The set
Work through the items in order, or jump to the skill you want. The reading items are short on purpose. The writing prompts ask for an email of roughly 150 to 200 words, which matches the published task. The speaking prompts use the prep and speaking times from our speaking timer. For the full published timings, read the test format guide.
Reading: two passages, six questions
Passage 1
A note from the Halden Community Garden committee
The tool shed will close for repairs from Monday 9 March to Friday 13 March. During that week, members may borrow the long-handled tools kept in the greenhouse, but the seed boxes and the wheelbarrow will stay locked. Please return any borrowed item before 6 p.m. on the same day. The Saturday work bee is cancelled, and the next one will be on 21 March. If you need potting soil during the closure, ask Dana at plot 14.
1. Why will the tool shed be closed?
Show answer
Answer: B. The first sentence says the shed will close for repairs.
2. What can members borrow during the closure?
Show answer
Answer: C. The note says the long-handled tools in the greenhouse stay available.
3. When is the next work bee?
Show answer
Answer: C. The note says the next work bee will be on 21 March.
Passage 2
Two residents comment on a proposed bike lane on Willow Street
Rosa: I support the lane because the street is wide enough for both cars and bicycles. My son rides to school, and a marked lane would make that trip safer. I do not think we will lose many parking spaces.
Tomas: I am not against cycling, but the shops on Willow Street depend on short stops by delivery vans. If we remove the loading zone, those vans will block the lane or park far away. I would prefer a trial period in spring before the change becomes permanent.
4. Why does Rosa support the bike lane?
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Answer: B. Rosa links the marked lane to a safer ride to school for her son.
5. What is Tomas's main concern?
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Answer: C. He says shops depend on short stops and the loading zone may be removed.
6. What does Tomas suggest?
Show answer
Answer: C. He asks for a trial period in spring before a permanent change.
Writing: three Task 1 email prompts
Writing is 53 minutes for two tasks in CELPIP-General, and each response is roughly 150 to 200 words. Plan the reader, the purpose and the three points before you write. The Task 1 email guide has a timed plan.
7. Damaged bookshelf
You ordered a bookshelf from the fictional shop Pine & Page. It arrived with a cracked shelf. Write an email to the shop. In your email:
- describe the damage
- say what you would like the shop to do
- ask how to return the item
Show answer
Model answer
Subject: Damaged bookshelf from order 4182
Dear Pine & Page team,
I am writing about order 4182, a two-shelf bookcase that arrived yesterday. When I opened the box, the lower shelf had a crack along one edge, and a small piece of wood was loose in the packaging.
I would like a replacement shelf rather than a full refund, because the frame and the other shelf are in good condition. Could you send a new lower shelf and tell me whether I should keep the damaged one? If a replacement is not possible, please explain how I can return the whole bookcase.
I can send a photo of the damage if that helps. Please reply by Friday so I can finish setting up the room.
Sincerely,
Alex Moreau
- Each paragraph covers one bullet from the prompt.
- The request is specific and includes a reply date.
8. Missing a farewell lunch
You cannot attend a colleague's farewell lunch. Write an email to the organizer, Nina. In your email:
- explain why you cannot attend
- suggest another way to say goodbye
- ask what gift the team is buying
Show answer
Model answer
Subject: Unable to attend Sam's farewell lunch
Dear Nina,
Thank you for organizing Sam's farewell lunch on Thursday. I am sorry to say that I cannot attend, because I am travelling to a training course that day and will not be back before the restaurant booking.
I would still like to say goodbye properly. Could I join by video call for ten minutes at the start, or meet Sam for coffee on Friday morning instead? Either option works for me.
Please also let me know what the team is buying as a gift. I would like to contribute my share, and I can transfer the money today.
Thanks for understanding, and please pass on my best wishes to Sam.
Best regards,
Chloe Bennett
- The reason arrives in the first paragraph, so the reader is not left guessing.
- Two practical alternatives make the message easy to answer.
9. New gym hours
A fictional gym, Riverside Fitness, has changed its opening hours. Write an email to the manager. In your email:
- explain how the change affects you
- ask about a quieter time to train
- request a copy of the new schedule
Show answer
Model answer
Subject: Question about the new opening hours
Dear Riverside Fitness team,
I am writing about the new opening hours, which start next month. The updated notice says the gym opens at 7 a.m., but I start work at 7:30 and used to train at 6 a.m. before my shift.
Could you confirm whether an early session will still be available on weekdays? If not, I would like to know which evening time is usually quietest, as I would rather avoid the busiest period.
Please also send me a copy of the full timetable, including weekend hours, so I can plan my week.
Thank you for your help.
Kind regards,
Daniel Okafor
- The effect on the writer is concrete: a specific shift and a lost training time.
- The closing request is easy for staff to complete.
Speaking: three prompts
Speaking is about 15 minutes for 8 tasks. The prep and speaking times below are the ones built into our speaking timer. Read the speaking tasks guide for the shape of all eight tasks.
10. A friend who wants to cook more
A friend wants to cook at home more often but says there is never enough time after work. Give your friend practical advice.
Show answer
Outline: one habit first, two reasons, one fallback.
Sample answer: I would start with one small habit: choose two meals you can cook in under twenty minutes and repeat them each week. That helps because you only shop for a few ingredients, and you stop spending time deciding what to make. On Sunday, wash and cut the vegetables for those two meals, so the weekday cooking is quick. If a day goes wrong, keep a simple backup such as eggs on toast. The goal is not a perfect menu; it is making the easy choice the usual one. After two weeks, add a third meal.
11. A tool-lending library
A local library is considering lending tools as well as books. Do you think this is a good idea? Give your opinion with reasons and an example.
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Outline: opinion, reason, example, second reason.
Sample answer: I think it is a good idea. Many people need a drill or a ladder once or twice a year, and buying one is expensive and wasteful. A tool library lets a family borrow the item, use it for a weekend, and return it. For example, my neighbour borrowed a ladder to clean her gutters; she did not need to store it afterwards. There is a second benefit: the library can offer a short safety lesson with each tool. The main condition is that staff must check the tools before and after lending, so the service stays safe.
12. A bus shelter with a garden roof
Imagine that a bus shelter in your city has a small vegetable garden on its roof. Describe the shelter and what people do there.
Show answer
Outline: what it is, what it looks like, what people do, one detail.
Sample answer: The shelter looks like an ordinary glass bus stop, but the roof holds a shallow garden. There are lettuce plants, small tomato vines and a strip of herbs in grey boxes. A narrow pipe collects rain from the glass and feeds the plants. People wait for the bus underneath, and on warm days a few volunteers stand on a step to water the boxes. Passengers often look up and point at the tomatoes. The garden makes the wait feel shorter, and it gives the street a little colour.
Questions
How long should the free set take?
About 20 minutes if you answer all 12 items and read each explanation once.
Where are the answers?
Every item has a Show answer reveal. Reading items also have a Check my answer button for the multiple-choice options.
Does this page follow the real reading format?
The two passages use short correspondence-style and viewpoints-style texts; the full four-part set is on the reading practice page.
Sources (checked 26 October 2026)
Last reviewed 29 October 2026
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