The reading, writing and speaking ladder for BC students, Grade 1 to Grade 12
Language contests are more varied than math ones. Some are for spelling, some for stories and poems, some for speaking, and some for French. Most writing contests take entries straight from students, so you don't need the school. Debate and Model UN go through a school team. Use this ladder to see what fits your child at each age.
- Grades 1–4
Read, spell and play with words
The BC Summer Reading Club is free at public libraries, and parents sign up at the library. The Spelling Bee of Canada is for ages 6 to 14, and parents register directly. Students in French as a second language programs can enter the CPF poetry and video contests. The Remembrance essay and poem contest opens in Grade 4 through a local Legion branch.
Summer Reading ClubSpelling Bee of CanadaO'PoésieDites-le en vidéoLegion Remembrance Contest
- Grades 5–6
Writing for readers beyond school
The Vancouver Writers Fest youth contest for short stories and personal essays opens in Grade 5, and students enter themselves, not through school. In Grade 6, students can try school debate and public speaking, and the French public speaking contest if they are in Core French, immersion or a francophone program. Spelling Bee and the Legion contest are still open.
Spelling Bee of CanadaWriters Fest Youth Writing ContestLegion Remembrance ContestDebate & Public SpeakingConcours d'art oratoireO'PoésieDites-le en vidéo
- Grades 7–9
National writing and speaking
The CBC First Page challenge opens in Grade 7. Surrey residents with their own Surrey Libraries card can enter the Surrey youth writing contest. Debate runs through the school's DSABC membership, and the school must register by November 15, so ask early. Students who have done DELF-level French can sit official DELF exams at Alliance Française, which parents register for directly.
Spelling Bee of CanadaWriters Fest Youth Writing ContestCBC First PageSurrey Youth Writing ContestLegion Remembrance ContestDebate & Public SpeakingConcours d'art oratoireDELF Prim & Junior
- Grades 10–12
Language puzzles, debate and politics
The North American Computational Linguistics Olympiad (NACLO) is a free language-puzzle contest from Grade 9, and students register themselves. Model UN at VMUN needs a sponsor teacher to register the school first. The Forum for Young Canadians is a selective week in Ottawa for ages 15 to 18. Writing contests, debate and DELF exams remain open.
NACLO (Linguistics Olympiad)Writers Fest Youth Writing ContestCBC First PageSurrey Youth Writing ContestLegion Remembrance ContestDebate & Public SpeakingVMUNForum for Young CanadiansConcours d'art oratoireDELF Prim & Junior
Pick what your child enjoys. Nobody needs every step.
Never find out too late
Put every deadline for your child's grade and city in your own calendar, with a reminder a week before. No email, no account: the dates update themselves and move up a grade each September.