Writing Pillar · Complete Guide
CELPIP Writing Module:
Complete Guide 2026
The CELPIP Writing component has two tasks: an email and a survey response. Both are typed, both are timed, and both are graded on four criteria. This guide covers every part of both tasks — format, strategy, templates, vocabulary, grammar, and a preparation plan. Written by Mark Wilson, CELPIP Writing 12.
Overview
The CELPIP Writing component runs 53 to 60 minutes and contains two independent tasks. You complete Task 1 and Task 2 on a computer, typing your responses in a text box. There is no handwriting. A word count is displayed in real time.
| Task | Type | Time | Recommended length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Writing an Email | 27 minutes | 150–200 words |
| 2 | Responding to Survey Questions | 26 minutes | 150–200 words |
Both tasks are graded on the same four criteria by trained human raters. The grading is holistic — raters read your full response before assigning a score. Artificial intelligence is used for consistency checking between raters but humans make the final determination.
Task 1 — Writing an Email: format
Task 1 presents a scenario and asks you to write an email in response. The scenario describes a situation — a problem, a request, a notification, an apology — and provides exactly three bullet points that your email must address. Your email must cover all three bullet points to receive full marks on Task Response, which is the highest-weighted criterion.
Prompt structure
You will see a prompt like this:
“A pipe burst in your apartment building last night and damaged some of your belongings. Write an email to your landlord. In your email:”
- • Describe what happened and what was damaged
- • Explain how this has affected you
- • Request compensation or repairs
Email components
A complete Task 1 email must include all of the following:
- Subject line — A clear, specific subject (e.g., “Water Damage in Unit 4B — Urgent”). Missing the subject line is a format error.
- Salutation — “Dear Mr./Ms. [Name],” for professional contexts or “Dear [First Name],” for informal. If no name is given, use “Dear Sir/Madam,” or “To Whom It May Concern.”
- Opening sentence — States the purpose clearly. One sentence.
- Body paragraphs — Address all three bullet points. Each bullet point may be one sentence or a short paragraph.
- Closing sentence — A polite call to action (“I look forward to your prompt response”) or expression of appreciation.
- Sign-off + name — “Regards,” “Sincerely,” or “Best regards,” followed by your name.
Register matters
Match your register to the recipient. Writing to a landlord, manager, or HR department requires formal-professional language. Writing to a neighbour or friend-of-a-friend requires polite but conversational language. The scenario tells you the relationship — use it to calibrate every word choice.
Task 1 — Strategy and template
The most reliable approach to Task 1 is the three-paragraph structure. It addresses every grading criterion efficiently and leaves 3–4 minutes for revision at the end.
The 3-paragraph template
Paragraph 1 — Opening
Acknowledge the situation + state your purpose. One to two sentences. (Example: 'I am writing to bring to your attention an issue with my apartment that requires urgent action.')
Paragraph 2 — Body
Address all three bullet points. Each bullet gets one to three sentences. Do not skip any bullet — this is the single most important rule. If a bullet asks for your opinion, give a specific one. If it asks for a request, make it specific.
Paragraph 3 — Closing
Polite call to action or expression of gratitude. One to two sentences. (Example: 'I would appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and look forward to your response at your earliest convenience.')
27-minute time plan
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Task 2 — Responding to Survey Questions: format
Task 2 presents a survey prompt about a real-world topic — workplace policies, community issues, technology, lifestyle choices. You are asked to respond to one or two survey questions by stating and defending a position. There are three main survey prompt types:
Agree / Disagree
"Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: Employees should be required to work from the office at least three days per week?"
Structure: State your position (agree or disagree) → give 2 specific reasons → optional: acknowledge the opposing view briefly → restate your conclusion.
Two-option choice
"Some people prefer living in a large city. Others prefer living in a small town. Which do you prefer and why?"
Structure: State your choice clearly → give 2 reasons with specific details → briefly acknowledge what the other option offers → restate your preference.
Multi-part survey
"The survey asks: (1) What do you think is the biggest challenge facing your community? (2) What would you suggest to address this challenge?"
Structure: Answer question 1 directly in 2–3 sentences → transition → answer question 2 with a specific suggestion. Do not skip either question.
Task 2 does not require a subject line, salutation, or sign-off. It is a direct written response, formatted as continuous prose. Use clear paragraph breaks between your position statement, your supporting reasons, and your conclusion.
Task 2 — Strategy and template
Task 2 rewards directness and specificity. The most common low-scoring responses are: (1) responses that never state a clear position, (2) responses that state a position without explaining why, and (3) responses that give generic reasons without any personal or specific detail.
Universal Task 2 template
Sentence 1: State your position directly. Use “I believe,” “In my opinion,” or “I strongly agree/disagree that.” Do not hedge.
Sentences 2–4: First reason + specific supporting detail. Personal experience is valid and often more effective than abstract reasoning. (Example: “Working from home has allowed me to eliminate a 90-minute daily commute, which I now spend with my family.”)
Sentences 5–7: Second reason + specific detail. A different angle from reason one — economic, social, practical, or personal.
Sentence 8 (optional): Brief acknowledgement of the opposing view. This shows balance and raises your score on Coherence without weakening your argument. Keep it to one sentence: “While some argue that X, I believe Y outweighs this concern.”
Final sentence: Restate your position in different words. Do not simply repeat your opening sentence.
26-minute time plan
Scoring rubric — 4 criteria
Both Task 1 and Task 2 are graded on the same four criteria. Understanding each criterion is essential because they are weighted differently in practice — raters notice task response failures first and vocabulary last.
1. Task Response
Highest impactDid you do what was asked? For Task 1: did you address all three bullet points? For Task 2: did you state a clear position and support it? A response that completes the task with average vocabulary scores higher than a beautifully written response that misses a bullet or fails to take a position.
→ Before submitting, count: have you explicitly addressed every bullet point in Task 1? Have you stated a clear position in Task 2?
2. Coherence and Cohesion
High impactDoes your writing flow logically? Are ideas connected with appropriate transitions? Do paragraphs have a clear structure? Raters check whether a reader could follow your argument without confusion. Disconnected sentences with no transitions, or paragraphs with no clear topic, signal low coherence.
→ Use one connector per paragraph: 'Furthermore,' 'As a result,' 'However,' 'In addition.' Don't overdo it — one per paragraph is enough.
3. Lexical Resource (Vocabulary)
Moderate impactDo you use a range of vocabulary? Can you express ideas with precision? This criterion rewards using specific, accurate words over vague, basic ones. It does not reward using obscure words incorrectly — misuse of advanced vocabulary is penalised.
→ Replace high-frequency basic words: 'use' → 'utilize', 'tell' → 'inform', 'need' → 'require', 'get' → 'obtain', 'say' → 'indicate'. Apply consistently.
4. Grammatical Range and Accuracy
Moderate impactDo you use a variety of sentence structures? Are your sentences grammatically accurate? This criterion rewards mixing simple, compound, and complex sentences. It penalises repeated use of the same simple sentence structure and errors in subject-verb agreement, verb tense, and article use.
→ Use at least one complex sentence per paragraph: a sentence with a subordinate clause ('Although X, Y') or a conditional ('If X were to happen, Y would result').
Vocabulary boosters — direct substitutions
These are direct word substitutions that improve your Lexical Resource score. Each replacement uses the same meaning but at a higher register — appropriate for both Task 1 (email) and Task 2 (survey response). Do not use any substitution you are not comfortable with — one misused advanced word costs more points than using the basic word correctly.
| Basic word | Better option | Context |
|---|---|---|
| use | utilize / employ | Any context |
| need | require / necessitate | Formal contexts |
| get | obtain / receive / acquire | Formal contexts |
| tell | inform / notify / advise | Task 1 emails |
| ask | request / inquire / seek | Task 1 emails |
| say / write | indicate / state / mention | Both tasks |
| fix | resolve / rectify / address | Complaints, problems |
| help | assist / support / facilitate | Both tasks |
| show | demonstrate / illustrate / indicate | Task 2 |
| because | as a result of / due to / given that | Task 2 |
| but | however / nevertheless / nonetheless | Both tasks |
| also | furthermore / in addition / moreover | Both tasks |
| think | believe / consider / maintain | Task 2 opinions |
| want | wish / would like / seek | Task 1 requests |
| very important | critical / essential / paramount | Both tasks |
Grammar rules that affect your score
No contractions in formal contexts
Write 'I would' not 'I'd', 'cannot' not 'can't', 'I am' not 'I'm'. Task 1 emails in professional contexts should have no contractions. Task 2 can occasionally use contractions in a casual opinion context, but formal is always safer.
Consistent verb tense
Choose a dominant tense and maintain it. Task 1 often uses a mix of past (describing what happened) and present/future (describing what you need). Task 2 uses present tense for stating opinions and present/conditional for supporting arguments. A tense shift within a paragraph without a reason is an error.
Subject-verb agreement in complex sentences
The most common agreement error in CELPIP Writing is a sentence like: 'The management, along with all staff members, are required to…' — the subject is 'the management' (singular), so the verb should be 'is required'. Parenthetical phrases between the subject and verb do not change the subject.
Article use (a / an / the)
Missing or incorrect articles are among the most common non-native speaker errors that raters notice. Use 'the' for specific or previously mentioned items, 'a/an' for first mentions of countable nouns, and no article for uncountable nouns and most proper nouns. When in doubt, write the sentence twice — with and without the article — and read both aloud.
Sentence variety: mix short and complex
A response made entirely of short simple sentences ('I received the order. The item was wrong. I am unhappy.') scores low on Grammatical Range even if every sentence is technically correct. Include at least two complex sentences per task — sentences with subordinate clauses, conditionals, or relative clauses.
4-week preparation plan for CELPIP Writing
Format mastery
Write 4 Task 1 emails timed (27 min each). Focus only on completing all 3 bullets and using proper format (subject, salutation, sign-off). Do not worry about vocabulary yet. Review each email against the format checklist above.
Vocabulary
Learn and use the substitution table above. Write 3 Task 1 and 2 Task 2 responses. After writing each one, go back and replace at least 5 basic words with the better options from the table. Read the improved version aloud to confirm it sounds natural.
Full timed runs
Write 3 complete Writing components: Task 1 (27 min) + Task 2 (26 min) back-to-back. Time yourself strictly. Review the 4-criterion rubric after each run and self-assess where you lost marks.
Error elimination
Collect all grammar and vocabulary errors from your practice runs. Create a personal error list. Write one more full timed run and confirm the same errors do not appear. Final goal: 0 missing bullets in Task 1, clear position in first sentence of Task 2.
FAQ
Is there a minimum or maximum word count?
CELPIP does not publish official minimum/maximum word counts, but responses under 100 words are considered incomplete and will score poorly on Task Response. Responses above 250 words are rarely beneficial — the scoring criteria can be satisfied in 150–200 words, and longer responses introduce more opportunities for errors without additional scoring benefit.
Can I write in Canadian spelling?
Yes — and you should. CELPIP uses Canadian English, which uses British spelling for many words: 'colour', 'behaviour', 'centre', 'travelling', 'defence'. Consistent Canadian/British spelling throughout your response is correct. American spelling is not technically penalized but is inconsistent with the test's standard.
Do I lose marks for using the same word twice?
Repetition within a short response (150–200 words) does affect your Lexical Resource score because it signals a limited vocabulary range. Try not to use the same noun or verb more than twice in a response. Use synonyms, pronouns, or restructure the sentence instead.
Can I include personal opinions in Task 1?
Only when the bullet point specifically asks for one. If a bullet says 'explain how this has affected you', that invites personal perspective. If a bullet says 'request a specific action', that does not. Adding unsolicited opinions in a professional email can lower your register score.
Should I write to the same person for both tasks?
No. Task 1 and Task 2 are completely independent tasks with different prompts, recipients, and formats. Task 1 is always an email to a named or implied recipient. Task 2 is a written response to a survey question — there is no recipient and no email format required.
CELPIP Writing Sample Answers Bundle
32 complete, annotated writing samples at CELPIP 10–12 level. Task 1 emails and Task 2 survey responses — the fastest way to see what a top-scoring answer looks like and internalize the pattern.
- ✓20 Task 1 email samples — all common scenario types (complaint, request, apology, inquiry, follow-up)
- ✓12 Task 2 survey responses — all 3 prompt types (agree/disagree, two-option, multi-part)
- ✓Scoring notes on every answer — why each response earns 10–12
- ✓Vocabulary substitution sheet — 120 formal phrase replacements
- ✓Self-scoring checklist — grade your own writing before test day
- ✓Printable PDF — study offline, print and annotate
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