Task 2 Survey Templates

What you'll learn: a reusable argument skeleton for CELPIP Task 2, adaptable to both "choose between two options" and "do you agree" style prompts.

The two Task 2 prompt shapes

Most Task 2 prompts fall into one of two shapes:

• Two-option choice: "Your community is deciding between A and B. Which do you support?"
• Agree/disagree: "Some people think X. Do you agree or disagree?"

The same underlying argument skeleton handles both — only the opening sentence changes shape.

Template: Two-option choice

I believe [organization/community] should choose [Option A] rather than [Option B].

First, [Reason 1], because [specific example or consequence].
Second, [Reason 2], because [specific example or consequence].

[Optional: While Option B does offer [one honest benefit], [brief reason it's outweighed].]

For these reasons, I support [Option A] as the better choice.

Template: Agree/disagree

I agree/disagree that [restated claim].

First, [Reason 1], because [specific example].
Second, [Reason 2], because [specific example].

[Optional counterpoint acknowledgment, one sentence.]

Overall, I believe [restated position], for the reasons above.

Worked example: agree/disagree

Prompt: "Some people believe employees should be allowed to work from home permanently. Do you agree or disagree?"

I agree that employees should be allowed to work from home permanently, when their role allows it.

First, remote work removes daily commuting time, which many employees redirect toward family responsibilities or professional development — both of which benefit employers indirectly through higher retention. Second, companies that offer permanent remote options can hire from a much wider talent pool instead of being limited to one city.

Of course, some roles genuinely require in-person collaboration, and hybrid arrangements may suit those teams better than fully remote ones.

Overall, I believe permanent remote work is a reasonable option for roles where it's practical, and the benefits to both employees and employers outweigh the drawbacks.

Choosing strong reasons quickly

Under time pressure, the fastest way to generate two solid reasons is to think in these categories and pick the two that fit best: cost, time, fairness/access, safety, long-term impact. Most Task 2 prompts yield at least two strong reasons from this list within seconds.

Template checklist

• Position stated unambiguously in the first sentence
• Two reasons, each with a concrete example — not restated as one idea twice
• Optional counterpoint kept to one sentence, not allowed to dominate
• Closing sentence restates the position, doesn't introduce a new idea

Common mistakes

• Restating the same reason twice in different words instead of finding a genuinely second reason.
• Letting the optional counterpoint grow so long it undermines your stated position.
• Choosing a position you don't actually have strong reasons for — pick whichever side is easier to argue, not whichever you'd personally choose in real life.

Recap

A single flexible skeleton — clear position, two well-supported reasons, optional brief counterpoint, restated close — handles both major Task 2 prompt shapes. Practicing the "cost, time, fairness, safety, long-term impact" reason categories makes generating two strong reasons fast under time pressure.