What Task 1 asks you to do
Writing Task 1 describes a situation and asks you to write an email of 150 to 200 words in 27 minutes. The prompt always lists three points to include. Typical situations: complaining to a company, asking a landlord for a repair, thanking a neighbour, or explaining a problem to a manager.
Plan your 27 minutes
| Minutes | What to do |
|---|---|
| 0–3 | Read the task twice. Note who you are writing to, the tone, and the three points. |
| 3–22 | Write: greeting, opening line, one paragraph per point, closing. |
| 22–27 | Check every point is covered, then fix spelling, grammar and missing words. |
Choose the right tone
- Formal (a company, landlord, manager, city office): "Dear Mr. Patel", "I am writing to…", "I would appreciate it if…", "Sincerely".
- Semi-formal (a coworker, a neighbour you don't know well): "Hi Ms. Chen", "I wanted to let you know…", "Thanks again", "Best regards".
- Informal (a friend or family member): "Hi Alex", "Guess what…", "Can't wait to see you", "Cheers".
Sample prompt and model email
Prompt: You recently bought a coffee maker online, but it stopped working after one week. Write an email to the company's customer service. In your email: describe the product and the problem, explain how this has affected you, and say what you want the company to do.
Dear Customer Service Team,
I am writing about a BrewMaster 12-cup coffee maker that I ordered from your website on October 2 (order number 48213). It worked well for the first week, but on October 10 it stopped heating. The power light turns on, yet the water stays cold, even after I followed the reset steps in the manual.
This has been frustrating because I bought the machine specifically for busy mornings. I leave for work at 6:30, and I now have to stop at a café every day, which costs me time and around 25 dollars a week. I also chose your brand because of its good reviews, so I was disappointed that it failed so quickly.
I would appreciate it if you could send me a replacement as soon as possible. If a replacement is not available, I would like a full refund, including the shipping cost. I am happy to return the faulty machine if you send me a prepaid label.
Thank you for your help. I look forward to your reply.
Sincerely,
Maria Santos
Why this email scores well
- One paragraph for each of the three points, in the order the prompt lists them.
- Specific details (dates, an order number, a cost) make the content convincing.
- A consistent formal tone from greeting to sign-off.
- A range of linking words: "but", "yet", "because", "if", "also".
Next: Writing Task 2: survey response · how CELPIP writing is scored.
Find out what your email would score
Send a Task 1 email to your coach and get it corrected line by line.
Questions
How long should a CELPIP Task 1 email be?
150 to 200 words. About 180 words leaves room for every point and time to check.
Can I use a template for the CELPIP email?
Use a structure, not a memorized text. Greeting, opening line, one paragraph per point and a closing works for almost every prompt, but the sentences should fit the situation.