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Grammar fix

school term

period of study

A school term is one of the fixed periods into which the school year is divided, when students have classes.

collocationB1common

Hear it in context

Notice where the phrase sounds natural.

  • The new school term starts next Monday, so I need to buy my textbooks this weekend.education
  • In my country, each school term lasts about three months, and we usually have exams at the end of every term.IELTS speaking

Fix the pattern

Pattern: school term (noun, countable); in/during/at the start/end of the school term

WrongSchool starts next term time.

RightSchool starts next term.

Just 'next term' — 'term time' is a separate phrase meaning while school is on.

Patternschool term (noun, countable); in/during/at the start/end of the school term

Use it right

Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.

Stiff The autumn instructional period commences in September.

Natural The autumn term starts in September.

'School term' is plain; 'instructional period' is jargon.

Build natural chunks

Words that usually travel with it.

  • school term + context
    the autumn termnext termduring termend of term

Don't confuse it

'School year' means the whole academic year, while 'school term' is just one part of it.

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