CELPIP Writing Task 2 Survey Response: Sample Answer & Structure
See a full 150–200 word sample answer for CELPIP Writing Task 2 (Responding to Survey Questions), plus the exact structure, timing, and wording that raters reward.
- 1.State your chosen option in your very first sentence and never argue both sides of the survey question.
- 2.Write between 150 and 200 words and finish within the 26 minutes CELPIP allots for Task 2.
- 3.Support your choice with two clear reasons, each followed by a specific, concrete example.
- 4.Organize your answer as an opening stance, two reason paragraphs, and a one-sentence conclusion that restates your choice.
- 5.Use linking words such as "firstly," "in addition," and "for example" to strengthen coherence and task fulfillment.
- 6.Save the last 2–3 minutes to check your word count and fix subject-verb agreement or spelling errors before submitting.
A strong CELPIP Writing Task 2 sample answer picks one of the two given options in the first sentence, backs that choice with two reasons and a concrete example for each, and lands between 150 and 200 words — all within the 26-minute time limit. Below is a full sample answer you can study, followed by the structure and timing rules behind it.
What Task 2 Actually Asks You to Do
In CELPIP Writing Task 2, you're given a short scenario and a survey question with two options. You must pick one option and write a 150–200 word response explaining and justifying your choice. According to CELPIP's official test format, you have 26 minutes for this task, right after finishing the 27-minute Task 1 email — the two tasks together make up the Writing section. Both tasks carry equal weight, and raters look at content/coherence, vocabulary, readability, and task fulfillment.
Sample Prompt and Answer
Prompt: Your neighborhood community centre is planning a new after-school program. Some people think it should focus on sports activities, while others think it should focus on academic tutoring. Which option should the community centre choose? Give reasons to support your answer.
Sample answer (about 175 words):
I believe the community centre should focus its after-school program on academic tutoring rather than sports activities, for two main reasons.
First, many working parents in our neighborhood cannot help their children with homework in the evening. A tutoring program would give students a quiet place to finish assignments and get help from a trained volunteer. For example, my neighbor's son struggled with math until he joined a similar program at a nearby library, and his grades improved within a few months.
Second, academic support has a longer-term impact on a child's future than sports. While physical activity matters, most children already play sports through school teams or community leagues. A structured tutoring program fills a gap that nothing else in the neighborhood currently addresses.
For these reasons, I recommend that the community centre invest its resources in academic tutoring, since it would benefit more families and meet a need that isn't already being met elsewhere.
How to Build Your Own Response
- Sentence 1: State your option directly ("I believe the community centre should...").
- Reason 1 + example: One clear reason, then a short, specific real-life detail.
- Reason 2 + example: A different angle, again with a concrete detail.
- Closing sentence: Restate your choice in different words; don't introduce a new idea here.
Common Mistakes That Lower Scores
- Hedging between both options instead of committing to one.
- Writing under 150 or well over 200 words — both hurt task fulfillment.
- Giving reasons with no example, which reads as vague to a rater.
- Skipping proofreading, leaving verb-tense or agreement errors uncorrected.
If you want to practice more prompts like this one, Celpip.me offers 60 writing practice questions and 72 short lessons covering every CELPIP skill.
FAQ
Do I need an introduction and conclusion paragraph in Task 2? No separate paragraphs are required — a one-sentence opening that states your choice and a one-sentence closing that restates it are enough given the 150–200 word limit.
Can I mention the option I didn't choose? Yes, briefly, but only if you have room after fully explaining your chosen option — don't spend more than one sentence on it.
How many reasons should I include? Two well-developed reasons with examples are usually stronger than three reasons that are only briefly explained.
Sources
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