Neighbourhood development consultation survey (CLB 9)
Task prompt
Your city is planning to develop a vacant lot in your neighbourhood. Residents are invited to complete a consultation survey about what they would like to see built on the site. Share your preference, explain your reasoning, and address any potential concerns.
Your task
Complete a neighbourhood consultation survey about proposed development. You must:
- State a clear development preference
- Provide at least two reasons for your preference
- Address at least one potential concern or trade-off
- Write in full sentences with well-developed ideas
Word count target: 160–200 words
Model answer (CLB 9)
Neighbourhood Development Consultation — Lot 14, Birchwood Avenue
What type of development would you prefer to see on Lot 14? I would strongly prefer the development of a community green space and small outdoor recreation area rather than additional commercial or residential construction.
Please explain your reasons. Our neighbourhood currently has very few outdoor gathering spaces, and the nearest park is over a 20-minute walk away. A green space on Lot 14 would directly benefit families with young children, older residents who need accessible outdoor areas, and newcomers who benefit from informal community gathering points. Research consistently shows that proximity to green space improves both physical and mental health outcomes in urban communities.
Additionally, the neighbourhood has seen substantial residential and retail development over the past five years. Further construction would exacerbate existing traffic and parking pressures on Birchwood Avenue.
Are there any concerns about your preferred option? I recognize that a green space generates no direct tax revenue for the city. However, the long-term savings in healthcare and social services, combined with the increase in surrounding property values, typically offset this cost over time.
Why this scores CLB 9
| CLB Criterion | What this response does well |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Clear stance taken, well argued, concern proactively addressed |
| Detail | Walking distance data, recent development context, health outcome reference, tax revenue counterargument |
| Organization | Preference → two reasons → concern + rebuttal |
| Tone | Civic, measured, evidence-informed |
| Vocabulary | ”exacerbate,” “informal community gathering points,” “offset,” “tax revenue” |
| Grammar | Complex sentences, hedging (“typically,” “consistently”), no errors |
Common mistakes at CLB 7–8
| Weak version | Why it loses marks |
|---|---|
| ”I want a park because parks are nice.” | No specific reasoning; no community context |
| Ignoring the concern/trade-off question | Failing to address all parts of a survey drops completeness score |
| ”The city should listen to residents.” | Not a suggestion — vague civic grievance adds nothing |
| Listing ideas without developing them | CLB 9 requires developed arguments, not bullet-point thinking |
Examiner tip
Consultation surveys test your ability to argue a position like a civic participant. The CLB 9 benchmark requires you to go beyond personal preference and ground your view in community benefit. Notice how the model answer uses “our neighbourhood” and “residents” rather than “I” throughout most of the body — this signals that the writer understands the genre: you are speaking on behalf of a community, not just venting a personal preference.