.
Lexical Resource: The vocabulary is simple and repetitive. There are few instances of less common words or phrases.
Grammatical Range and Accuracy: The essay primarily uses simple sentence structures with limited variety. There are some grammatical errors, but they don’t impede communication.
Critical Thinking: The essay shows basic critical thinking but lacks depth in analyzing the implications of a four-day school week.
IELTS Writing Task 2 scoring criteria chart
Key Vocabulary
Implement (verb) /ˈɪm.plə.ment/: to put a plan or system into operation
Well-being (noun) /ˌwel ˈbiː.ɪŋ/: the state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy
Conserve (verb) /kənˈsɜːrv/: to protect something and prevent it from being changed or destroyed
Proponent (noun) /prəˈpəʊ.nənt/: a person who advocates for or supports something
Burnout (noun) /ˈbɜːn.aʊt/: physical or mental collapse caused by overwork or stress
Compensate (verb) /ˈkɒm.pen.seɪt/: to provide something good to balance or reduce the bad effects of damage, loss, etc.
Fatigue (noun) /fəˈtiːɡ/: extreme tiredness resulting from mental or physical exertion
Achievement gap (noun phrase) /əˈtʃiːv.mənt ɡæp/: the disparity in academic performance between different groups of students
Equity (noun) /ˈek.wə.ti/: fairness and impartiality, especially in relation to rights or opportunities
Optimize (verb) /ˈɒp.tɪ.maɪz/: to make the best or most effective use of a situation or resource
Conclusion
The topic of a four-day school week presents an excellent opportunity for IELTS candidates to demonstrate their critical thinking and writing skills. While this specific question hasn’t been common in past IELTS tests, similar education-related topics frequently appear. To prepare, consider practicing with variations on this theme, such as:
- Should schools extend or shorten the academic year?
- Is it beneficial to have longer school days with more breaks?
- Should schools implement year-round education instead of long summer breaks?
Remember, the key to success in IELTS Writing Task 2 is not just your opinion, but how well you can express and support it. Practice writing essays on these topics, focusing on clear structure, varied vocabulary, and balanced arguments. Feel free to share your practice essays in the comments section for feedback and discussion with fellow learners. Good luck with your IELTS preparation!