CELPIP Writing Task 2: the survey response that scores
How CELPIP Writing Task 2 (Responding to Survey Questions) works, the structure that scores, and the one mistake — fence-sitting — that quietly caps your level.
⚡ The short version
- Task 2 gives you a statement and two options — pick ONE and commit; don't sit on the fence.
- 150–200 words in 26 minutes, marked on the same four rubric dimensions as Task 1.
- A clean intro → reasons → conclusion structure beats fancy vocabulary every time.
If Task 1 is the email, Task 2 is the opinion piece. Officially it's called Responding to Survey Questions, and it trips people up for one reason: they try to keep everyone happy instead of taking a clear side. The test rewards the opposite.
What Task 2 actually asks
You're given a short situation and a survey statement with two options. Your job is to choose one option and defend it in 150–200 words, in about 26 minutes. It's marked on the same four dimensions as Task 1 — Content/Coherence, Vocabulary, Readability and Task Fulfilment.
There's no "right" option. The rater doesn't care which side you pick — only how clearly you argue it.
Pick a side and stay on it
This is the single most common cap on Task 2 scores: fence-sitting. Writing "both options have advantages…" feels balanced and safe, but to the rater it reads as no position — and an answer with no position can't fully develop one.
Choose the option you can argue most easily (not the one you personally prefer) and commit to it from the first sentence to the last.
A structure that scores
Keep it simple and predictable:
- Introduction (1–2 sentences) — state your choice plainly. "I would choose the community garden over the new parking lot, for two main reasons."
- Body (the bulk) — two or three reasons, each backed by a concrete example or detail. One clear idea per chunk.
- Conclusion (1–2 sentences) — restate your choice and why it wins.
You can briefly acknowledge the other side ("while a parking lot would help commuters…") to show balance — but only to knock it down, never to hedge.
Reasons beat vocabulary
People reach for impressive words under pressure. Don't. A developed reason with a real example scores higher than a long word used vaguely. "It would give families a safe place to spend time after work" lands better than a thesaurus sentence that says nothing.
Don't lose the easy marks
Watch the word count (the on-screen counter is right there), use clear paragraphs, vary your sentence openings, and leave two minutes to proofread. Those are the same quiet point-leaks we cover in 10 common Writing mistakes.
Lock the structure, commit to one side, and Task 2 stops being a guessing game. Want it graded? Write a Task 2 response and get an estimated level in minutes.
