Free Resource
CELPIP Writing Samples
Last updated: June 2026
Real Task 1 email and Task 2 survey responses at CLB 7 and CLB 9+, with an annotated breakdown of every scoring criterion. Toggle between levels to see exactly what separates them.
Content
~40%
Task completion, all bullet points, specific detail
Coherence
~20%
Structure, transitions, paragraph organization
Vocabulary
~20%
Word range, register, precision
Conventions
~20%
Grammar, spelling, punctuation
Writing Task 1 — Email
27 minutes · 150–200 words
Prompt
You recently purchased a laptop from an electronics store. When you received it, the screen was cracked. Write an email to the store manager: • Explain the problem with the laptop • Describe how this has affected you • Request a specific resolution
Email Response
185 wordsDear Manager, I am writing to bring to your attention a significant issue with a laptop I purchased from your store on June 8, 2026 (Order #4521-B). Upon opening the sealed packaging at home, I discovered that the screen had a substantial crack running diagonally across the display — damage that was clearly present before delivery, as the outer box showed no signs of impact. This defect has had a direct and disruptive impact on my work. I had three video conferences scheduled for this week, none of which I was able to attend professionally as a result. I have had to use a borrowed device as a temporary solution, which has limited my access to essential files. I would respectfully request a full replacement unit of the same model be shipped within five business days. If a replacement is not available, I would ask for a complete refund processed to my original payment method. I am prepared to return the damaged unit at your earliest convenience. I look forward to your prompt response and trust this matter will be resolved without further delay. Sincerely, [Name]
Why this scores CLB 9+
Every criterion is addressed with specific detail, appropriate register, and sentence variety. This is the type of response that earns 9–10 across the board.
Scoring Breakdown
All three bullets addressed with precise, specific detail: exact date, order number, description of the damage, impact with specific examples (three missed video conferences, borrowed device), and a tiered resolution request (replacement first, refund as alternative) with a timeframe. Nothing is missing.
Each paragraph has a clear purpose matching one bullet. Transitions are sophisticated: 'Upon opening', 'as a result', 'as a temporary solution', 'I would respectfully request'. The closing sentence rounds back to the main purpose without repeating content.
Wide range: 'bring to your attention', 'substantial', 'diagonally', 'disruptive', 'prepared to return at your earliest convenience'. Formal complaint register is consistent. No word is repeated unnecessarily.
Zero errors. Sentence variety is high — complex clauses ('damage that was clearly present before delivery, as the outer box showed no signs of impact'), conditionals ('If a replacement is not available'), modals ('I would respectfully request'). Punctuation is precise.
Writing Task 2 — Survey Response
26 minutes · 150–200 words
Prompt
Your city is deciding between two infrastructure projects: building a new community centre OR expanding the public transit system. Which do you think would benefit residents more? Give specific reasons and examples to support your choice.
Survey Response
205 wordsIn my view, expanding the public transit system would deliver considerably greater long-term benefit to residents than constructing a new community centre. To begin with, reliable public transit creates a multiplier effect that reaches residents across every income level and age group simultaneously. When cities invest in transit — as Edmonton did with its LRT expansion in the past decade — commute times drop, car dependency decreases, and workforce participation rises among residents who cannot afford a vehicle. A new community centre, however valuable for programming and recreation, draws a narrower cross-section of the population at any given time. Furthermore, transit infrastructure directly enables access to employment, healthcare, and education — the three highest-priority needs for newcomers and lower-income residents in particular. Public transit is not a convenience; for many residents, it is the infrastructure that makes participation in city life possible at all. While proponents of a community centre might argue that shared social spaces build cohesion and reduce isolation — genuine benefits — the same outcomes are also achieved when people can actually travel to where social life happens: events, workplaces, and community programming that already exists across the city. For these reasons, I firmly believe transit expansion would produce the broader and more enduring benefit for the community.
Why this scores CLB 9+
Every criterion is addressed with specific detail, appropriate register, and sentence variety. This is the type of response that earns 9–10 across the board.
Scoring Breakdown
Position stated in sentence one. Two reasons, each grounded in a specific example (Edmonton LRT) or a real-world claim ('employment, healthcare, education'). Counter-acknowledgement is a full paragraph that engages seriously with the other side before refuting it. Conclusion restates position without verbatim repetition.
Five distinct paragraphs, each with one clear function. Sophisticated transitions: 'To begin with', 'Furthermore', 'While proponents might argue', 'For these reasons'. The essay builds — each paragraph adds a new layer rather than restating the same point.
'Multiplier effect', 'cross-section', 'proponents', 'cohesion', 'enduring'. Formal academic register maintained throughout. No word is repeated unless intentional.
Zero errors. High sentence variety: complex clauses, em dashes for parenthetical emphasis, semicolons used correctly, conditional framing. Approaching or at the top of the band.
What separates CLB 7 from CLB 9 in Writing
General claims ('this is important', 'people need this')
Specific detail: dates, names, order numbers, city names, scenarios
All bullets present but surface-level — minimum viable answers
Every bullet addressed with a layered response — what, why, and so what
Consistent but often too casual for the recipient
Register matched to recipient and situation with precision
'Important', 'nice', 'good', 'problem' — functional but repeated
'Disruptive', 'respectively', 'proponents', 'enduring' — range with accuracy
Often under 130 words — leaves marks on the table
170–195 words — full without padding
Frequently asked questions
How is CELPIP Writing scored?
CELPIP Writing is scored on four criteria: Content/Task Fulfillment (approximately 40% of the score), Coherence and Cohesion (~20%), Vocabulary (~20%), and Language Conventions including grammar and spelling (~20%). Content carries the most weight — an email that completes every required bullet point with average vocabulary will outscore a beautifully written email that misses a task element.
How long should a CELPIP Writing Task 1 email be?
CELPIP Writing Task 1 emails should be between 150 and 200 words. Going significantly under 150 words signals incomplete content to graders. Going over 200 words wastes time you need for Task 2 and is rarely rewarded — graders do not give extra marks for length beyond the requirement.
What is the difference between CLB 7 and CLB 9 Writing?
At CLB 7, responses complete the basic task but often miss a bullet point, use a single register throughout (informally or formally), and have limited vocabulary range. At CLB 9, the writer clearly states their position or purpose in the first sentence, addresses every bullet with specific details, uses a consistently formal or appropriately informal register, and employs a wider vocabulary range with fewer errors.
Can I use personal examples in Task 2?
Yes — and you should. CELPIP Task 2 scoring for Content rewards specific examples. Generic statements like 'this is important for society' earn lower marks than specific scenarios: 'In cities like Ottawa where transit expanded in 2019, commute times dropped and car usage fell.' Your examples do not need to be literally true — they just need to be plausible and specific.
What register should I use for Task 1 emails?
CELPIP Task 1 always asks you to write to a specific recipient. If the recipient is a friend or family member, use a semi-formal or friendly register. If the recipient is a manager, landlord, or business, use a formal register. Mismatching the register — for example, writing 'Hey!' to a store manager — directly costs marks under Content and Language Conventions.