CELPIP Writing Task 1: how to write the email

Task 1 gives you a situation and asks you to write an email that covers three points. You have 27 minutes and should write 150–200 words.

What the raters score

CELPIP rates writing on four dimensions. Knowing the sub-criteria tells you exactly what to show:

A paragraph plan that covers everything

1. Greeting and purpose (1–2 sentences). Say who you are, if needed, and why you are writing. “I am writing about the noise from the unit above mine, which has continued for two weeks.”
2. One paragraph per bullet point. The prompt lists three things to cover. Give each its own paragraph with a specific detail: a date, a number, a consequence.
3. Request and close (1–2 sentences). Say what you want to happen next and thank the reader.

This shape makes completeness easy to check and gives raters clear paragraphing and transitions.

Match the tone to the reader

• Manager, landlord, company: polite and direct. “Would it be possible to…”, “I would appreciate it if…”.
• Friend or family: warm and natural, but still organized. Contractions are fine.
• Complaint: firm, specific and courteous. State the problem, its effect, and a reasonable solution.

A 27-minute time plan

• 3 minutes: read the task, decide one specific detail for each point.
• 19 minutes: write.
• 5 minutes: check every point is covered, then fix agreement, tense, articles and spelling.

Mistakes that cost points

• Skipping or barely touching one of the three points (Task Fulfillment).
• Listing points without reasons or examples (Content/Coherence).
• Showy words used imprecisely; natural, accurate phrases score better (Vocabulary).
• One long block of text, or errors that make the reader stop (Readability).
• Writing far below 150 or far above 200 words.