ESL School Writing

On this page there are several ESL school writing exercises. These exercises are a good way for you to practice using school vocabulary.

Doing writing tasks is a good way to learn new vocabulary as you have time to work at your own speed. You can work slowly and stop to look for the best word for each situation. This will mean that you will be able to learn the words well. So, it is good to do writing tasks before you start trying to do more advanced activities, such as trying to have a conversation. If you have any problems when doing the ESL school writing tasks on this page and do not know which word to use, you can look at the ESL school vocabulary page as that has a list of school words with definitions.

This page has the following four ESL school writing exercises for you to do:

• Writing topics.
• Summary writing task.
• Writing a description of a picture.
• Writing a role-play.

ESL School Writing Exercises

Exercise 1 – Writing Topics

In this first ESL school writing activity you need to write something about one of the following writing topics. You should pick one of the topics and then write as much as you can. Try to use new vocabulary and try to use full sentences. The more you write the better you will get at using English. If you want to, you can also write something about the other two writing topics.

• Describe one of the schools that you have attended.
• Explain why it is important to have good schools for children to attend.
• Describe what makes someone a good teacher.

Exercise 2 – Writing a Summary

In the second ESL school writing task you need to rewrite the following passage so that you summarise it. This means that you need to read and understand it and then write your own passage with the main information but using different words. The summary should be shorter than the original so you just need to keep the main and most important parts.

Choosing a School

When a child is of school age, the parents try to register at a school that is near to where they live. However, if there are a number of different schools in the locality, the one with the best results and reputation, may be very popular and not able to take all the children that wish to go there. If a brother or sister already attends a popular school, another member of the same family may be also given a place.

Another option is that the child can be registered in a private school. This is a school that charges fees on a termly basis. There are also 'extras' to be paid. School trips and visits cost quite a lot of money, especially if it is an educational trip abroad. A school uniform is another expensive item. Private and also some public [not paying] schools have a recognisable uniform.

A primary school is divided into two sections. The early years, sometimes referred to as the infants, and the upper school that educates children from the age of seven until they leave at eleven or twelve.

However, private schools have a slightly different system and children do not move on to their next school until the age of thirteen. These children usually transfer to a private, known as a public, secondary school. The leaving age for all school children is sixteen. Pupils can stay at school for another two years if they wish, and take more exams. If they succeed in getting good and very good grades in their exams, they may get a university or college place and continue to study the subjects that they find stimulating.

Exercise 3 – Describing a Picture

Now, for the third ESL school writing exercise you need to look at the following picture and then describe what it shows. You should write about what you can see in the picture but also explain what you think might happen next or what might have happened in the past that lead to the scene in the picture. Try to write as much as you can.

Exercise 4 – Writing Role-plays

In the fourth ESL school writing task you need to chose one of the following role-play prompts and write what the people would say to each other. In each of the prompts you are told where it happens, what is happening and the people. You just need to write what they say to each other. When you have finished you should find some friends and then act out the role-play so you can practice speaking.

Role-play 1

• Location: In a school before morning assembly.
• Situation: Children talking about what they have to do that day.
• Participants: Two or more school children.

Role-play 2

• Location: In a café.
• Situation: Parents talking about the best local schools.
• Participants: Two or more parents of school children.