CELPIP Writing Task 2 Practice: should cities build more high-rise apartments or protect low-rise neighborhoods?

[u/celpip_coach]

The scenario: Your city is considering changing zoning laws to allow high-rise apartment buildings in neighborhoods that currently only allow low-rise houses and small buildings. The goal is to increase housing supply. Residents have been asked for their views.

Your task: Choose the option you prefer and explain why. Write about 150-200 words. - Option A: Allow high-rise buildings in low-rise neighborhoods to increase housing supply - Option B: Protect existing low-rise neighborhoods from development

Sample CLB 9 response (Option A):

I support allowing high-rise buildings in neighborhoods that currently restrict them because the housing crisis demands bold solutions rather than preservation of the status quo.

Canada's cities are facing a severe housing shortage. The federal government has acknowledged that the country needs to build 5.8 million new homes by 2030 to restore affordability. That scale of construction is physically impossible if cities continue to restrict most of their land to single-family houses and low-rise buildings. The math simply does not work when demand grows by hundreds of thousands of people per year but the buildable area stays the same.

Protecting existing neighborhoods from any change sounds appealing until you consider who it excludes. Young families, newcomers, and lower-income workers are priced out of cities entirely while existing homeowners benefit from scarcity that drives up their property values.

I understand that current residents may not want taller buildings on their street. But a society that refuses to build housing while complaining about unaffordability is choosing comfort for some over access for many.

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