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CELPIP Writing Task 2 questions

Practise all 15 CELPIP Writing Task 2 questions in the real exam format. Task 2 is Responding to Survey Questions: you read a survey with two options, choose one and explain why in about 150 to 200 words, with 26 minutes on the clock. The first question is free, and new accounts get a free welcome credit for AI feedback.

Inside a question

What a CELPIP Writing Task 2 question looks like

Every Task 2 question has the same two parts on screen: a survey that describes a decision, and two options to choose between. This is the first question in the list, and it is free to answer.

Writing Task 2: Responding to Survey Questions

Four-day compressed work week · 26 minutes

Read the following information.

Work Schedule Survey

The company you work for is considering a change to its work week. Staff would work the same total number of hours, but over four longer days instead of five regular ones, and the office would close on Fridays. Some employees like the idea of a third day off, while others are concerned about ten-hour days. Management has asked all staff to complete an opinion survey.

Choose the option that you prefer. Why do you prefer your choice? Explain the reasons for your choice. Write about 150-200 words.

  • Option A: Move to a four-day week with longer working days.
  • Option B: Keep the current five-day week with regular working days.

The reader

Management is surveying all staff, so you are writing to your own managers. Be polite and plain. A greeting is optional.

The fixed facts

Both options keep the same total hours, so “we would work less” is not a reason. Fridays off and ten-hour days are the facts to argue from.

Your choice

Neither option is wrong. Choose the one you can explain best and say so in your first sentence. You cannot suggest a third option.

A plan for Option A

One note for each move of the Commit and Compare frame, taught in the Task 2 unit of the CELPIP Writing course. Option B works just as well with its own reasons.

  1. 1CommitName the four-day week in your first sentence, not just “Option A”.
  2. 2First reasonTime: a weekday off for appointments. You could book the dentist on a Friday instead of leaving work early.
  3. 3Second reasonMoney: one less commute each week. That is four days of bus fare or gas instead of five.
  4. 4CompareGrant that a five-day week keeps each day shorter, then explain why a three-day weekend is worth the longer days.
  5. 5CloseRestate your choice in new words, without adding a new reason.
Answer this survey

Question types

Types of CELPIP Writing Task 2 questions

The 15 questions here sort by who runs the survey. That person is your reader: they set how formal you should be and which reasons will matter to them.

Timing and scoring

How CELPIP Writing Task 2 is timed and scored

You write one survey response of about 150 to 200 words in 26 minutes, after the Task 1 email. Each task runs on its own timer, so plan to finish and check your response inside those 26 minutes.

Task 1: email27 minutes
Task 2: survey26 minutes
The CELPIP Writing test lasts 53 minutes.
Content/Coherence
Two different reasons, each developed with a concrete example and set out in a logical order.
Vocabulary
Word choice that is varied, natural and precise. A ten-hour day says more than a bad schedule.
Readability
How easy the response is to read: grammar, spelling, sentence variety, paragraphing and connectors.
Task Fulfillment
One option chosen and argued to the end, a tone that suits the person running the survey, and a length close to what the question asks for.

How should I practise CELPIP Writing Task 2?

Read both survey options and choose the one you can explain most clearly. You do not need specialist knowledge or a surprising opinion. You need a consistent position with reasons that fit the situation.

  1. Plan your argument: state your choice, select two distinct reasons and add a concrete example for each. Explain how your preferred option would help the people in the scenario.
  2. Write about 150–200 words. State your choice near the beginning. Develop your reasons instead of listing advantages, and connect the conclusion to your original position. A survey response does not need an email greeting.
  3. Check that every paragraph supports the same option. If you mention the alternative, explain the trade-off without reversing your choice. Leave time to check sentence boundaries, repeated words and grammar.

Use the timer to practise a complete response

This task uses a 26-minute practice timer. The official Writing component lasts 53 minutes for both tasks. Try reserving a few minutes to plan and a few more to review; adjust your routine after each attempt. Finishing a clear response matters more than adding complicated vocabulary at the last moment.

After writing, read the linked sample and compare the decisions: how it opens, develops details and addresses the reader. Then revise one weak paragraph in your own words. The sample is a study model, not a script to memorize.

Build these skills in the CELPIP Writing course or use the free prep pack for offline study. Check the official test format and Writing performance standards for the test provider’s guidance.

Practice guidance by CELPIP Practice. Reviewed October 29, 2026.

Get AI feedback on your writing

New accounts get a free welcome credit for AI feedback, shared across speaking and writing. Use it on an opinion response to get an estimated CELPIP level and a model answer. Your feedback covers Content/Coherence, Vocabulary, Readability and Task Fulfillment. Premium includes additional question access, full mock tests and unlimited AI feedback.

FAQ

CELPIP Writing Task 2 questions, answered

How many questions are in CELPIP Writing Task 2?

One. Task 2 is a single survey question with two options, and you have 26 minutes to answer it. It follows Task 1, the email, which has 27 minutes, and the two tasks make up the 53-minute Writing test.

How many words should a Task 2 response be?

The question asks for about 150 to 200 words. Writing more does not earn extra credit, so use spare minutes to check that both of your reasons are developed.

Is there a wrong option in Task 2?

No. Both options can always be defended, and your score reflects how well you argue, not which side you pick. You do have to pick one of the two: a third option or a compromise does not answer the task.

Should a Task 2 response be formal?

Match the person running the survey. A city or school board calls for a formal response, while a survey from your own manager can be more relaxed. Either way, write in paragraphs, not a list or an academic essay.

Are these real CELPIP Writing Task 2 questions?

No. They are original questions written by CELPIP Practice to match the official format: a survey that describes a decision, Option A and Option B, and an instruction to choose one and explain why. They are not recalled exam questions.

How should I structure a Task 2 response?

State your choice in the first sentence or two, then give two different reasons in separate paragraphs with an example for each. If it helps your argument, compare your choice briefly with the other option, then close with one line. Treat it as a plan to adapt, not sentences to memorize.

See the Task 2 survey template with a filled-in answer

How many Task 2 questions can I practise for free?

The first question is free to write, and new accounts get a free welcome credit for AI feedback on speaking or writing. Premium opens all 15 questions, every writing mock test after the first and unlimited AI feedback.

First, study a CELPIP Writing Task 2 sample answer. Ready to practise both tasks together? Take a complete CELPIP Writing practice test. The first one is free.