CELPIP Writing Task 2 Sample: Library Opening Hours Survey

The prompt

Longer weekday evenings or Sunday opening at the library

Your city’s public library can afford to extend its opening hours in one way only. It is asking residents which option they prefer.

Which option should the library choose?

Option A: Stay open until 9 p.m. on weekdays instead of 6 p.m.

Option B: Open on Sundays from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Choose the option that you prefer and explain the reasons for your choice. Write about 150–200 words.

Time on the test: 26 minutes. Recommended length: 150–200 words. This is an original practice prompt in the official format, not a test question.

Sample answer at level 10

CELPIP level 10 · CLB 10

192 words

I would choose Option B, opening the library on Sundays, because it serves the people who have the fewest alternatives. Weekday evenings mostly help those who already use the library: students and office workers who could, if necessary, come at lunchtime or on a Saturday. Sunday is different. For parents working two jobs, newcomers attending language classes all week and seniors who depend on family for a ride, Sunday is often the only free day. In my neighbourhood, the Sunday closure means that the computer room, which many people use to apply for jobs or complete government forms, is out of reach for the whole weekend. There is also a practical argument. Three extra hours on five weekdays cost more in staffing than five hours on one day, yet evening visits tend to be short: people return books and leave. A Sunday afternoon, by contrast, fills the study tables and the children's section for the entire period, so each staffing hour reaches more residents. I accept that late evenings would help students during exams. On balance, however, Sunday opening spreads the benefit more fairly, and that is the option I would support.

Category ratings

Category	Level	Why
Content / Coherence	10	Choice in the first sentence, two distinct reasons (who benefits, cost per visitor), each developed with specific detail, and a concession before the conclusion.
Vocabulary	10	Precise and natural: "the fewest alternatives", "depend on family for a ride", "out of reach", "spreads the benefit more fairly".
Readability	10	Clear paragraphs with varied cohesive devices ("Sunday is different", "by contrast", "On balance, however"); complex sentences with no errors.
Task Fulfillment	10	Clear choice, reasons and examples, the other option acknowledged, 192 words.

What shows level 9 and above

Complex structure those who already use the library: students and office workers who could, if necessary, come at lunchtime
Specific example the computer room, which many people use to apply for jobs or complete government forms, is out of reach
Cohesion A Sunday afternoon, by contrast, fills the study tables
Nuance I accept that late evenings would help students during exams
Precise wording spreads the benefit more fairly

A level 10 survey response argues rather than lists: it explains who gains and who loses, uses one concrete local example, adds a cost argument the reader may not have considered, and concedes the strongest point for the other side before concluding.

Sample answer at level 6

CELPIP level 6 · CLB 6

161 words

I prefer the option B, to open the library in Sunday from 12 pm to 5 pm. First reason, many people are working in the weekdays and they don't have time to go to library in the evening. When they finish the work they are tired and they want to go home. But in Sunday everybody is free, so more people can come with their family. Second reason, the students need a quiet place for study in the weekend. In the house there is a lot of noise and distraction. If the library is open in Sunday, they can study there and prepare the exams better. Third reason, the children can come to library in Sunday with their parents and borrow books. It is good for them to read more books and not only play with the phone. Some people maybe prefer the evening, but I think the Sunday is more useful for the families. So, I choose the option B.

Category ratings

Category	Level	Why
Content / Coherence	6	A clear choice and three reasons in a list structure ("First reason, Second reason"); the reasons are plausible but each is a generalisation without a specific example.
Vocabulary	6	Limited and repetitive ("many people", "more people", "good", "useful"); some wrong choices ("prepare the exams", "study for" missing).
Readability	6	Simple sentences with "and", "but", "so"; frequent errors with articles ("the option B", "go to library") and prepositions ("in Sunday", "in the weekdays"), though meaning is always clear.
Task Fulfillment	7	Choice stated, reasons given, other option briefly mentioned; 161 words.

Corrections

~~I prefer the option B, to open the library in Sunday~~ → I prefer Option B, opening the library on Sundays
No article before "Option B"; days take "on"; the -ing form names the activity.
~~many people are working in the weekdays~~ → many people work on weekdays
A habit takes the simple present; "on weekdays".
~~they don't have time to go to library~~ → they do not have time to go to the library
"Library" is a specific place here and needs "the".
~~prepare the exams better~~ → prepare for their exams better
We prepare "for" an exam.
~~First reason, many people~~ → The first reason is that many people
A list marker needs a full clause: "The first reason is that…" or simply "First,".

A complete level 6 answer: the reader never doubts the choice or the reasons, but the article and preposition errors recur in every paragraph and the support stays general ("many people", "a lot of noise"). One specific example per reason and the five fixes above would bring it to 7–8.

What separates level 6 from level 10

State the choice in the first sentence and give the reason in the same breath ("because it serves the people who have the fewest alternatives").
Two reasons developed with a specific example beat three reasons that stay general.
Concede the other side in one sentence ("I accept that…") and then return to your choice with "On balance" or "However".
Articles and prepositions: "on Sundays", "on weekdays", "go to the library", "prepare for an exam".

Try this prompt yourself

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Score my survey response Task 2 guide

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A community-centre course that changed halfway
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See all CELPIP writing samples, the scoring and CLB levels guide, and the official CELPIP test format and scoring page.