Parent satisfaction survey about school programs (CLB 8)
Task prompt
Your child's school is conducting an annual parent satisfaction survey. Respond to questions about academic programs, communication with staff, extracurricular activities, and school safety. Suggest two specific improvements the school could make.
Your task
Complete an annual parent satisfaction survey for your child’s school. You must:
- Rate and comment on four areas: academics, communication, extracurriculars, safety
- Suggest two specific improvements
- Write in balanced, constructive language
Word count target: 170–210 words
Model answer (CLB 8)
Annual Parent Satisfaction Survey — Maplewood Public School
Academic Programs Satisfactory. The core curriculum appears well-structured and my daughter’s reading progress has been strong. However, I have noticed that gifted students receive limited enrichment opportunities within the regular classroom, and an optional extension program would benefit high-achieving learners significantly.
Communication with Staff Good. Teachers respond to emails within one to two business days, which I appreciate. The parent-teacher conference schedule could be improved — the current twice-yearly format is insufficient for tracking progress in real time.
Extracurricular Activities Good variety for younger grades, but students in Grades 5 and 6 have fewer options. A coding or robotics club for upper elementary students would fill this gap.
School Safety Very good. The entry system and supervision during recess appear thorough, and I have not had any safety concerns.
Two Suggested Improvements: First, I recommend adding a gifted enrichment stream or optional project-based extension work for high-achieving students in Grades 3–6. Second, I suggest offering one additional parent-teacher check-in per term — even a brief 10-minute virtual meeting would make a meaningful difference.
Why this scores CLB 8
| CLB Criterion | What this response does well |
|---|---|
| Purpose | All four areas rated and explained; two suggestions provided |
| Detail | Specific grades, specific meeting frequency, specific club type |
| Organization | Each section labelled and developed; suggestions separated and numbered |
| Tone | Balanced — acknowledges strengths before raising concerns |
| Vocabulary | ”enrichment opportunities,” “extension program,” “insufficient,” “thorough” |
| Grammar | Complex sentences, hedging (“appears,” “would benefit”), conditional claims |
Common mistakes at CLB 6–7
| Weak version | Why it loses marks |
|---|---|
| Only negative ratings | Balanced feedback is more credible and demonstrates mature judgment |
| ”The school should be better.” | Not specific enough to act on — drop in task score |
| Skipping one or more survey sections | Each section is a required element |
| Suggestions without reasons | At CLB 8, every recommendation needs a brief rationale |
Examiner tip
School surveys test a subtle skill: institutional communication. You are writing to administrators, not complaining to a friend. Every critical point should include an implied or explicit suggestion. Instead of “communication is poor,” write “communication is adequate but could be improved by [specific change].” This pattern keeps the tone constructive and your score at CLB 8+.