CELPIP Writing Task 2 Questions: 64 Survey Prompts to Practise
Below are 64 CELPIP Writing Task 2 questions for practice, grouped by theme: community, work, education, transport and environment, health and recreation, services and technology, and housing. They are our own survey prompts in the style of the test, not official questions. Start with the method, then pick a prompt and set a 26-minute timer.
What a Task 2 question looks like
Every survey question has the same parts: the name of the survey, a short situation (a city with money for one park project, an employer changing schedules) and two options. You choose one and explain why in about 150-200 words.
The options are written to be balanced. Both are reasonable, and neither is the correct answer. Raters judge how well you support your choice, not which one you pick.
How to pick an option fast
Spending five minutes deciding is one of the easiest ways to run short of time. Give yourself about one minute:
- Ask which option you can give two specific reasons for, with an example from your own life or your city. Pick that one, even if it isn't your real opinion.
- If both seem equally easy, take the first one that came to mind and move on.
- Don't choose both or invent a third option. You can mention the other option's strengths, but your answer should support one.
- Check that your reasons fit the options as written. If the question says both schedules are 40 hours a week, don't argue that one of them means less work.
How to approach a survey question, step by step
A 26-minute answer in four stages:
- Minutes 0-2: read the situation and both options. Note who will read your answer (a city department, an employer, a school) and what they are trying to decide.
- Minutes 2-5: pick your option and note two reasons, each with one concrete detail: a number, a place, a person, something that happened.
- Minutes 5-22: write. First sentence: your choice in your own words. Then one paragraph per reason. Then a sentence or two comparing with the other option, and a closing sentence.
- Minutes 22-26: reread. Is the choice clear? Is each reason supported? Check articles, verb forms and the word count.
Turning a reason into a paragraph
A reason on its own is a sentence. A paragraph needs the reason, a specific detail that makes it real, and what follows from it. Here is one built from the park question (survey-community-01):
Reason: A splash pad would let young children cool off close to home. Detail: Last July there were several days above 32°C, and the nearest public pool was so crowded that families were turned away. Result: A splash pad within walking distance would give them a free, safe option on the hottest days, without lifeguards or swimming lessons.
Mistakes that cost points on Task 2
Most weak survey answers have at least one of these problems:
- No clear choice, or a choice that only appears at the end.
- Suggestions instead of reasons: telling the city what else to do rather than why your option is better.
- General statements ("Parks are very important for society") with no example.
- Copying the options word for word instead of paraphrasing them.
- An academic essay with an introduction about society in general. The reader is a city department or an employer, not a professor.
- Lists or point form instead of paragraphs.
- Exclamation marks, sarcasm or slang. A survey answer should be polite even when you disagree.
Useful words for each theme
Paraphrasing the options is easier when you already have a few words for the topic. These come up again and again in survey questions like the ones below. Learn them in phrases, not alone, and use only the ones that fit your answer.
- Community and parks: residents, a facility, the budget, maintenance costs, within walking distance, used year-round, a gathering place.
- Work: a flexible schedule, a commute, productivity, work-life balance, morale, professional development, team meetings.
- Education: students' attention, screen time, practical skills, a supervised activity, parents' concerns, a fair policy.
- Transport and environment: frequency, a route, ridership, congestion, emissions, a safe crossing, a long-term investment.
- Health and recreation: a waiting list, an in-person visit, a referral, access for seniors, low-cost programs.
- Services, technology and housing: wait times, a support agent, tenants, a building policy, noise complaints, affordability.
How to use these CELPIP Writing Task 2 questions
The prompts are grouped by theme. Rotate themes instead of doing all the work questions in a row: the test can give you any everyday topic, and each theme needs its own vocabulary.
One or two timed answers a day is plenty. After each one, check the four dimensions: Is the content specific? Is the vocabulary your own? Is it easy to read? Did you do what the task asked? Each prompt opens on AimNine's practice screen with a 26-minute countdown and a live word count.
Task 2 survey questions to practise
Written by us in the format of the real test. Open any of them in the timed editor.
Community
- Splash pad or outdoor fitness area
The City of Brampton has $400,000 to improve Maple Grove Park this year. The parks department says the budget is only enough for one new feature, so it is asking local residents which project they would like to see built first.
Option A: I prefer building a splash pad where children can cool off in the summer.Option B: I prefer building an outdoor fitness area with exercise equipment for adults and seniors. - Free outdoor concerts or a night market
The events office in Kingston plans to run one new free activity every Friday evening next summer in the downtown square. Before booking anything, the office wants to know which type of event residents would enjoy and attend most often.
Option A: I prefer a series of free outdoor concerts featuring local musicians.Option B: I prefer a weekly night market with food trucks and local crafts. - Brighter street lights or evening foot patrols
Several residents of your neighbourhood have said they feel unsafe walking home after dark. The city can afford one safety project in the area next year, and your community association is collecting opinions to send to city council.
Option A: I prefer installing brighter street lights along sidewalks and walking paths.Option B: I prefer having police officers patrol the neighbourhood on foot in the evenings. - Renovate the gym or build a seniors' lounge
The Eastview Community Centre is 30 years old and needs updates. The centre's board has enough money to complete one major project in the coming year and has asked members and local families to share their views.
Option A: I prefer renovating the old gym so it can host more sports and events.Option B: I prefer building a new lounge and activity room for seniors. - Canada Day fireworks or a daytime festival
Your town has ended Canada Day with a fireworks show for many years. Recently, some residents have complained about the $25,000 cost, the noise and the stress it causes for pets. The town council is considering a change and has asked residents for their opinion.
Option A: I prefer keeping the traditional fireworks show in the evening.Option B: I prefer replacing the fireworks with a daytime festival with music, games and food. - Murals or benches for a downtown street
The business association in downtown Moncton has received a $50,000 grant to make the main street more attractive. The association is asking residents, shoppers and visitors how the money should be spent before it makes a final decision this spring.
Option A: I prefer paying local artists to create large murals and sculptures.Option B: I prefer adding benches, flower planters and shade trees along the street. - Dog park or community garden on a vacant lot
A lot on your street has been empty for years. The city has decided to turn it into a public space and has narrowed the choice to two ideas. Residents who live within one kilometre can vote online until the end of the month.
Option A: I prefer turning the lot into a fenced dog park.Option B: I prefer turning the lot into a community garden with plots for residents. - Volunteer mentors or conversation evenings for newcomers
A settlement organization in Saskatoon wants to start a new program to help newcomers feel at home in the city. It has funding for only one program and is asking residents, including recent immigrants, which program would be more helpful.
Option A: I prefer a program that matches each newcomer family with a local volunteer mentor.Option B: I prefer weekly drop-in evenings where newcomers can practise English and meet local people. - Skating rink or winter trail in the park
Willow Park, in your neighbourhood, is busy in summer but almost empty from December to March. The city wants to add one winter feature to encourage residents to use the park all year and is asking local households for their preference.
Option A: I prefer an outdoor skating rink that city staff flood and maintain.Option B: I prefer a lit trail for walking and snowshoeing through the park. - Close Main Street to cars on summer weekends
Your city is considering closing three blocks of Main Street to cars every weekend in July and August so people can walk, shop and eat outside. Some business owners worry about losing customers who drive, while others expect more visitors.
Option A: I prefer closing the street to cars on summer weekends.Option B: I prefer keeping the street open to traffic as it is now. - Online or in-person town council meetings
Your town council holds a public meeting once a month where residents can ask questions and share concerns. Very few people have been attending. The council is considering moving the meetings online and has asked residents what they think.
Option A: I prefer holding the monthly meetings online so residents can join from home.Option B: I prefer keeping the meetings in person at the town hall. - Teen drop-in centre or free sports teams
Your city has received provincial funding for a new program for teenagers aged 13 to 17. Youth workers say many teens have nowhere to go after school. The city is asking parents and other residents which program would help teens more.
Option A: I prefer opening a drop-in centre where teens can do homework, play games and talk to youth workers.Option B: I prefer paying for teens to join local sports teams and leagues for free. - Holiday lights or a donation to the food bank
Each December, your neighbourhood association spends about $8,000 on lights and decorations for the main streets. This year some members have suggested using the money differently because more local families are struggling with the cost of food.
Option A: I prefer keeping the holiday lights and decorations.Option B: I prefer donating the money to the local food bank instead. - Entry fees or sponsors for community events
Your community association organizes about ten free events every year, such as outdoor movie nights and craft fairs. Costs for permits, equipment and supplies have gone up, and the association must decide how to pay for events next year.
Option A: I prefer charging a small entry fee of $5 per person.Option B: I prefer keeping events free and asking local businesses to sponsor them.
Work
- Four-day week or flexible daily hours
Your company is planning to change its work schedule next year and is asking all employees for their opinion. Under both options, everyone would continue to work 40 hours a week, and the office would stay open from Monday to Friday.
Option A: I prefer working four 10-hour days with three days off each week.Option B: I prefer working five 8-hour days with flexible start and finish times. - Holiday party or an extra paid day off
Every December, your employer pays for a holiday party at a restaurant for all staff. This year, management is considering giving every employee an extra paid day off instead, which would cost the company about the same amount.
Option A: I prefer keeping the holiday party so that coworkers can celebrate together.Option B: I prefer receiving an extra paid day off instead of the party. - Open-plan office or private cubicles
Your company is renovating its office next spring. The designers have offered two different layouts, and management wants employees to choose the one that would help them work best. The final layout will be announced next month.
Option A: I prefer an open-plan office with shared tables and more space for teamwork.Option B: I prefer an office with separate cubicles that give each person more privacy. - Team-set or individually chosen office days
Starting in January, employees at your company will work in the office two days a week and from home the other three days. Management has not yet decided how the office days will be chosen and is asking staff for their preference.
Option A: I prefer that each team chooses the same fixed office days for all its members.Option B: I prefer that each employee chooses their own office days every week. - Cash bonus or a professional training budget
Your company had a successful year and plans to share some of its profit with employees. Each employee will receive about $1,500 in one of two forms. Human resources wants to know which form most employees would prefer.
Option A: I prefer receiving the money as a one-time cash bonus.Option B: I prefer receiving the money as a personal budget for courses and professional training. - Volunteering day or sports day for staff
Your department will have one paid day away from regular work next month to build team spirit. The organizing committee has come up with two ideas and is asking everyone in the department to vote by Friday.
Option A: I prefer spending the day volunteering together at a local charity.Option B: I prefer spending the day at a sports and games event in a park. - Gym discount or healthier cafeteria meals
Your employer wants to help employees stay healthy and has set aside a budget for one new wellness program. The human resources department is asking employees which option they would actually use on a regular basis.
Option A: I prefer getting a discounted membership at a gym near the office.Option B: I prefer having healthier meals available at a lower price in the staff cafeteria. - Weekly staff meeting or an email update
Your manager holds a one-hour staff meeting every Monday morning to share news and plans for the week. Some employees say the meetings take too much time, while others find them useful. Your manager has asked the team for feedback.
Option A: I prefer keeping the weekly staff meeting.Option B: I prefer receiving a short written update by email each week instead. - Salary increase or an extra vacation week
Your company plans to improve what it offers employees next year. It can give everyone either a small salary increase or more vacation time. Both choices would cost the company about the same, so management is asking staff to decide.
Option A: I prefer a 3% salary increase.Option B: I prefer one extra week of paid vacation each year. - Assigned or chosen mentors for new hires
Your company wants to help new employees settle in faster. Human resources plans to start a mentoring program next year and is asking current staff how mentors and new employees should be matched with each other.
Option A: I prefer that each new employee is assigned a mentor from their own team on the first day.Option B: I prefer that new employees choose a mentor from any department after their first month.
Education
- School uniforms or students' own clothes
The parent council at your local elementary school is discussing whether students should wear uniforms. The school board will make a final decision next year after hearing from parents, teachers and students.
Option A: I prefer that students wear a simple school uniform.Option B: I prefer that students continue to choose their own clothes. - Full phone ban or teacher-approved phone use
Teachers at a high school in your area have noticed that many students are distracted by their phones during lessons. The principal is considering a new rule for next year and wants to hear from parents before deciding.
Option A: I prefer banning phones completely during school hours.Option B: I prefer allowing phones in class only when the teacher gives permission. - Online or on-campus evening college courses
A community college in Hamilton offers evening courses for working adults, such as bookkeeping and computer skills. Next year it plans to change how some courses are taught and is asking past and future students for their preference.
Option A: I prefer taking evening courses online from home.Option B: I prefer attending evening courses in person on campus. - Field trips or new classroom tablets
Your child's elementary school has received a donation of $15,000 from a local business. The principal has suggested two ways to spend the money and is asking parents to vote online before the end of the month.
Option A: I prefer using the money for field trips to museums, farms and science centres.Option B: I prefer using the money to buy new tablets and laptops for classrooms. - Nightly homework or one weekly project
Teachers at your child's middle school want to change the way they give homework. They have prepared two approaches for next year and are asking parents to choose the one they think would work better for their children.
Option A: I prefer short homework assignments every weeknight.Option B: I prefer one larger project each week that students can plan on their own. - Money management or practical skills course
Your provincial education ministry wants to add a new required course for high school students to help prepare them for adult life. It is asking parents and residents which type of course would be more useful.
Option A: I prefer a course on managing money, including budgeting, taxes and credit.Option B: I prefer a course on practical skills, including cooking, basic home repairs and first aid. - Later or current high school start time
Your school board is considering starting high school classes at 9:30 a.m. instead of 8:15 a.m. Supporters say teenagers need more sleep, but the change would also affect bus routes, family schedules and students' after-school jobs.
Option A: I prefer moving the start time to 9:30 a.m.Option B: I prefer keeping the current start time of 8:15 a.m. - Letter grades or written comments on report cards
Your school board is redesigning report cards for students in grades 1 to 6. It wants parents to choose the format that would best help them understand how their child is doing in school.
Option A: I prefer report cards with a letter grade for each subject.Option B: I prefer report cards with detailed written comments and no letter grades.
Environment and transport
- Protected bike lanes or more street parking
The City of Kelowna is redesigning a busy downtown street. There is enough space for either new protected bike lanes or more on-street parking, but not both. The city is collecting opinions before the final plans are made.
Option A: I prefer adding protected bike lanes.Option B: I prefer adding more on-street parking spaces. - More frequent buses or a new route
Your city's transit authority has extra money to improve bus service next year. It can either make current routes run more often or add a new route to a growing neighbourhood that has no bus service at all.
Option A: I prefer making existing bus routes run more often.Option B: I prefer adding a new route to the neighbourhood that has no service. - Free transit for some or lower fares for all
The transit commission in your city is reviewing its fares. With its current budget, it can either make buses free for seniors and students or lower the regular adult fare from $3.50 to $2.75 for everyone.
Option A: I prefer making transit free for seniors and students.Option B: I prefer lowering the fare for all riders. - Garbage pickup every two weeks or weekly
To reduce the amount of waste sent to the landfill, your city plans to change its collection schedule. Garbage would be collected every two weeks instead of every week, while green bins for food scraps would still be collected weekly.
Option A: I prefer the new schedule, with garbage collected every two weeks.Option B: I prefer keeping weekly garbage collection as it is now. - Ban plastic bags or charge for them
Your town wants to reduce the number of plastic bags that end up in parks, rivers and landfills. Council is choosing between two new rules for all stores in town and is asking residents for feedback before voting.
Option A: I prefer banning plastic shopping bags completely.Option B: I prefer charging customers 25 cents for each plastic bag. - Plant trees or install solar panels
Your city has set aside $2 million for a project to fight climate change. City council has narrowed the choices down to two projects and wants to know which one residents would support before the budget vote in the spring.
Option A: I prefer planting 10,000 trees across the city's neighbourhoods.Option B: I prefer installing solar panels on city buildings such as arenas and community centres. - Clear sidewalks or main roads first
After heavy snowfalls, your city clears main roads first and sidewalks later, which sometimes takes several days. People who walk or use wheelchairs have complained. The public works department is reviewing its plan for next winter.
Option A: I prefer clearing sidewalks and bus stops at the same time as main roads.Option B: I prefer clearing roads first so that traffic, buses and emergency vehicles can move. - Car-sharing or bike and scooter sharing
Your city wants to give residents more ways to get around without owning a car. It plans to bring in one shared transportation service next spring and is asking residents which one they would be more likely to use.
Option A: I prefer a car-sharing service with cars that can be rented by the hour.Option B: I prefer a bike and electric scooter sharing service for short trips. - Light rail line or express buses sooner
Your region is planning its transit system for the next 20 years. A light rail line would be fast and comfortable but would take eight years to build. Express buses could start running in one year but would share the roads with other traffic.
Option A: I prefer building a light rail line.Option B: I prefer starting express bus routes as soon as possible. - Lower the speed limit on residential streets
Your city is considering lowering the speed limit on residential streets from 50 km/h to 40 km/h. Supporters say it would make streets safer for children and cyclists. Others say it would make trips longer and would be hard to enforce.
Option A: I prefer lowering the speed limit to 40 km/h.Option B: I prefer keeping the limit at 50 km/h and using other safety measures, such as speed bumps.
Health and recreation
- Indoor pool or fitness centre at the rec centre
Your town is expanding its recreation centre. There is enough space and money for one new facility, and the town wants to choose the one that would benefit the most residents. A survey is being sent to every household.
Option A: I prefer adding an indoor swimming pool.Option B: I prefer adding a large fitness centre with machines, weights and an indoor track. - Evening clinic hours or virtual appointments
Your community health clinic is very busy, and patients often wait weeks for an appointment. The clinic has received funding for one improvement and is asking its patients which change would help them most.
Option A: I prefer longer clinic hours in the evenings and on Saturdays.Option B: I prefer video and phone appointments for simple health concerns. - Free park fitness classes or cheaper memberships
Your city wants to help more residents become physically active. It has a budget for one new program next year and is asking residents which one they would be more likely to join and keep using.
Option A: I prefer free outdoor fitness classes in parks during spring and summer.Option B: I prefer discounted year-round memberships at city recreation centres. - One-on-one counselling or group stress workshops
A community health centre in your area wants to offer new support for adults dealing with stress, loneliness or sleep problems. Staff have designed two programs but can only run one. They are asking local residents which would be more helpful.
Option A: I prefer free one-on-one sessions with a counsellor.Option B: I prefer free group workshops where people learn and practise ways to manage stress. - Paved or natural gravel ravine trail
The walking trail through the ravine near your home is muddy in spring and icy in winter. The city plans to improve it next year and is asking people who use the trail which of two designs they prefer.
Option A: I prefer paving the trail so it is easier for strollers, wheelchairs and bikes.Option B: I prefer keeping a natural gravel trail that fits the ravine's environment. - First-come registration or a lottery for kids' programs
Popular children's programs at your city's recreation centres, such as swimming and skating lessons, fill up within minutes after registration opens. Many parents have complained. The city is considering a new way to give out spots.
Option A: I prefer keeping first-come, first-served online registration.Option B: I prefer a lottery system where spots are given out randomly to everyone who applies. - Weekend ice time for leagues or public skating
Your local arena receives more requests for weekend ice time than it can handle. The city must decide how to divide Saturday and Sunday hours between organized hockey leagues and public skating sessions that are open to everyone.
Option A: I prefer giving more weekend ice time to organized leagues and teams.Option B: I prefer giving more weekend ice time to public skating sessions. - Smoke-free parks or designated smoking areas
Your city is reviewing its rules about smoking and vaping in public parks. Right now, smoking is banned only near playgrounds and sports fields. City council is considering two options and wants to hear from residents.
Option A: I prefer banning smoking and vaping in all city parks.Option B: I prefer creating designated smoking areas in larger parks.
Services and technology
- More self-checkouts or more cashiers
A grocery chain in your province is planning to remodel its stores next year. The company is asking shoppers whether it should add more self-checkout machines or hire more cashiers for its regular checkout lanes.
Option A: I prefer having more self-checkout machines.Option B: I prefer having more cashiers at staffed checkout lanes. - Printed or digital city newsletter
Every three months, your city sends a printed newsletter to every household with news about services, events and road construction. To save money, the city is considering replacing it with an email newsletter and updates in its mobile app.
Option A: I prefer continuing to receive the printed newsletter.Option B: I prefer getting city news by email and through the app. - Longer bank branch hours or a better app
Your bank plans to invest in improving its services next year. It has narrowed its plans down to two options and is asking customers which improvement would make their everyday banking easier.
Option A: I prefer longer branch hours, including evenings and Saturdays.Option B: I prefer a better mobile app with more features and faster help through chat. - Phone support or online chat help
Your internet and phone provider wants to improve its customer support. It plans to put most of its new resources into one support channel and is asking customers which one they would use most often.
Option A: I prefer speaking with a support agent by phone.Option B: I prefer getting help through online chat on the website or app. - Downtown Wi-Fi or community centre computer stations
Your city wants to offer free public internet access, especially for residents who cannot afford home internet. The budget allows only one of two plans in the first year, so the city is asking residents to choose.
Option A: I prefer free Wi-Fi across the downtown area and in the main parks.Option B: I prefer faster free Wi-Fi and computer stations inside community centres. - Per-order fee or monthly grocery delivery plan
A local grocery store in Gatineau began delivering orders to customers' homes last year. It is now changing how it charges for delivery and is asking regular customers which payment option they would choose.
Option A: I prefer paying $7 for each delivery.Option B: I prefer paying $15 a month for unlimited deliveries. - Online government services or in-person centres
Your provincial government wants to move services such as driver's licence renewals and health card applications online. To save money, it is considering closing some in-person service centres and is asking residents for their views.
Option A: I prefer moving most services online and closing some service centres.Option B: I prefer keeping all in-person service centres open. - Cashless coffee shops or keep accepting cash
A popular coffee chain in your city is considering accepting only card and phone payments. The company says this would speed up service and improve safety, but some customers worry it is unfair to people who rely on cash.
Option A: I prefer that the stores accept only card and phone payments.Option B: I prefer that the stores continue to accept cash.
Housing
- Rooftop garden or small gym for a condo
The board of your condo building has $60,000 in its improvement fund. It is choosing between two projects and has asked all owners and tenants to vote before the annual meeting in March.
Option A: I prefer building a rooftop garden with seating and barbecues.Option B: I prefer turning an unused storage room into a small gym. - Allow pets in a rental building
The company that manages your apartment building does not allow pets. Several tenants have asked for the rule to change. Before making a decision, the company is asking every tenant in the building for their opinion.
Option A: I prefer allowing tenants to have cats and small dogs.Option B: I prefer keeping the building pet-free. - Apartment towers or townhouses on an empty lot
A large empty lot near your neighbourhood will be used for new housing. The city must choose between two plans and has invited residents to share their views online or at an open house next week.
Option A: I prefer building two apartment towers with 400 units.Option B: I prefer building 80 townhouses with small yards. - Ban or regulate short-term rentals in a condo
Some owners in your condo building rent their units to tourists through short-term rental websites. Other residents have complained about noise and strangers in the hallways. The condo board is considering a new rule and wants residents' opinions.
Option A: I prefer banning short-term rentals in the building.Option B: I prefer allowing short-term rentals with strict rules, such as registering guests and limiting their number. - Rent with utilities included or paid separately
A property management company is building new rental apartments in your city. Before setting prices, it is asking people who currently rent which type of monthly rent they would prefer to pay.
Option A: I prefer one higher rent payment that includes heat, electricity and water.Option B: I prefer a lower rent and paying my own utility bills based on how much I use. - Basement suites everywhere or only near transit
To create more affordable housing, your city is considering allowing homeowners in every neighbourhood to build basement apartments or small backyard homes and rent them out. Some residents worry about parking and crowding.
Option A: I prefer allowing these rental units in all neighbourhoods.Option B: I prefer allowing them only in certain neighbourhoods near public transit.
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