OrkaOrka/Bac/Sciences Physiques (PC)
Anglais · Bac PC · Coefficient 2

Opinion, Agreeing, Disagreeing and Agreeing Partially — English Bac PC

This communicative function turns up in the Bac PC English paper's dialogue-completion and short writing tasks (coefficient 2). In my opinion, I completely agree, I see your point but…: knowing how to qualify agreement or disagreement, rather than a bare yes / no, is what marks out strong writing and speaking in the exam.

Relu par Équipe Orka · 30 août 2026

Dans le programme du Bac PC

English is a nationally examined subject in the Bac Sciences Physiques (PC) stream, with a coefficient of 2 — the lowest weighting in the stream, level with Philosophy and well behind Mathematics and Physics-Chemistry (coefficient 7). The paper still tests reading comprehension, language and guided writing, and because differences between candidates are narrow, a few extra marks in English move the overall average as much as a mark in a science subject.

À l'épreuve

The national English paper has three parts: Reading Comprehension (a text plus questions), Language (grammar and vocabulary in context), and Writing (a guided paragraph or short essay of about 180 words). PC candidates should protect a fixed slot for the Language section, where accuracy earns quick, reliable marks even when revision time goes mostly to the sciences.

Objectifs d'apprentissage

  • Produce this function at the right register in a dialogue-completion task on the Bac PC English paper (coefficient 2)
  • Give an opinion with varied phrases: in my opinion, I believe / think that, as far as I'm concerned, personally
  • Express full agreement: I completely / totally agree, I couldn't agree more
  • Express polite disagreement: I'm afraid I disagree, I don't quite see it that way, I beg to differ
  • Express partial agreement and qualify: I partly agree, that's true but…, I see your point, however…

Notions clés

Giving your opinion

in my opinion, I believe / think (that), as far as I'm concerned, personally, from my point of view — opening phrases to introduce a personal view in an essay or a dialogue.

Full agreement and disagreement

Agreement: I completely / totally agree, I couldn't agree more, that's exactly what I think. Polite disagreement: I'm afraid I disagree, I don't quite see it that way, I beg to differ, I'm not so sure about that.

Partial agreement and qualification

I partly agree, that's true but…, I see your point, however…, on the one hand… on the other hand… — essential for a nuanced rather than one-sided essay, as expected on most programme prompts.

Erreurs fréquentes

1

Starting an essay only with “I think that” over and over: varying with in my opinion, as far as I'm concerned, personally avoids monotony and improves the style mark.

2

Confusing I beg to differ (polite, formal disagreement) with a blunt phrase like “You're wrong”: the formal register expected in writing calls for nuanced disagreement phrases.

3

Expressing agreement or disagreement without justifying it afterwards: these phrases must always be followed by a reason or an example, never left on their own.

Exemple corrigé

Énoncé

Write a sentence expressing partial agreement with the statement: “Technology has only positive effects on young people.”

Correction

Choose a partial-agreement phrase. The statement is too absolute (“only positive”) for full agreement; partial agreement is fairer and more nuanced.
Qualify with a contrast connector. but / however introduces the reservation after the part you agree with.
Result. “I partly agree that technology has many benefits for young people, but I don't think it is fair to say its effects are only positive, since excessive use can also harm their concentration and mental health.”

Le cours, puis l'entraînement.

Orka génère des exercices illimités et des examens blancs corrigés sur tout le programme de Anglais du Bac PC, avec un suivi de ta progression chapitre par chapitre.

Continue gratuitement sur Orka

3 exercices pour t'entraîner

Exercice 1

Easy
Choose the full-agreement phrase: (I partly agree / I couldn't agree more / I beg to differ)
Voir la correction
I couldn't agree more — it expresses full, enthusiastic agreement.

Exercice 2

Medium
Turn into polite disagreement: “You're wrong, social media is not dangerous.”
Voir la correction
“I'm afraid I disagree; I don't think social media is necessarily dangerous.” — a polite, qualified register replaces the blunt “You're wrong”.

Exercice 3

Hard
Write a full sentence that uses both a partial-agreement phrase and a concrete example to justify it, on the topic of social media.
Voir la correction
“I partly agree that social media helps young people stay connected, but I also believe it can lead to isolation, as many teenagers now prefer online interactions to face-to-face conversations with their family.” — it combines a partial-agreement phrase (I partly agree), a qualification (but) and a concrete example to justify it.

Va plus loin sur ce chapitre

Questions fréquentes

Do I always have to qualify my opinion in a Bac essay?

Not in every sentence, but a fully one-sided essay (total agreement or disagreement, with no nuance) usually scores lower than a development that recognises the complexity of the topic — partial agreement is often the safest choice.

Which phrase is the most versatile for introducing an opinion in writing?

“In my opinion” and “I believe that” work in almost every formal Bac context; “personally” is a little lighter and fits well at the start of a paragraph to vary the style.

How do I move from partial agreement to a counter-argument without it being clumsy?

Use the structure “I agree that X, but Y” or “On the one hand… on the other hand…”: it signals clearly to the examiner that you recognise a valid point before adding a qualification or a counter-argument.

How should a PC candidate revise English at coefficient 2?

Efficiently, not heavily. Keep one clear rule and two example sentences per grammar point, one word list per theme, and a reusable essay skeleton (introduction, two body paragraphs, balanced conclusion). Thirty focused minutes a week is enough to lift the English mark, and that mark counts in the average exactly like a mark in a science subject.

Why learn a spoken function for a written Bac PC exam?

Because it is tested in writing: dialogue-completion tasks ask for exactly these phrases at the right level of politeness. Keeping two or three set expressions per function, sorted by register, covers the task reliably.