Writing Task 2 is called Responding to Survey Questions. You have 26 minutes and you write between 150 and 200 words. This guide gives you a plan you can reuse, one original example and the mistakes to avoid.
1.What the task is
This is Task 2 in the CELPIP General Writing test. Its name is Responding to Survey Questions. You write a response in 26 minutes. Your response should be between 150 and 200 words.
2.How it is scored
Trained raters score your writing on four dimensions:
- Content and Coherence
- Vocabulary
- Readability
- Task Fulfillment
Levels 4 to 12 map one to one to CLB 4 to 12. Use the four names as a checklist when you reread your answer.
3.A plan that fits most tasks
- Read the question. Make sure you know exactly what it asks. Decide your answer before you write.
- Opening. State your answer or opinion in plain words.
- Reasons. Give your reasons in separate paragraphs. Add a detail or a short example to each reason.
- Other view. If you have room, mention a different view and answer it briefly.
- Closing. Repeat your answer and your main reason in a short ending.
- Check. Reread for spelling, grammar and missing words. Count your words.
Spend a short time planning, most of your time writing, and keep some time to reread. Aim for the full range of 150 to 200 words so you have space for reasons and examples.
4.A worked example
Task (written for this guide): Your city has an empty lot in your neighbourhood. Residents are asked: should the city build a community garden or a parking lot? Choose one and explain your reasons.
Model answer:
I strongly support a community garden on the empty lot. I have lived in this neighbourhood for years, and I think a garden would help more people than a parking lot would.
First, a garden brings neighbours together. Many people here live in apartments and have no yard. A shared garden would give them a place to grow vegetables and to meet each other. For example, my building has many new families who do not know anyone yet.
Second, a garden is better for the environment. Plants give shade and keep the area cooler in summer. A parking lot, on the other hand, holds heat and sends rain straight into the street. Fresh food grown close to home also saves money for families.
Some people say the area needs more parking. I understand this concern, but the train station is a short walk away, and many residents already use public transit. Extra street parking could be added nearby instead.
For these reasons, I believe a community garden is the better choice for our neighbourhood. It would make the area greener, friendlier and more useful for everyone.
(186 words)
Why it works: The first sentence answers the question. Each reason has its own paragraph and a detail. The answer deals with the other view and ends with a clear summary. The length is inside the range.
5.Common mistakes
- Starting with background and giving your answer too late.
- Giving reasons with no detail or example.
- Writing fewer than 150 words or more than 200 words.
- Repeating the same words and ideas instead of using a range of vocabulary.
- Writing long sentences that are hard to follow.
- Using a memorized text that does not fit the question.
- Running out of the 26 minutes before you reread.
6.Next step
Practise under time pressure and check your answer against the four dimensions: Try a free Responding to Survey Questions set.