CELPIP Writing Task 1: Three Full Sample Answers
Task 1 gives you 27 minutes to write an email of 150 to 200 words. Below are three complete examples, each with the prompt it answers and a breakdown of why it scores well.
These are real prompts from our practice library, published in full rather than summarised. Reading a finished email is the fastest way to see what the band you are aiming for actually looks like.
What the marker is actually looking at
CELPIP Writing is assessed on four separate dimensions. They are scored independently, which is why a well-written email that misses one bullet point still loses marks.
Content and Coherence
Did you cover every bullet, in an order that makes sense?
The prompt gives you three bullet points. Each one needs real content, not a passing mention. Ideas should connect so the reader never has to work out why a sentence is there.
Vocabulary
Are the words precise, varied and correct for the situation?
Range matters less than accuracy. One wrong collocation costs more than three plain-but-correct sentences. Match the register to the reader.
Readability
Can the reader move through it without stumbling?
Paragraphing, sentence variety, punctuation and grammar. A wall of text scores badly even when the English is correct.
Task Fulfilment
Does the email do the job the situation asked for?
Right purpose, right tone, right level of detail for the person receiving it. A polite complaint that never actually asks for anything has not fulfilled the task.
Three sample answers
Task 1 emails almost always ask you to complain, request, apologise or thank. These three cover the most common shapes. Each word count covers the subject line plus the body exactly as shown, and all three sit inside the 150 to 200 range.
Sample 1: Apartment repairs not completed
You recently moved into a rented apartment and noticed that several promised repairs, such as a leaking kitchen faucet and a broken balcony door, have not been completed. You informed the landlord when you moved in two weeks ago, but no action has been taken.
In your email:
- Describe the outstanding repairs and how they affect your daily life
- Mention your previous communication attempts
- Request a specific timeline for when the repairs will be done
Subject: Outstanding Repairs in Apartment 2B
Dear Mr. Chen,
I hope this message finds you well. I’m writing to follow up on the repairs I reported shortly after moving into apartment 2B on July 1st.
As mentioned previously, the kitchen faucet is leaking steadily, which has caused water to pool on the counter and increased my water bill. In addition, the balcony door does not close properly, making the apartment drafty and raising concerns about security. Both issues were noted in the rental agreement and were supposed to be resolved before my move-in date.
I contacted you by email and phone on July 2nd and 5th but have not received a response or update. These problems are affecting my daily comfort and safety, and I kindly request that they be addressed by the end of this week.
Please let me know as soon as possible when a maintenance technician can be scheduled. I appreciate your attention to this matter and look forward to a timely resolution.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Apartment 2B, 120 Glenwood Drive
Why this one scores well
- Every bullet gets its own paragraph, so nothing is buried and the marker can find each one.
- The complaint is specific: dates, apartment number, and the actual consequence (water pooling, drafts, security). Detail is what separates a mid band from a high one.
- It asks for something concrete, "by the end of this week", instead of trailing off politely. That is task fulfilment.
- The tone stays firm without becoming rude, which is the register a landlord email needs.
Sample 2: Gym membership cancellation charge
You submitted an online cancellation request for your fitness club membership two weeks ago and received an automated confirmation. However, your credit card was charged the full monthly fee again today, and your online account still shows "Active". You are moving to a new city next week and need the cancellation and refund processed promptly.
In your email:
- Describe what you requested and what went wrong
- Explain why the timing matters
- State exactly what you want the company to do
Subject: Urgent: Cancellation Not Processed and Incorrect Charge (Ref #CNL-44712)
Dear Customer Service Team,
I’m writing regarding my membership cancellation submitted through your online portal on September 15. I received the automated confirmation (Ref #CNL-44712), which stated the request would be completed within five business days. Despite this, my credit card was charged the full monthly fee this morning, and my account status still shows “Active” when I log in.
This matter is time-sensitive. I am relocating to Calgary next week and will not be able to use your facilities. I also need accurate statements for my October budget and records.
Please take the following actions: finalize my cancellation effective September 15, in line with your policy; refund today’s monthly charge to my original payment method and remove any related late or processing fees; and email written confirmation showing the account status as “Cancelled”, the refund amount, and the reference number for my records.
I can forward the confirmation email and screenshots of my account page upon request. Thank you for addressing this promptly.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Member ID: MC-88412
Why this one scores well
- The subject line carries the reference number, so the email is actionable before it is even opened.
- The requests are itemised. Three specific actions beat one vague "please sort this out".
- Concrete evidence is offered rather than claimed, which raises the vocabulary and content bands together.
- Business register throughout: no slang, no over-apologising, no emotional language.
Sample 3: Webinar technical feedback
You recently attended a webinar organized by a professional association you belong to. While the topic was interesting, the webinar was disrupted several times due to technical issues and poor moderation. You want to write to the association to provide feedback and suggest improvements for future webinars.
In your email:
- Mention what you appreciated about the webinar
- Describe the problems you encountered
- Suggest how future webinars could be improved
Subject: Feedback on August 5 Webinar: “Digital Trends in 2025”
Dear Ms. Leclair,
I’m writing to thank you for organizing the recent webinar, “Digital Trends in 2025”, which I attended on August 5. The speaker was highly knowledgeable, and the content was insightful and relevant to current challenges in the marketing industry.
That said, I’d like to share a few concerns. The session was interrupted multiple times due to audio glitches and screen-sharing issues. It appeared that the presenter was not fully briefed on the platform’s tools, which caused unnecessary delays. Additionally, the Q&A session lacked structure: participants spoke over each other, and several questions went unanswered.
To enhance the experience for future webinars, I recommend conducting a tech rehearsal with presenters in advance and assigning a dedicated moderator to manage audience interaction and ensure smooth transitions.
Thank you again for offering valuable learning opportunities. I hope my feedback contributes to even more successful events in the future.
Warm regards,
[Your Name]
Why this one scores well
- Opens with genuine praise before the criticism, which is what "provide feedback" actually asks for. Skipping the positive bullet is the most common way to lose marks here.
- "That said" signals the turn clearly, so the reader is never surprised by the change in tone.
- The suggestions are practical and specific, not "please do better next time".
- It closes by looking forward, which keeps a critical email constructive.
The structure all three share
Every sample above follows the same shape. Learn the shape rather than memorising an email, because a memorised template cannot adapt to the three bullets you are actually given.
- Specific subject line. Name the issue, add a reference number if one exists.
- Greeting matched to the reader. Named person where you have one.
- Purpose in the first two lines. Never make the reader hunt for why you are writing.
- One paragraph per bullet point. This is what protects your Content and Task Fulfilment scores.
- A concrete request. What you want, and by when.
- Short close and sign-off. No new information here.
Six ways people lose marks
Covering only two of the three bullets
Before you write, list the three bullets. Give each one its own paragraph, then check them off. This is the single most common reason a strong writer scores lower than expected.
Writing one long block of text
Use four or five short paragraphs. Readability is a scored dimension on its own, and a wall of text loses marks even when the grammar is perfect.
Being polite but never asking for anything
End with a clear request and, where it fits, a deadline. An email that describes a problem without asking for a resolution has not fulfilled the task.
Going far over or under the word range
Aim for 160 to 190 words. Well under the range usually means a bullet was skipped; well over usually means repetition, which costs you on vocabulary and readability.
Using the wrong register
Match the reader. A landlord or company gets formal English. A colleague or friend can take contractions and warmer phrasing. Mixing the two reads as a mistake.
Spending too long planning
Two or three minutes to plan, twenty to write, four to check. Most lost marks in the final version are small grammar and spelling slips that a short proofread would catch.
Write one and get it marked
Fifty Task 1 prompts, each with a sample answer, and AI feedback on all four dimensions with an estimated level for what you wrote. Free, no credit card.
Frequently asked questions
You get 27 minutes to write an email of roughly 150 to 200 words. Task 2, responding to a survey question, gives you 26 minutes for the same word range.
Aim for 160 to 190 words. That sits comfortably inside the 150 to 200 range without forcing you to pad. Going well under usually means you skipped a bullet point; going well over usually means repetition, which costs marks on vocabulary and readability.
Include one. It takes seconds, it makes the email look like a real email, and a specific subject line ("Outstanding Repairs in Apartment 2B") immediately signals purpose. A vague one such as "Question" wastes the opportunity.
On four dimensions: Content and Coherence, Vocabulary, Readability, and Task Fulfilment. Each is assessed separately, so a beautifully written email that misses a bullet point still loses marks on Content and Task Fulfilment.
Yes, when the register fits. A formal complaint to a company reads better without them. An email to a colleague or friend reads more naturally with them. What matters is consistency: do not mix formal and casual in the same email.
Yes, and you should. Dates, reference numbers, names and specific consequences are what turn a generic email into a convincing one. The samples on this page all invent detail. Just keep it plausible and consistent with the situation you were given.
A structure helps; a memorised email does not. Markers see the same rehearsed phrases constantly, and a template cannot adapt to the three bullets you are actually given. Learn the shape (subject, greeting, purpose, detail, request, close) and fill it with the specific prompt.
Our Writing practice has 50 Task 1 prompts, each with a sample answer, and returns AI feedback on all four dimensions plus an estimated level for what you wrote. It is free, with a daily quota on AI evaluations.
Last reviewed: August 2026. EnvolPrep is an independent practice platform and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Paragon Testing Enterprises. Sample answers are written by us for practice and are not real test responses.