CELPIP Survey Response Examples 2026: Task 2

By MyCELPIP Editorial Team · Updated September 9, 2026

CELPIP Survey Response examples — quick answer: Task 2 is easier to organize when you choose one option quickly, develop two strong reasons with concrete support, and finish by reinforcing why that option is more suitable. A short relevant counterpoint can add balance, but it should not make your position unclear.

CELPIP-General Writing is currently 53 minutes and includes Task 1 Writing an Email plus Task 2 Responding to Survey Questions. CELPIP's published Writing scoring-level sample prompts instruct candidates to write about 150–200 words. Writing is evaluated through Content/Coherence, Vocabulary, Readability and Task Fulfillment. Verify current details on the official CELPIP Test Format and CELPIP Results page.

The three scenarios below are original MyCELPIP practice material, not official CELPIP questions.

A flexible Task 2 framework

Choose: state your preferred option in the opening.
Reason 1: explain the strongest practical reason.
Support 1: add an example, consequence or comparison.
Reason 2: develop a distinct second reason.
Support 2: make that reason concrete.
Optional counterpoint: briefly acknowledge a real advantage of the other option if it helps your argument.
Conclusion: reinforce the choice without simply copying the opening.

The framework is not a script. Some prompts may be clearer with three shorter reasons; others are stronger with two deeply developed reasons. Relevance and support matter more than counting paragraphs.

Example 1: Public transit improvement — full original response

Scenario: A town has money for one transportation improvement. Option A is to add more frequent buses during weekday rush hours. Option B is to build more covered bus shelters throughout residential areas. Which option should the town choose?

Sample response:

The town should use the funding to increase bus frequency during weekday rush hours. Covered shelters would improve comfort, but more frequent service would solve a larger problem for commuters: the amount of time they spend waiting and travelling.

First, shorter gaps between buses would make public transit more reliable for workers and students. If a rider misses one bus, waiting ten minutes for the next is manageable; waiting thirty minutes can make that person late for work or class. Reliable frequency may also encourage drivers to leave their cars at home, which could reduce congestion during the busiest periods.

Second, additional buses would help with overcrowding. A shelter does little for a passenger who cannot board because the vehicle is already full. More service would spread riders across several buses and make the trip more comfortable.

Although shelters are useful in bad weather, the town should first improve the core service. Frequent, dependable buses would benefit more riders every weekday.

Why this response is useful to review

Position: clear in the first sentence.

Reason 1: reliability is explained through a missed-bus consequence.

Reason 2: overcrowding is different from reliability and gets its own concrete explanation.

Counterpoint: the response acknowledges shelter comfort in one sentence without losing focus.

Conclusion: it returns to the broader benefit rather than adding a new argument.

Example 2: Workplace benefit — annotated plan

Scenario: A company can introduce one new employee benefit. Option A is a monthly public-transit subsidy. Option B is one additional paid personal day every three months. Which should it choose?

Possible choice: paid personal days.

Reason 1: flexibility for appointments, family obligations or recovery before burnout.

Concrete support: employees often use vacation time for unavoidable short-notice responsibilities; a personal day preserves planned vacation.

Reason 2: benefit is useful regardless of how employees commute.

Comparison: transit subsidy strongly benefits transit users but gives little value to remote workers, walkers or employees who drive because no transit is available.

Optional counterpoint: a transit subsidy has environmental value, so a larger company could consider it later as a targeted program.

Conclusion: personal days provide broader and more flexible value across the workforce.

Review lesson

This plan works because the two reasons are distinct: flexibility and breadth of eligibility. Avoid turning both paragraphs into versions of “employees will be happier.”

Example 3: Community recreation — annotated plan

Scenario: A community centre has space for one new facility. Option A is a quiet study/work room with desks and Wi-Fi. Option B is a small indoor games room for table tennis and board games. Which should it build?

Possible choice: study/work room.

Opening: choose it because residents need a free, reliable indoor space for focused work.

Reason 1: students and remote workers may not have quiet space at home.

Example: shared housing, younger siblings or unreliable home internet can make study difficult.

Reason 2: room can serve different age groups and uses with low equipment needs.

Comparison: games room is valuable socially, but its purpose is narrower and may require more supervision/equipment replacement.

Conclusion: study room expands practical access to education and work resources.

How to develop a reason instead of listing it

Thin

“More buses are convenient and better for everyone.”

Developed

“More frequent buses reduce the cost of missing one connection because riders can catch another vehicle within a shorter period instead of waiting through most of a rush-hour cycle.”

The second version answers why the reason matters.

Thin

“Personal days improve work-life balance.”

Developed

“A personal day gives an employee time for an appointment or urgent family responsibility without using a full vacation day that was planned months earlier.”

Specific consequences create stronger coherence and more precise vocabulary.

When to use a counterpoint

A counterpoint is optional. Use one when it helps you show why your choice is still preferable despite a real advantage of the other option.

Useful pattern:

“Although Option B would help with real advantage, Option A would have a wider impact because your stronger reason.”

Avoid spending an entire paragraph praising the alternative and then trying to reverse your position in the conclusion.

Common Task 2 mistakes

Delaying the choice until the final paragraph.
Writing a neutral discussion of both sides instead of answering the survey.
Giving three or four reasons that are all versions of the same idea.
Using examples that are too hypothetical or unrelated to the stated reason.
Adding memorized “society nowadays” filler.
Repeating the opening almost word for word in the conclusion.
Using absolute claims such as “everyone will benefit” when the evidence is narrower.
Ignoring paragraphing and sentence control while chasing sophisticated vocabulary.

A fast planning grid

Before drafting, make four short notes:

Choice: A or B.

R1 + support: strongest reason and one concrete consequence/example.

R2 + support: different reason and one consequence/example.

Compare: one sentence explaining why the alternative is less suitable, if useful.

If you cannot distinguish R1 from R2, replace one before you begin writing.

Editing checklist for Task 2

Is my choice obvious immediately?
Does each body paragraph develop one main reason?
Did I use concrete support instead of slogans?
Are my connectors natural rather than repetitive?
Did I maintain a persuasive but reasonable tone?
Did I check verb forms, articles, sentence boundaries, punctuation and spelling?
Is the response around the published 150–200-word practice range without filler?
Does the conclusion reinforce the reasons already given?

Practice and related guides

MyCELPIP is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by CELPIP, Paragon Testing Enterprises or Prometric. The scenarios and responses above are original preparation material.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to discuss both survey options equally?

The task asks you to choose and support a response. A brief comparison or counterpoint can be useful, but your preferred option and supporting reasons should remain clear.

How many reasons should I give in Task 2?

There is no magic number that guarantees a level. Two well-developed and distinct reasons are often easier to control within the response length than a long list of shallow points.

Should I use an essay template for Task 2?

Use a flexible planning structure, but avoid a generic academic essay script. The response should sound direct, relevant and tailored to the actual survey choice.

Can I invent examples?

For practice, use realistic examples or consequences that clearly support your reason. Do not spend too many words building an elaborate story when a short concrete illustration will do.