CELPIP Writing Task 1: Email Format & Strategy
By MyCELPIP Editorial Team · Updated September 9, 2026
CELPIP Writing Task 1 is Writing an Email. You receive a situation, a recipient, and several points that your email needs to address. The current official 2026 CELPIP material gives you 27 minutes for Task 1 and instructs you to write 150–200 words.
A strong Task 1 response is not created by memorizing one formal email and forcing it into every question. The official 2026 Writing Pro guidance focuses on logical organization, specific support, precise natural vocabulary, accurate grammar and formatting, a thorough response, suitable tone, and careful proofreading.
Quick strategy: identify the recipient and purpose first, plan one useful detail for every required point, write a purpose-first email in a tone that fits the relationship, and keep the final few minutes for checking.
You can verify the current guidance in the official CELPIP Writing Pro: Target 9+ 2026 Study Pack, the CELPIP-General Overview, and the official CELPIP Writing performance standards.
CELPIP Writing Task 1 format
The current CELPIP-General format describes Task 1 as Writing an Email.
- Time: 27 minutes
- Expected length: 150–200 words
- Purpose: respond to a realistic email situation
- Audience: can be formal or informal depending on the prompt
- Content: address all of the required instructions in the question
The entire Writing component is 53 minutes: 27 minutes for Task 1 and 26 minutes for Task 2.
How CELPIP Writing is scored
CELPIP assesses Writing across four official dimensions. Your email structure should help you demonstrate these skills rather than become a script that replaces them.
1. Content and Coherence
Official factors include the number and quality of ideas, organization, examples, and supporting details.
For Task 1, that means every required point needs useful development.
Weak:
“Your delivery was late and this caused a problem.”
More developed:
“The package arrived three days after the promised date, so I had to buy a replacement gift locally before my sister's birthday dinner.”
The second version gives the reader a specific event and consequence.
2. Vocabulary
Official factors include word choice, suitability, range, precision, and accuracy.
Use vocabulary that fits the situation. A complaint to a company may need words such as “replacement,” “refund,” “delivery estimate,” or “inconvenience.” An email to a friend may sound warmer and more conversational.
Precise does not mean unnecessarily complicated.
3. Readability
Official factors include formatting and paragraphing, connectors and transitions, grammar and sentence structure, spelling, and punctuation.
A clear email usually has:
- an appropriate greeting;
- a short purpose statement;
- separate paragraphs for major ideas;
- transitions that show the relationship between ideas;
- a suitable closing and sign-off.
4. Task Fulfillment
Official factors include relevance, completeness, tone, and word count.
Task 1 makes this especially important because the prompt tells you who you are writing to and what the email must accomplish. A grammatically strong email can still be incomplete if it ignores one required point or uses an unsuitable tone.
What the official 2026 Task 1 strategy recommends
The current CELPIP Writing Pro study pack recommends:
- making an outline first;
- starting with a purpose statement;
- ending with a concluding statement;
- completing the prompt tasks in order;
- brainstorming before writing;
- supporting each main idea with at least one specific detail;
- using real places, people, and situations to make details concrete and vivid;
- using descriptive, precise, and natural language;
- avoiding excessive repetition of words from the question;
- using varied sentence types and grammatical structures;
- starting a new paragraph for each main idea;
- connecting ideas with transitions;
- reading the entire question carefully;
- not changing or ignoring information given in the prompt;
- writing at least one sentence for each required task, with most requiring more;
- considering the purpose and audience;
- using a greeting and sign-off that fit the situation;
- avoiding rudeness, sarcasm, and casual slang;
- checking the response for several minutes after writing.
This is a better foundation than memorizing a single fixed email.
Formal, semi-formal, or informal?
Your first planning decision should be the relationship with the recipient.
Formal
Use a professional tone for organizations, officials, customer service departments, managers you do not know well, or other distant relationships.
Possible greetings:
- Dear Customer Service Team,
- Dear Ms. Patel,
- Dear Building Manager,
Possible sign-offs:
- Sincerely,
- Kind regards,
- Best regards,
Formal does not mean cold or filled with complicated vocabulary. It means respectful, clear, and appropriate.
Semi-formal
Some prompts involve a landlord, neighbour, teacher, coworker, or manager you know. The tone can be polite and personal without becoming casual.
Possible greetings:
- Dear Mr. Chen,
- Hello Priya,
Possible sign-offs:
- Kind regards,
- Best,
- Thank you,
Informal
For a friend or family member, use a natural and warm tone.
Possible greetings:
- Hi Daniel,
- Hey Maya,
Possible sign-offs:
- Take care,
- Best,
- See you soon,
Do not assume Task 1 should always sound formal. The official Level 9 descriptors explicitly include both formal and informal writing contexts.
A flexible CELPIP Writing Task 1 template
Use this as a framework, not a script.
Greeting
Choose a greeting that fits the recipient.
Paragraph 1 — Purpose
State why you are writing immediately.
Examples:
- “I am writing to request a change to my reservation for next weekend.”
- “I wanted to let you know about a problem I experienced during yesterday's class.”
- “I'm writing because I would love your help planning a surprise for Kevin's birthday.”
Paragraph 2 — Required point 1
Address the first prompt instruction and add a specific detail.
Paragraph 3 — Required point 2
Move to the next instruction. Explain the impact, reason, example, or background needed to make the point complete.
Paragraph 4 — Required point 3 / requested action
Complete the final instruction and make any request or next step clear.
Concluding sentence
End appropriately for the purpose.
- “I would appreciate confirmation of the revised booking by Friday.”
- “I hope we can find a solution that works for both of us.”
- “Let me know what you think, and I hope you can make it.”
Sign-off
Match the relationship and tone.
The number of paragraphs can vary. What matters is that the email is easy to follow and every required part is complete.
A practical 27-minute plan
The official 2026 Writing Pro guide recommends around 4–5 minutes planning each response and around 3 minutes checking after writing.
Minutes 0–4: Analyze and plan
Write short point-form notes:
To: who is the recipient?
Tone: formal / semi-formal / informal
Purpose: why am I writing?
Point 1: main idea + detail
Point 2: main idea + detail
Point 3: main idea + detail
Close: what should happen next?
Do not write polished sentences during planning.
Minutes 4–24: Write
Follow the prompt instructions in a logical order. Watch the on-screen word count while writing instead of trying to fix a large length problem at the end.
Minutes 24–27: Check
Review the response with this priority:
- Did I address every required point?
- Is my purpose obvious near the beginning?
- Is the tone right for the recipient?
- Does every major idea have a useful specific detail?
- Are paragraphs and transitions clear?
- Are verb forms, articles, plurals, spelling, and punctuation correct?
- Is the greeting and sign-off appropriate?
- Is the response within the expected 150–200 words?
Original Task 1 practice prompt
You recently ordered a desk online for your home office. The company delivered the wrong model, and you need the correct desk before you begin a new remote job next week.
Write an email to the company's customer service department. In your email:
- describe what you ordered and what was delivered;
- explain why you need the correct item quickly;
- request a solution and explain how the company can contact you.
Write about 150–200 words.
Original model response
Dear Customer Service Team,
I am writing regarding order #45821, which was delivered to my apartment yesterday. I ordered the Oakline standing desk in walnut, but the package contains the smaller white study desk from the same product range.
I need the correct desk fairly urgently because I am starting a new remote position next Monday. My current table is too small for the two monitors and equipment supplied by my employer, so delaying the replacement would make it difficult to set up my workspace before my first day.
Could you please arrange an exchange and confirm the earliest available delivery date? I have kept the incorrect desk in its original packaging and can make it available for pickup any evening after 5 p.m. If a faster exchange is not possible, I would also be willing to collect the correct model from your Scarborough warehouse.
Please contact me by email or at the phone number attached to my order. I would appreciate your confirmation as soon as possible.
Kind regards,
Jordan Lee
Why this response works
Content and Coherence
The email follows the prompt points in order and develops each one with specific information: model, colour, order number, job start date, equipment, pickup availability, and an alternative collection option.
Vocabulary
Words such as “replacement,” “exchange,” “delivery date,” “original packaging,” and “available for pickup” fit the customer-service context naturally.
Readability
Each paragraph has one main job. The sentence structures vary, and the request is easy to locate.
Task Fulfillment
The recipient is addressed professionally, all three instructions are covered, the purpose is stated near the beginning, and the tone remains polite despite the delivery error.
How to make supporting details stronger
The official guide recommends concrete details. You can create believable details even when the prompt does not provide every fact, as long as you do not contradict the information given.
General:
“I need it soon because it is important.”
Specific:
“I begin a remote training program on Monday, and I need enough desk space for two monitors and a laptop.”
General:
“The noise has been bothering me.”
Specific:
“The music has continued past midnight on three weeknights, and my six-year-old has been waking up before school.”
Specificity makes your ideas easier to understand and demonstrates stronger control of vocabulary.
Useful Task 1 language by purpose
Request
- I am writing to request…
- Could you please…
- I would appreciate it if you could…
- Would it be possible to…
Complaint
- I am writing regarding a problem with…
- Unfortunately, I experienced…
- This has caused…
- I would appreciate a replacement/refund/response…
Apology or explanation
- I am writing to apologize for…
- Unfortunately, I will not be able to…
- The reason is…
- I hope we can arrange…
Informal invitation or update
- I wanted to let you know…
- I was hoping you could…
- It would be great if…
- Let me know whether…
Use phrases that fit the situation; do not force formal expressions into an email to a close friend.
Common Task 1 mistakes
1. Missing one prompt instruction
Task Fulfillment includes completeness. Use the required points as a checklist.
2. Hiding the purpose
The official strategy says to start with a purpose statement. Do not make the reader wait until the second or third paragraph to understand why you are writing.
3. Using the same formal template for every recipient
Tone must match audience and purpose.
4. Repeating the prompt without adding detail
Paraphrase and develop the situation instead of copying phrases from the question.
5. Writing vague support
Official guidance recommends at least one specific detail for each main idea.
6. Becoming rude in a complaint
A complaint can be firm without sarcasm, insults, or aggressive language. Official Task 1 guidance specifically warns against rudeness and sarcasm.
7. Using a memorized opening that wastes words
“I hope this email finds you in the best of health and high spirits” may be grammatically correct, but it does not advance the task. Use the limited word count for relevant content.
8. Skipping the final proofread
The official guide recommends preserving several minutes to check the response.
What Level 9 Writing actually requires
There is no official “Level 9 email template” that guarantees a score. Current Level 9 descriptors focus on abilities such as:
- writing short formal and informal texts of some complexity;
- supporting key ideas with relevant facts, descriptions, and details;
- choosing words and phrases that provide accurate information;
- writing well-organized paragraphs;
- controlling a range of complex and diverse grammatical structures;
- presenting information with tone and style suited to the situation;
- conveying intended meaning clearly.
Use a template to protect organization and completeness, then demonstrate these actual skills inside it.
A Level 9-focused self-check
Content/Coherence
- Is the purpose clear?
- Did I address every required point?
- Does each main idea include specific support?
- Are the ideas organized logically?
Vocabulary
- Are words precise and natural for this situation?
- Did I avoid unnecessary repetition from the prompt?
- Does my vocabulary fit the recipient?
Readability
- Are paragraphs easy to follow?
- Are connectors meaningful rather than repetitive?
- Do I control a variety of sentence structures?
- Have I corrected spelling and punctuation mistakes?
Task Fulfillment
- Is the tone appropriate?
- Did I use a suitable greeting and sign-off?
- Did I answer the complete task?
- Is the response within the expected length?
Practice CELPIP Writing Task 1
Use CELPIP Writing Practice to write timed email responses and review feedback after submission. For both Writing tasks, see the 2026 CELPIP Writing Guide.
When individual Writing tasks feel comfortable, take a full CELPIP mock test so you practice Task 1 inside the complete four-skill exam flow.
Frequently asked questions
How much time do I have for CELPIP Writing Task 1?
The current official 2026 Writing Pro guide gives you 27 minutes.
How many words should I write?
The current CELPIP-General materials instruct you to write 150–200 words.
Should Task 1 always be formal?
No. The appropriate tone depends on the purpose and audience. Official guidance specifically tells candidates to consider both and to choose a greeting and sign-off that fit the situation.
How long should I spend planning?
The official 2026 Writing Pro guide recommends around 4–5 minutes planning each Writing response.
How long should I proofread?
The guide recommends around 3 minutes checking after writing; the Task 1 strategy page also advises checking for roughly 3–4 minutes.
Do I need one paragraph for every bullet point?
Not necessarily. Official guidance says to start a new paragraph for each main idea and to write at least one sentence for each required task, with most needing more. Organize by meaning rather than forcing a fixed paragraph count.
Can I invent details?
You can add realistic supporting details when useful, but do not change or ignore information explicitly given in the prompt. The official strategy recommends concrete details while also warning candidates not to contradict the question.