CELPIP Writing Task 2 Template — Agree or Disagree

CELPIP Writing Task 2 sometimes gives you a single statement and asks whether you agree or disagree with it. You write 150–200 words in about 26 minutes, and your whole job is to pick one side, commit to it, and prove it. This guide shows you how to state a strong opinion without overstating, structure two developed reasons, rebut the opposing view, and land a firm conclusion — plus a fill-in template, two reusable banks, a model answer, and a CLB 7/9/11 breakdown.

The agree-or-disagree variant rewards clarity of position above almost everything else. The single biggest mistake test-takers make here is sitting on the fence — writing "both sides have a point" and never deciding. CELPIP raters can see that immediately, and it caps your Content & Coherence score. Decide in the first 30 seconds, then spend the rest of your energy defending that decision.

What the examiner is looking for

Writing Task 2 is scored on four criteria. Here is what each one means for an agree-or-disagree response and how to hit it.

• Content & Coherence — Do you take a clear position and develop it logically? How to hit it: state your stance in sentence one, give two reasons, support each with a specific example, and make sure every paragraph connects back to your opinion. A coherent argument that picks one side beats a balanced essay that picks none.
• Vocabulary — Do you use precise, varied words appropriate to the topic? How to hit it: use opinion verbs (maintain, contend, recognise) and topic-specific nouns instead of repeating good, bad, and think. Avoid memorised idioms that do not fit.
• Readability — Is your writing easy to follow, with correct grammar, spelling, and linking? How to hit it: vary sentence length, use transitions (Firstly, Furthermore, Admittedly, Therefore), and proofread for the small errors — articles, plurals, subject–verb agreement — that quietly lower the score.
• Task Fulfilment — Did you do exactly what was asked, at the right length and register? How to hit it: address the actual statement (not a topic you wish it asked), stay between 150 and 200 words, and keep a consistent, semi-formal tone throughout.

Plan first: 4 minutes that decide your score

Do not start typing immediately. Spend roughly four minutes planning using a simple "Pick, Prove, Push-back" routine. Pick a side — whichever one you can argue best, not the one you personally believe. Prove it with two distinct reasons and a concrete example for each. Push-back means deciding which opposing point you will acknowledge and knock down. Jot these as four or five bullet points before you write a single sentence. This planning is what separates a tight CLB 9 response from a rambling CLB 6 one.

Step 1 — State a clear, strong stance

Your opening sentence must leave zero doubt about where you stand. Use a confident opinion verb and the right amount of force. "I strongly agree that..." or "In my view, the statement is mistaken because..." both work. The trick is strong but not absolute: say clearly or strongly, but avoid always, never, everyone, and no one, which are easy to disprove and sound naive. For a prompt like "Students learn more from teachers than from the internet," you might open: "I firmly disagree; for most learners today, the internet has become the more powerful teacher."

Step 2 — Reason 1 with a developed example

Your first body paragraph gives your strongest reason and then earns it with detail. State the reason in one sentence, then spend two or three sentences making it real with a specific example — a person, a situation, a small story. A reason without an example is just a claim. For instance: "Firstly, the internet offers instant access to expertise no single teacher can match. When I wanted to learn video editing, no local class existed, yet within a week of following online tutorials I had produced my first short film."

Step 3 — Reason 2 with a developed example

The second body paragraph adds a different angle, not a reworded version of the first. If reason one was about access, make reason two about something like flexibility, cost, or motivation. Open with a transition (Furthermore, Equally important), state the reason, and again anchor it in a concrete example. Two genuinely distinct reasons show the rater you can develop content, which is exactly what Content & Coherence measures.

Step 4 — Concede and rebut the other side

A short concession makes your argument look balanced and mature — then you immediately rebut it to show your side still wins. This is the step most test-takers skip, and it is a fast way to stand out. Acknowledge one real strength of the opposing view in a single sentence, then turn it: "Admittedly, teachers provide structure that the internet lacks. However, that structure is increasingly built into online courses, which now guide learners step by step." The word however (or yet, nonetheless) does the heavy lifting.

Step 5 — Finish with a firm conclusion

Restate your position in fresh words and add one forward-looking thought so it does not read like a copy of your introduction. Keep it to one or two sentences — you are running out of your word budget by now. Reassert, do not re-argue: "For these reasons, I remain convinced that the internet has become the stronger teacher, and its role will only grow."

The fill-in template

Use this skeleton in the exam. Fill the brackets, delete the brackets, and check your word count lands between 150 and 200.

[Strong stance verb] that [restate the statement in your own words], primarily because [reason 1 in brief] and [reason 2 in brief].

Firstly, [reason 1 stated fully]. [Specific example — a person, place, or situation that proves it]. [One sentence linking the example back to your opinion].

Furthermore, [reason 2 — a different angle]. [Second specific example with concrete detail]. This shows that [link back to the statement].

Admittedly, [one genuine strength of the opposing view]. However, [rebuttal that explains why your side still holds].

For these reasons, I [restate stance in fresh words], and [one forward-looking or concluding thought].

Sentence-starter bank

Mix and match these so your phrasing never repeats. Choose the force level that fits — confident, not absolute.

Argument-ideas bank

Most agree-or-disagree prompts touch one of these themes. Grab a ready reason, a power verb, and an adjective to sound precise under time pressure.

Model answer

Prompt: "Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? People learn more from the internet than from teachers."

Why this answer scores high

• Sentence one takes a clear, strong stance — "I firmly disagree" — and restates the statement in fresh words, instantly satisfying Task Fulfilment and Content & Coherence.
• Each body paragraph gives one distinct reason (feedback, then motivation) and proves it with a specific example — a calculus lesson, a cousin's three abandoned courses. Concrete detail is what raters reward over vague generalities.
• The concession-and-rebuttal paragraph acknowledges the internet's breadth, then turns it with "However, raw information is not the same as learning." This shows maturity without weakening the position.
• Vocabulary is precise and varied — irreplaceable, diagnosis, accountability, breadth — with no repetition of good or think.
• The conclusion reasserts in new words ("teachers, not search engines") rather than copying the opening, and the whole piece lands at about 190 words, inside the limit.

What CLB 7, 9 and 11 look like

• CLB 7 — The position is clear but reasons stay general ("teachers explain things better") with thin or missing examples. Vocabulary is adequate but repetitive, and small grammar slips (articles, verb endings) appear regularly without blocking meaning.
• CLB 9 — A strong, sustained stance with two developed reasons, concrete examples, and a genuine concession-rebuttal. Vocabulary is varied and mostly precise; errors are minor and do not distract. This is the model answer above.
• CLB 11 — Everything at CLB 9 plus near-effortless flow: sophisticated linking, nuanced word choice, controlled sentence variety, and a rebuttal that reframes the opposing view rather than just dismissing it. Errors are rare and the argument feels persuasive, not formulaic.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Sitting on the fence. "Both sides are valid" caps your Content score. Pick one side and commit, even if you privately see the other.
• Overstating with absolutes. Always, never, everyone, no one are easy to disprove and sound immature. Use clearly, strongly, for most people instead.
• Two reasons that are really one. "It's convenient" and "it's easy" are the same point twice. Make reason two a genuinely different angle.
• Claims with no examples. A reason you do not illustrate is just an opinion. Anchor every reason in a specific person, place, or situation.
• Skipping the rebuttal. Without a concession-and-rebuttal, your argument looks one-sided. One sentence of concession plus one of rebuttal is enough.
• Ignoring the word count. Under 150 words signals an underdeveloped answer; over 200 wastes time and invites errors. Plan for roughly 180–190 words and check before you submit.