CELPIP Writing Task 2: Responding to Survey Questions
Choose one option and defend it in 26 minutes: a response plan, an adaptable template and an original sample answer.
Independent review record
Reviewed on October 9, 2026 by a separate AI reviewer, distinct from the drafting agent. The review covered task fidelity, published 2026 requirements, English wording, and the evidence for score claims. It was not an official CELPIP assessment.
Conclusion: compatible with the published 2026 task format; useful for practising stronger responses; no verified band score or score guarantee. The response is an original, ungraded practice example. Its quality on one topic does not establish reliable performance across unseen tasks.
These are original teaching materials, not official answers. A reusable structure can help you organize a response, but it has no score of its own. Replace the content for every prompt. The examples have not been rated by CELPIP.
Time remaining :Time:26 minutes
Your local library has funding for one improvement.
Task and timing
Time: 26 minutes. Requested length: about 150–200 words. Choose one of the survey's options and explain your preference.
Use connected paragraphs. An email greeting and signature are unnecessary. Focus on reasons for your choice.
Response plan
Clear preference → developed reason → different developed reason → concise conclusion.
Section · Suggested practice length · Function
These are planning aids, not mandatory paragraph sizes. A practice target of around 170–190 words is not a scoring rule. Try four minutes for planning, seventeen for drafting, and five for checking.
Adaptable template
“Chosen option” can be either option on the test screen. Your selected answer and written position must agree.
- 1
I would prefer chosen option because it would main benefit for people affected.
- 2
One important reason is reason 1. Explain how the option produces the benefit. For example, specific realistic situation. This would practical outcome.
- 3
Another consideration is reason 2. Explain a different benefit and support it with a relevant detail.
- 4
OptionalOptional comparison: acknowledge a real advantage of the other option and explain why your choice still better meets the needs in this situation.
- 5
For these reasons, chosen option would be the more suitable choice for specific purpose or group.
A concession is optional. Do not add an opposing argument you cannot answer merely to sound balanced. A comparison should strengthen the stated choice.
Generating distinct reasons
Identify who makes the decision and who is affected. Consider two genuinely relevant dimensions:
who cannot currently use the service, and what would change?
how would the option improve the experience or outcome?
how would it use money, space, or equipment?
how well does it meet the stated constraints?
“Convenient,” “saves time,” and “efficient” may all repeat the same reason. Explain the mechanism rather than changing the adjective.
Do not invent research or statistics. A realistic hypothetical example can be introduced with “could,” “would,” or “for example.”
Original practice prompt
Your local library has funding for one improvement. Option A: extend opening hours on two weekday evenings. Option B: buy additional desktop computers. Which option do you prefer, and why? Write about 150–200 words.
Original sample response
Time remaining :Time:26 minutes
Your local library has funding for one improvement.
I would prefer the library to extend its opening hours on two weekday evenings. This would address scheduling barriers while providing a better study environment for residents who need one.
First, longer hours would help people whose work schedules prevent daytime visits. Someone finishing at five might otherwise miss the chance to collect a reserved book or speak to a librarian. Two later evenings would let that person visit without taking time off work. Parents could also bring their children after dinner rather than rushing there on a busy Saturday.
Second, evening access to quiet study space could improve the quality of students' work. A student sharing a crowded apartment might struggle to concentrate at home. Spending an uninterrupted evening at the library could make it easier to revise a difficult chapter or complete an assignment. Extra computers would help when terminals are occupied, but they would not provide an evening refuge from household distractions if the building remained closed.
I therefore support longer evening hours because they would improve both access to services and opportunities for focused study.
179 Words
What the sample demonstrates
The first reason concerns schedules and service access. The second explains how a quiet environment can improve concentration, rather than simply repeating that students could visit later. The comparison acknowledges the value of computers while connecting the decision to the selected priorities.
High-score relevance and limits
The sample offers a consistent position, developed examples, and a relevant comparison. The revised second paragraph provides a more distinct causal argument. It remains an original ungraded response, not a verified Level 9–12 model.
For stronger practice, answer a different survey with a different pair of reasons. Do not force library-style access arguments into a question about workplace equipment or community events.
Common mistakes
- Describing both options without explaining a preference.
- Repeating one benefit in two paragraphs.
- Choosing one option on screen and defending the other.
- Ending by demanding both options when the task requires a choice.
- Using broad claims about society instead of the local situation.
- Adding invented percentages or studies.
- Writing an email greeting and sign-off.
Try the template on a real question
A template feels natural only after you use it under time pressure. Pick a question and set a timer.
Practice Writing Task 2