CELPIP writing task 1: sample email and how to plan it

A 27-minute plan

That split is our teaching suggestion, not a CELPIP rule. Adjust it once you know your speed. For the current test information, read the CELPIP test format guide and check the official source below.

Write for the reader

Say why you're writing in the first line. A landlord, manager, neighbour or friend will not need the same tone. A polite request can still be direct. Give the reader a date, reason, problem and desired outcome.

Before drafting, turn the prompt into a tiny plan. Write the reader's role, your purpose and one note for each required point. Then choose a formal, warm or neutral business tone. This takes less time than deleting a paragraph that went in the wrong direction.

For the other writing task, compare this approach with our Task 2 survey guide. The prompt changes, but making your position clear early helps in both.

Two sample emails

These are original practice pieces. Each invented prompt has three points to cover. Read the notes, then hide them and plan a fresh situation.

Sample 1: request to a property manager

Invented task prompt: You rent a basement suite in the fictional town of Bellwater. The property manager has posted a notice asking tenants to put waste carts at the lane entrance on collection evenings, but it does not explain where the carts should stay between pickups. Write to the property manager to explain what is unclear, describe a practical concern, and suggest a way to organize the carts.

Our original sample

Subject: Clarification about waste carts

Dear Ms. Chen,

I am writing about the notice asking tenants to place all waste carts at the lane entrance on collection evenings. I understand that the carts should be there before pickup, but I am unsure where we should leave them during the rest of the week.

This could be difficult for residents in the basement suites. The lane is narrow, and a cart left near the entrance could block the path for bicycles or make it harder for a vehicle to turn. In addition, I am concerned that strong winds could move an empty cart into the street. Several tenants may also return home after dark and have trouble seeing the edge of the lane.

Could you please choose a marked area beside the fence where carts can stay between pickups? A small sign with the collection evening and a reminder to return the carts there would make the arrangement clear. Please let me know the location before next Tuesday's collection.

Thank you for your help.

Sincerely,
Jordan Patel

Annotation:

• The first paragraph explains exactly what the notice leaves unclear.
• The second paragraph covers practical problems for residents, including access, wind and visibility.
• The third paragraph suggests a marked area and a short sign, then asks for a response by a useful date.
• The formal greeting and closing suit a property manager, while the request stays respectful and direct.
• To improve it, Jordan could mention whether the carts are currently stored in a particular place, if that detail were known.

Sample 2: message to a manager

Invented task prompt: You work at the fictional Northstar Garden Centre. Your manager has scheduled you for a Saturday shift that overlaps with a required college workshop. Write to your manager to explain the conflict, offer a practical alternative, and ask for confirmation of the schedule.

Our original sample

Subject: Request to change my Saturday shift

Hi Priya,

I am writing because my shift this Saturday, 14 November, overlaps with a required workshop for my horticulture certificate. The college added the workshop to my timetable yesterday, and attendance is needed to complete the current unit. I should have checked the timetable before confirming my availability, so I am sorry for the short notice.

Would it be possible to move me to the Sunday morning shift instead? I can work from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and I can also stay an extra hour if the team needs help with the plant delivery. If Sunday is already fully staffed, I could exchange shifts with Marco, who told me he may prefer Saturday this week. I will contact him after hearing from you.

I know the weekend schedule is busy, so I will make sure any change is recorded correctly. Could you please confirm whether I should attend on Sunday or keep my Saturday shift? I will follow the final schedule and update my class instructor today.

Thanks for considering this.

Best,
Elena Morris

Annotation:

• The opening gives the manager the date, the conflict and the reason for the request.
• The second paragraph offers Sunday hours, extra help and a possible shift exchange.
• The closing asks for clear confirmation and explains what Elena will do next.
• Hi, a brief apology and Best match an established workplace relationship without sounding casual or demanding.
• To improve it, Elena could include the workshop's exact end time if that would affect travel or handover planning.

What lifts a Task 1 email

• Use specific detail. Add a date, place, time, reason or consequence so the reader understands without guessing.
• Give each paragraph one job. One paragraph can explain the problem, another develop the concern, and another make the request. Do not make the reader hunt.
• Match the tone. A manager may need a concise workplace request. A friend may welcome a warmer voice. Polite does not mean vague.
• Choose simple, accurate sentences. Mix short sentences with a few longer ones, but check every verb, article, preposition and connector.
• End with a clear closing request. Ask what you need, give a sensible deadline when one matters, and make the next action easy to identify.

Your checklist before time runs out

• Did I answer all three points in the task?
• Is my purpose clear in the opening?
• Does each paragraph do one job?
• Does the tone fit the reader and the relationship?
• Are my details relevant rather than copied from a memorised script?
• Do subject and verb agree? Did I use past tense where it belongs?
• Is the email roughly 150 to 200 words?
• Did I leave time to check spelling, punctuation and the closing request?

Practise against the clock with the writing timer and word counter. For feedback on your own draft, use the writing practice feedback guide, then make one focused revision.

Questions