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Tip: Speaking Task 5: pick one option and stay with it. Comparing both is fine, switching sides isn't.
Tip: Speaking Task 5: pick one option and stay with it. Comparing both is fine, switching sides isn't.
Defend your choice with a highly structured, persuasive 150-200 word argument.
Understanding the assessment criteria helps you deliver exactly what examiners are looking for.
Your ability to take a firm stance and defend it with highly logical, deep reasoning. You cannot just list reasons; you must explain 'why'.
This task usually deals with civic, workplace, or societal issues. Examiners look for advanced, topic-specific vocabulary (e.g., 'infrastructure', 'productivity', 'well-being').
Using advanced discourse markers to connect your paragraphs seamlessly. Words like 'Consequently', 'Moreover', and 'Nevertheless' score highly here.
Acknowledging why the *other* option might seem good, before ruthlessly dismantling it to prove your option is still superior.
Ready-to-use expressions that help your answer sound natural, organized, and easy to follow.
See how a high-scoring response sounds with clear structure and practical supporting details.
Your city is deciding what to do with a large empty lot of land downtown. Option A: Build a massive shopping mall. Option B: Build a public park with trees and playgrounds. Write 150-200 words explaining your choice.
"While both proposals have merit, I strongly support the initiative to build a public park in the downtown lot rather than constructing another shopping mall."
"First and foremost, a public park would significantly improve the physical and mental well-being of the city's residents. Downtown areas are notoriously concrete-heavy and polluted. Introducing green spaces and trees would not only improve air quality but also give families a safe, free place to exercise and socialize outdoors."
"I understand that many people prefer the shopping mall because it would theoretically create retail jobs and generate tax revenue. However, our city already has three massive shopping centers that are struggling to fill their vacant storefronts. Building a fourth mall would just cannibalize existing businesses."
"Ultimately, a park is a permanent investment in the community's quality of life, whereas a mall is just a short-term commercial venture. For these reasons, I firmly believe the city should prioritize green infrastructure. Thank you for considering my input."
Learn from these frequent errors that lower scores on this task.
Writing half your essay about why Option A is good, and the other half about why Option B is good. You MUST pick one and defend it.
"I like the park because it is green. But I also like the mall because I like shopping."
"While the mall offers commercial benefits, the park is undeniably the superior choice for our community."
This is a survey response, not an email to a manager. You do not need 'Dear Sir' or 'Sincerely, John Doe'.
Start directly with your opinion: 'I am writing to express my support for Option A.' End with a simple: 'Thank you for your time.'
Saying 'The park is good because parks are nice.' You must dig deeper into the societal or economic impact.
Writing 350 words. The examiner will stop reading, and your score will plummet due to the increased rate of grammatical errors.
Write 4 paragraphs. Intro (30 words), Body 1 (60 words), Body 2 (60 words), Conclusion (30 words).
Test your understanding of Writing Task 2: Responding to Survey Questions with these quick questions.
No. Option A and Option B are designed to be equally defendable. Pick the one that is easiest for you to think of vocabulary for. If you know more words related to 'nature', pick the park. If you know more words related to 'economics', pick the mall.
Take 3 to 4 minutes to plan. Read the prompt, pick your side, and quickly type out two bullet points for your arguments. Then spend 18 minutes writing, and 4 minutes proofreading.
Yes. Since you are stating your personal preference on a survey, phrases like 'In my opinion' and 'I strongly believe' are perfectly appropriate.
A few minor spelling mistakes won't ruin a CLB 9 score if your sentence structure and vocabulary are otherwise highly advanced. Just use the built-in spell checker to catch the obvious ones.
Jump between all 2 CELPIP Writing templates and review the structure for each task.