Writing Task 1: Writing an Email
Draft a perfectly structured 150-200 word email with appropriate tone and clear paragraphing.
What They Test
Understanding the assessment criteria helps you deliver exactly what examiners are looking for.
Tone and Register
Your ability to adjust your vocabulary and formatting based on who you are writing to. A complaint to a manager requires a very different tone than an invitation to a friend.
Task Fulfillment
The prompt will give you 3 specific bullet points to cover. If you miss even one of these bullet points, your score will drop significantly regardless of your grammar.
Paragraph Structure
Examiners look for a logical flow: A greeting, an opening statement of purpose, 2-3 body paragraphs addressing the bullet points, a call to action, and a sign-off.
Sentence Variety
Mixing simple, compound, and complex sentences. If every sentence starts with 'I', your grammar score will suffer.
Template Phrases
Ready-to-use expressions that help your answer sound natural, organized, and easy to follow.
Formal Openings
- •"Dear [Name/Title],"
- •"I am writing to you today regarding..."
- •"I am writing to bring to your attention..."
- •"I am writing to formally request..."
Informal Openings
- •"Hi [Name],"
- •"I hope you are doing well!"
- •"It was so great to see you last week."
- •"I'm writing to let you know about..."
Addressing Bullet Points
- •"First of all, I would like to explain..."
- •"Furthermore, it is important to note that..."
- •"As for the current situation..."
- •"To provide some context..."
Call to Action & Sign-offs
- •"I look forward to hearing from you soon."
- •"Please let me know how we can resolve this."
- •"Sincerely, [Your Name]"
- •"Best regards, [Your Name]"
Sample Answer (Example)
See how a high-scoring response sounds with clear structure and practical supporting details.
You recently ate at a restaurant and the service was terrible. Write an email to the restaurant manager (150-200 words). Include: 1) Details of your visit, 2) What went wrong, 3) What you want the manager to do.
High-scoring Response
"Dear Restaurant Manager, I am writing to formally express my extreme disappointment regarding the service I received at your establishment last Friday evening."
"My family and I visited your downtown location at 7:00 PM to celebrate my mother's 60th birthday. We had booked a table for six under my name two weeks in advance, expecting a wonderful celebratory dinner."
"Unfortunately, the experience fell completely short of our expectations. Despite our reservation, we were forced to wait over 45 minutes for a table. Furthermore, when we were finally seated, our waiter was incredibly dismissive and brought out two of our main courses completely cold."
"Given the premium prices your restaurant charges, this level of service is simply unacceptable. I would appreciate it if you could investigate what happened with the kitchen staff that evening. Additionally, I believe a partial refund for the cold meals would be an appropriate gesture of goodwill."
"I look forward to your prompt response regarding this matter. Sincerely, John Doe"
Why This Response Scores High:
- Perfect formal tone appropriate for a complaint ('express my extreme disappointment', 'appropriate gesture of goodwill').
- Flawless paragraphing: each of the 3 required bullet points gets its own distinct paragraph.
- Word count is exactly in the sweet spot (approx. 170 words).
- Uses advanced linking words ('Despite', 'Furthermore', 'Additionally', 'Given the').
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Learn from these frequent errors that lower scores on this task.
Mistake 1: Ignoring a Bullet Point
The prompt gives you exactly 3 things to write about. Many candidates get distracted by their own story and forget to answer one of the bullets.
Before you start typing, write the 3 bullet points into the text box. Then expand each bullet point into a paragraph.
Mistake 2: Mixing Formal and Informal Tone
Starting an email to a CEO with 'Hey dude, what's up?' or ending an email to your best friend with 'Sincerely, John Doe'.
"Dear Sir, I want to tell you about the awesome party. Please come. Best regards."
"Hi Sarah, I'm throwing a huge party this weekend and I'd love for you to come! Cheers,"
Mistake 3: Writing Too Much (Over 200 words)
Writing 300 words doesn't get you extra points. It actually increases the chances of you making grammar and spelling errors.
Mistake 4: No Clear Paragraphs
Submitting one giant block of text.
Hit the 'Enter' key twice between every single paragraph to create clean white space. It instantly makes your email look organized.
Mini Quiz
Test your understanding of Writing Task 1: Writing an Email with these quick questions.
1. How many paragraphs should a standard CELPIP Task 1 Email have?
2. What should you do if the prompt asks you to write to someone you don't know?
3. Is it okay if I write 140 words?
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use spell check?
The official CELPIP test does have a very basic spell checker (words will be underlined in red), but it does not auto-correct, and it does not check grammar.
Should I invent names and dates?
Yes! If the prompt says 'Write an email to a store manager', make up the store name, the manager's name, the date you visited, and the items you bought. Specific details make the email sound authentic.
Does the formatting matter?
Absolutely. You must use standard email formatting. That means starting with 'Dear [Name],' having distinct paragraphs separated by blank lines, and ending with 'Sincerely, [Your Name]'.
What if I can't think of anything for the 3rd bullet point?
You have 27 minutes—take 3 minutes to brainstorm before you type. Even a basic, simple sentence addressing the bullet point is infinitely better than skipping it entirely.
Choose another task template
Jump between all 2 CELPIP Writing templates and review the structure for each task.