Partially Agree or Disagree

The following question is taken from Cambridge 19 Test 2 Writing Task 2.

Related Essay: Completely Agree or Disagree

Word count: —

Related Essay: Both Views with One-Sided Opinion

1. Task Response

The essay addresses the question directly and maintains a clear position of partial agreement throughout. The introduction establishes that a shorter working week may be practical in some occupations but difficult to implement in others. The two body paragraphs develop these contrasting circumstances, and the conclusion confirms that the proposal should depend on the nature of the job and its operational requirements.

• Circumstances that support a shorter working week: The first body paragraph explains that jobs where performance is measured by results rather than hours worked may be suitable for a shorter working week. It develops this argument through effective planning, clear priorities and fewer unnecessary meetings. The example of a software development team meeting its weekly targets within four days illustrates how the arrangement could work if tasks were allocated efficiently and unnecessary distractions were minimised. The paragraph also identifies two potential benefits: more time for rest and the possibility of maintaining productivity.
• Circumstances that limit its practicality: The second body paragraph explains why a shorter working week may be less practical for occupations that require continuous services. Hotels, retail businesses and transport services need to meet customer demand throughout the week. The essay develops this argument by discussing careful scheduling, the possible need for additional staff, more complex scheduling, increased costs for smaller businesses and the challenge of maintaining adequate staffing levels.

The conclusion brings these circumstances together by supporting a shorter working week only when it suits the nature of the job and can be implemented without compromising operational needs. This is consistent with the writer's partial agreement: the arrangement may be feasible in some occupations, but its practicality depends on the requirements of each organisation. Both circumstances are explained, and the first is supported by a relevant workplace example. These features show how the response develops its position rather than simply stating agreement or disagreement.

2. Coherence and Cohesion

The essay follows a logical progression from the introduction to two body paragraphs with distinct purposes, followed by a conclusion that qualifies the writer's position. The first body paragraph explains when a shorter working week may be feasible, whereas the second examines operational difficulties in occupations that must maintain services throughout the week. The conclusion connects these perspectives by making the suitability of the arrangement dependent on each job's requirements.

• because — introduces the reason for the writer's partial agreement in the introduction.
• For example — introduces the software development team as a concrete illustration of how a shorter working week could work.
• In such circumstances — refers to the situation described in the first body paragraph and links it to the possible benefits of an additional day off.
• However — signals the contrast between occupations that may accommodate a shorter working week and those that require continuous services.
• Although — introduces a concession: shift systems can keep services running, but they may create staffing or scheduling difficulties.
• These organisations — refers back to the hotels, retail businesses and transport services mentioned earlier.
• Therefore — introduces a conclusion drawn from the operational difficulties discussed in the second body paragraph.
• provided that — specifies the condition under which the writer supports shortening the working week.

These cohesive devices clarify relationships between explanations, examples, contrasting circumstances and conclusions. The phrase With effective planning also contributes to the development of the argument by introducing a practical way to organise work, although it functions as an introductory prepositional phrase rather than a conjunction. The paragraphing reinforces the overall organisation by giving each main perspective a separate body paragraph.

3. Lexical Resource

The essay uses vocabulary relevant to workplace productivity, job suitability, service provision and operational constraints. Examples taken directly from the response include:

• performance is measured by results rather than hours worked
• fulfil their responsibilities
• without compromising quality
• meet its weekly targets
• unnecessary distractions
• without necessarily reducing productivity
• meet customer demand throughout the week
• operate continuously
• careful scheduling
• additional staff
• more complex scheduling
• potentially increasing costs for smaller businesses
• cover absences
• maintain adequate staffing levels
• operational requirements

These expressions distinguish between jobs that can be organised around results and services that must remain available throughout the week. Collocations such as meet customer demand, cover absences and maintain adequate staffing levels make the operational argument more precise. The vocabulary remains relevant to the essay's central comparison rather than introducing unrelated arguments about health or work-life balance.

The writer also uses modal and qualifying expressions to present outcomes as possibilities rather than certainties. For example, may be particularly suitable, could meet its weekly targets and potentially increasing costs reflect the conditional nature of the argument. This wording is appropriate because the essay maintains that the feasibility of a shorter working week varies between occupations.

4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy

The essay combines straightforward statements with more complex structures to explain reasons, describe conditions, contrast circumstances and qualify the writer's position. The following examples are taken directly from the submitted essay:

• Reason clause and coordinated contrast: I partially agree with this statement because such an arrangement can be practical in some occupations, but it may be difficult to implement in others. The because clause explains the writer's position, while but contrasts the two circumstances.
• Relative clause: A shorter working week may be particularly suitable for jobs where performance is measured by results rather than hours worked. The clause beginning with where specifies the type of jobs being discussed.
• Modal constructions: employees may be able to fulfil their responsibilities, shift systems can keep services running and they may require additional staff. These constructions express possibility and capability, with "they" referring to shift systems in the final example.
• Concession clause: Although shift systems can keep services running, they may require additional staff or more complex scheduling, potentially increasing costs for smaller businesses. The Although clause acknowledges a possible way to maintain services before the sentence explains its limitations.
• Participle clause: potentially increasing costs for smaller businesses. This non-finite clause adds a possible consequence of requiring additional staff or more complex scheduling.
• Passive constructions: performance is measured by results and tasks were allocated efficiently. These structures focus on performance measurement and task allocation rather than on the people carrying out the actions.
• Passive modal construction: the feasibility of a shorter working week should be assessed according to each organisation’s operational requirements. The passive construction expresses a recommendation while focusing on the assessment that needs to be made.
• Conditional qualification in the conclusion: provided that the arrangement suits the nature of the job and can be implemented without compromising operational needs. The provided that clause specifies the condition attached to the writer's partial agreement.

These structures help the writer explain when a shorter working week may be feasible, acknowledge its limitations and draw a qualified conclusion. The essay uses subordinate clauses, modal constructions and passive forms to express conditions and possible consequences. The examples demonstrate grammatical variety, but grammatical range and accuracy must ultimately be assessed across the complete response, including the consistency and accuracy with which these structures are used.