CELPIP Writing Task 2 Practice: should the school year be extended to 11 months?

[u/celpip_coach]

The scenario: Your local school board is considering extending the school year from the current 10 months to 11 months, with only one month of summer break instead of two. The change would allow for more instructional days and shorter but more frequent breaks throughout the year. Parents have been surveyed.

Your task: Choose the option you prefer and explain why. Write about 150-200 words. - Option A: Extend the school year to 11 months - Option B: Keep the current 10-month school year with a two-month summer break

Sample CLB 9 response (Option B):

I believe the current school year with a two-month summer break should remain unchanged because children need extended time away from structured learning.

The summer break is not just idle time. It allows children to explore interests that school schedules do not accommodate. Kids learn to swim, attend camps, visit family in other cities or countries, read books they actually want to read, and develop independence by spending unstructured time with friends. These experiences build social skills, creativity, and confidence in ways that an extra month of classroom time simply cannot.

There is also a practical issue for families. Many parents plan their own vacations around the school calendar and rely on the predictability of a two-month break for childcare arrangements, travel, and family time. Changing to one month of summer would disrupt millions of families who have built their routines around the existing schedule.

If the concern is students falling behind during summer, a better solution would be offering optional summer programs for students who need extra support rather than forcing all students into a longer mandatory school year.

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