CELPIP · Writing · W2
CELPIP Writing Task 2: Responding to Survey Questions
CELPIP Writing Task 2, Responding to Survey Questions, describes a situation, often a community or workplace decision, and gives two options. You choose one and explain the reasons for your choice in about 150 to 200 words. You have 26 minutes. Either option can earn a high score if it is well supported.
- Time
- 26 minutes
- Length
- About 150 to 200 words
- Prompt
- A situation with two options (Option A and Option B)
- Rating areas
- Content/coherence, vocabulary, readability, task fulfillment
- Scoring
- Counts toward your CELPIP Writing level (1 to 12)
How it works
- 1Read the situation and the details listed under each option.
- 2Choose the option you prefer.
- 3Write your response explaining why, in about 150 to 200 words.
- 4When 26 minutes are up, the Writing test ends and Speaking begins.
Sample task
Original sample · not from an official test
Your workplace is deciding how to use a small empty room. Option A: A quiet room - Comfortable chairs, no phones or meetings - For breaks, reading or focused work Option B: A games room - Table tennis and board games - For breaks and team events Choose the option you prefer. Explain the reasons for your choice. Write about 150-200 words.
Show a strong responseHide response
Outline: Opening: state your choice clearly (for example, Option A, the quiet room). Reason 1 with an example: open-plan offices are noisy, and a quiet space helps people concentrate on detailed work. Reason 2 with an example: short, calm breaks reduce stress more than competitive games. Brief acknowledgement of the other side: a games room builds team spirit, but team events could use the meeting room. Closing sentence that restates the choice.
A strong response takes one clear position from the first sentence, supports it with two developed reasons and concrete examples, answers the obvious objection, and ends by restating the choice. It uses linking words ("in addition", "although") and a semi-formal survey tone.
Tips that work
- Pick the option you can support with the best reasons, not the one you think the rater prefers. Neither choice is marked right or wrong.
- Use the details listed under the options, but add your own reasons and examples. Copying the bullet points is not development.
- Mention the other option briefly and explain why yours is still better. It shows balanced thinking.
- Keep one idea per paragraph: choice, reason one, reason two, conclusion.
Common mistakes
- Refusing to choose or trying to support both options.
- Listing many short reasons without explaining any of them.
- Repeating the prompt's wording instead of using your own vocabulary.
Questions candidates ask
Does it matter which option I choose in Task 2?
No. There is no correct option. What counts is how clearly you state your choice and how well you support it with reasons and examples. Pick the side you can explain most convincingly.
How is the survey response different from the email?
Task 1 is a message to a specific person about a situation; Task 2 is an opinion piece in response to a survey. Task 2 is about building an argument, so structure and reasons matter more than letter conventions like greetings.
How long should I spend planning?
A few minutes of planning is usually worth it: choose your option, jot down two reasons with an example for each, then write. Save the last few minutes of the 26 to reread and fix errors.
Can I practise Task 2 with feedback?
Yes. EnglishHub has exam-style survey tasks with the 26-minute timer and AI feedback on your writing, covering content and coherence, vocabulary, readability and task fulfillment, so you can see where your argument needs work.
Other CELPIP Writing tasks
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