CELPIP Writing Task 2: Responding to Survey Questions

CELPIP Writing Task 2 Sample Answer: Building party room survey

Apartment residents choose whether a rarely used party room should become a secure package room or a shared workspace. The challenge is showing which option helps more residents, with evidence beyond one stolen parcel.

Time

26 minutes

Length

150–200 words

Structure

Choose Option A or B and support it

The question

Building Amenity Survey

Your apartment building has a party room on the main floor that is rarely used. The management could turn it into a secure package room with lockers, since many residents’ deliveries are left in the lobby. Or, it could make it into a shared workspace with desks and fast internet for residents who work from home. The management is asking residents to complete a 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: I would prefer a package room with lockers.

Option B: I would prefer a shared workspace for residents.

Explain the reasons for your choice. Write about 150-200 words.

How to plan your answer

What they want

Choose between a secure package room with lockers (A) or a shared workspace for residents (B) in the unused party room.

Plan (26 min)

State your choice. Option A is easier to argue: deliveries affect almost every resident.
Reason 1: packages left in the lobby get stolen or damaged. Example: a neighbour's missing parcel last month.
Reason 2: lockers mean you can pick up deliveries any time, and the lobby stays tidy and safe.
Optional nod: a workspace helps people working from home, but most have a desk in their unit.
Conclusion: restate your choice and main benefit.

Useful vocabulary

package room, parcel lockers, deliveries, lobby
porch pirates, stolen packages, secure access, online shopping

Phrases

I would prefer a package room because...
At the moment, deliveries are...
Although a shared workspace would help some residents, ...

Avoid

Choosing both options.
Forgetting to explain why the current situation is a problem.

Excellent answer: around CLB 11–12

I would prefer Option A, converting the party room into a secure package room with lockers. Package theft has quietly become one of the biggest frustrations in our building. Couriers currently leave deliveries in the lobby, where anyone passing through can walk off with them. In the past few months alone, I've lost a set of headphones, and several neighbours have reported missing parcels, including one resident's prescription medication. Secure lockers would solve this problem almost overnight, since each delivery could only be retrieved with a personal code. A package room would also serve nearly every resident, because online shopping is now part of daily life for people of all ages. As a bonus, it would clear the stacks of boxes that clutter the lobby and occasionally block the entrance. I can see the appeal of a shared workspace, especially for residents who work from home in small units. However, that need affects a much smaller group, and the public library and several cafés nearby already offer quiet places to work. For these reasons, a package room would be the most practical and widely beneficial use of the space.

189 words

Why it scores high

Vocabulary: 'quietly become one of the biggest frustrations' and 'almost overnight' express the problem and solution with confident style.
Content/Coherence: the example of 'one resident's prescription medication' shows the theft problem is serious, not just inconvenient.
Task Fulfillment: acknowledging the workspace appeal for people 'in small units' before noting it 'affects a much smaller group' handles Option B fairly.

Good answer: around CLB 7–8

I would prefer Option A, turning the party room into a secure package room with lockers. The main reason is that package theft has become a real problem in our building. Right now, delivery drivers leave boxes in the lobby, where anyone can pick them up. Last month, a package containing my new headphones disappeared, and I know at least three neighbours who have lost items as well. Lockers would make sure that only the right person can collect each delivery. In addition, almost every resident orders things online these days, so a package room would benefit nearly everyone in the building. It would also keep the lobby tidy and safer, since piles of boxes can block the entrance and create a tripping hazard. I understand that a shared workspace would be useful for people who work from home. However, most residents can work comfortably in their own apartments, and there are several coffee shops and a public library nearby. For these reasons, I believe a package room is the more practical choice for our building.

176 words

What works, and what's missing

Content/Coherence: losing 'my new headphones' and knowing 'at least three neighbours' with missing items show the problem is widespread.
Task Fulfillment: adding that boxes 'can block the entrance and create a tripping hazard' gives a second benefit beyond theft prevention.
Vocabulary: 'the more practical choice' and 'work comfortably' are clear, but the language rarely goes beyond common expressions.

Basic answer: around CLB 4–5

I prefer Option A. I think the party room should be a package room with lockers. Now, the delivery people leave all the packages in the lobby. Everybody can take them. Two month ago, my package was stolen. It was new shoes for my daughter and it cost $90. I call the company but they say it is delivered and they don't give me money back. Other neighbours also lose packages. With locker, the package is safe and only the owner can open it. Today almost everybody buy things online, so this room will help many people in the building. The workspace is also good, but not many people work from home in our building. And people can work in their apartment or in coffee shop. So the package room is more useful for most residents. I hope management choose Option A.

142 words

What holds it back

Readability: 'Two month ago', 'I call the company' and 'almost everybody buy things online' contain plural, tense and agreement errors.
Vocabulary: 'With locker' and 'they don't give me money back' are simple forms that make a good point sound informal.
Content/Coherence: the stolen '$90' shoes are convincing, but the dismissal 'not many people work from home in our building' is not supported.

These are original CELPass examples written at each level. The CLBs are our estimates, not official CELPIP scores. How we estimate CLB