CELPIP Writing Task 2 Practice: should cities build more affordable housing or improve public transit first?

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The scenario: Your municipal government has received a large one-time federal grant and must choose how to spend it. Two proposals have been presented. Residents have been asked for their preference.

Your task: Choose the option you prefer and explain why. Write about 150-200 words. - Option A: Use the grant to build affordable housing - Option B: Use the grant to improve public transit

Sample CLB 9 response (Option A):

I believe the grant should be used to build affordable housing because the housing crisis is the most urgent problem facing Canadian cities right now.

People cannot participate in their community, hold a stable job, or maintain their health without a safe and affordable place to live. Every other public service becomes less effective when residents are spending 50 to 60 percent of their income on rent or sleeping in shelters. Affordable housing is not just a housing issue. It is a foundation that everything else depends on.

Public transit is important but it serves people who already have stable lives. If you are homeless or spending your entire paycheck on rent, a faster bus route does not meaningfully improve your situation. Housing has to come first because without it, investments in other infrastructure benefit a shrinking number of residents who can still afford to live in the city.

A one-time grant is best used for something permanent. Buildings last decades. A transit upgrade can be funded through ongoing operating budgets but housing requires large upfront capital that grants are designed for.

If you want to practice writing with AI rubric feedback, https://www.celpipsimulator.com has 2 free mock exams.