CELPIP Speaking Task 7: Expressing Opinions

In my opinion, a four-day work week is a good idea. First, people can have more time with their family. Now many people are tired because they work five days and they have no time for their children. With three days off, they can rest and do activities. Second, I think people will work better. When you are not tired, you make less mistakes. But some people say that ten hours a day is too long, and it is true, it is difficult. Also some jobs like hospitals cannot do this. But for offices I think it is good. So I agree with the four-day week.

A clear position and two reasons, but examples are general, there are some errors (“less mistakes”) and the ideas aren’t developed.

I think a four-day week is a good idea for most office-based workplaces, although it won’t suit every job. My first reason is well-being. Many people spend their weekends catching up on errands, so they come back on Monday already tired. A third day off would give them real time to rest, which usually means fewer sick days. My second reason is productivity. When people know they have a long weekend coming, they tend to focus harder and waste less time in unnecessary meetings. Of course, ten-hour days can be exhausting, and services like hospitals or stores need staff every day, so they would need a different schedule. But for offices, I believe the benefits clearly outweigh the drawbacks.

Position with a sensible limit, two distinct developed reasons, a fair counter-argument and a clear conclusion.

On balance, I’m in favour of a four-day week for most office jobs, with the caveat that it has to be designed carefully. The strongest argument, in my view, is what it does for people’s energy over the long term. At the moment, a lot of workers spend their weekends just recovering and running errands, so they never fully switch off. A three-day weekend changes that rhythm, and a rested team tends to make fewer mistakes and stay with the company longer. There’s also a practical upside for employers: when time is limited, meetings get shorter and priorities get clearer, because nobody wants to waste a working day. I do take the point that ten-hour shifts can be draining, and that hospitals or retail can’t simply close on Fridays — they’d need staggered schedules. But as a default for office work, I think the gains are hard to argue with.

Nuanced position (“with the caveat that”), precise vocabulary, smooth concession and well-paced delivery that fills 90 seconds.