Here are a few practice writing prompts that you could try at home. The actual CMT only gives you 45 minutes to brainstorm, write, and revise. Set a timer when you practice to simulate real testing conditions. The more you practice and reflect, the better prepared you will be. If you have any questions or want to review your at home practice prompts, please make an appointment to see me. Please note that the prompts below have been made up - they are NOT real - so that you may have a variation of topics to write about. 1. Your local school board has decided to lenghten the school day by an hour. What is your opinion on the best way to use this additional hour? Write a letter to your principal expressing your opinion on the best way to use the additional hour and presenting reasons that will convince the principal to agree with your position. 2. A litter problem has developed on your school's campus. Students are throwing trash on the ground, leaving empty soda cans and bottles outside on benches, and dropping napkins and other trash on the cafeteria floor rather than carrying them to the trash can. Your principal has asked students to take more care, but the litter problem persists. The principal has reacted by canceling all after-school activities until the problem is taken care of. What is your position on this issue? Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper stating your position and supporting it with convincing reasons. 3. One of the teachers at your school has decided to change from a ten-point grade scale (100 to 90 is an A, 89 to 80 is a B, etc.) to a seven-point grade scale (100 to a 93 is an A, 92 to 85 is a B, etc.). The teacher is trying to encourage students to put more effort into their classes by raising the requirements. What is your position on this issue? Write a letter to your prinicpal stating your position and supporting it with convincing reasons. 4. Recently, some schools have decided to limit the amount of homework that teachers can assign to students. Teachers at your school have argued that the homework is necessary. What is your position? Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper stating your position and supporting it with convincing reasons.