CELPIP Writing templates for emails and surveys

Choose the content before the opening phrase

Writing Task 1 gives you 27 minutes; Task 2 gives you 26 minutes. Each response should contain 150–200 words. A template helps allocate that space, but the prompt determines what belongs in it. Before drafting, write a short label for every requested point and decide who needs to read the answer.

A memorized opening such as “In the modern world, this topic has become very important” spends words without identifying an email problem or survey choice. Begin closer to the task: name the booking, explain the missed delivery or select the proposed improvement. Formality does not require a long introduction.

The paragraph budgets below are our planning suggestions. They are not separate test requirements. Task Fulfillment includes relevance, completeness, tone and word count; Readability includes paragraphing and connections. Use those dimensions to check whether the structure serves the message. All examples here are original, unofficial teaching material.

Task 1: greeting, purpose, instructions and request

For a prompt with three instructions, assign one paragraph to each. Keep the purpose line short, especially when the first instruction already asks you to explain the situation. This suggested budget totals 175 words, including space for the greeting and sign-off.

1. Greeting and sign-off together, about 10 words: address the recipient and sign your name.
2. Purpose paragraph, about 25 words: identify your connection to the event and the reason for writing.
3. First instruction, about 35 words: answer it directly and add a locating detail.
4. Second instruction, about 40 words: develop its distinct point with an effect or example.
5. Third instruction, about 40 words: explain the requested solution, information or suggestion.
6. Closing request, about 25 words: specify the reply or action you need.

If the closing request duplicates the third instruction, shorten it and use the space to explain the solution. Adapt the number of body paragraphs to the actual instructions. A paragraph earns its place by answering a different need; it does not need an ornamental transition.

Task 1: formal, semi-formal and informal variants

Choose wording from the same relationship throughout. These variants are practice choices for adapting tone, not three official categories of email questions. A service complaint can be firm and courteous. A message to a familiar colleague can be direct without becoming abrupt.

Match the ending to the relationship as well as the opening. “See you soon” fits someone you expect to meet. Avoid pairing it with an impersonal complaint to an unknown department. Read the email aloud to notice sudden changes in distance or warmth.

Email phrases for each instruction paragraph

Choose phrases by function, then supply the detail the recipient needs. For the first instruction, try “The booking was for…” to establish context, “When I arrived…” to describe an event, or “I had arranged…” to explain an earlier plan. A specific day or location can help distinguish the issue.

For a second instruction about impact, use “As a result, I could no longer…”, “This left us with…” or “The main difficulty for me was…”. Finish with an actual consequence. Saying you felt disappointed may fit, but explain what became difficult or impossible.

For a solution paragraph, try “One workable arrangement would be…”, “I would be able to attend if…” or “If that time is unavailable, could we…”. Keep a fallback consistent with the original problem. Finally, “Please confirm the revised arrangement” or “Could you reply before the session?” gives the reader a clear action when that request fits the scenario.

Task 1 short example skeleton: a missing session

Original mini-prompt: A repair workshop you booked did not take place. Email the organizer: describe what happened, explain the effect and suggest a solution. This short skeleton is deliberately below the required length; expand the three instruction paragraphs before using it as a full practice response.

Hello Workshop Team,

I’m writing about the bicycle repair session I booked for Saturday.

I arrived at the advertised room, but it was locked and no instructor was there.

I had brought my bicycle, so returning home without help was frustrating.

Could you move my booking to another session? A weekday evening would suit me.

Please confirm the new date and location before I arrange transport again. I would appreciate knowing whom to contact if the room changes.

Kind regards,
Alex

“The advertised room” identifies the problem, while “before I arrange transport again” explains the requested confirmation. Expand the impact with the inconvenience caused, then clarify the preferred solution. Keep the missing session central. See Task 1 samples with answers for complete responses.

Task 2: choice, two reasons, comparison and closing

Use four paragraphs to develop one preference. The following budget totals 175 words. It leaves room for explaining who benefits and why the alternative is less suitable for the need you identify. No email greeting or sign-off is needed.

1. Choice, about 25 words: name the option and the priority that guides your decision.
2. Reason one, about 55 words: explain a benefit, give a concrete example and connect it to the proposal.
3. Reason two and comparison, about 70 words: develop a different benefit, acknowledge the other option’s strength and explain the trade-off.
4. Closing, about 25 words: confirm your preference and summarize the deciding consideration.

Two reasons should contribute different information. “It is convenient” and “it makes life easier” may describe the same benefit. Instead, you could discuss scheduling in one paragraph and suitability for beginners in another, if both fit the prompt. Keep the comparison attached to a shared criterion so the reader can assess the choice.

Survey phrase bank and short example skeleton

For the choice, use “I would select…” or “The option that best addresses this need is…”. For reason one, try “This would enable…” followed by a concrete action. For reason two, “A further benefit concerns…” can introduce a distinct issue. Compare with “Although the alternative offers…” or “Compared with…, this option…”. Close with “For these reasons, I would fund…” and name your selection.

Original mini-prompt: A community centre can add evening beginner swim lessons or a weekend advanced swim club. Choose one. This skeleton needs further explanation to reach 150–200 words.

I would choose evening beginner lessons because they would give new swimmers a place to start.

Someone who works during the day could attend after their shift. A beginner group would also let them practise alongside people learning similar skills.

The advanced club would offer experienced swimmers a challenge, but it would not meet that beginner’s needs. I would prioritize creating an entry point before expanding advanced activities.

For these reasons, I would use the available funding for the evening lessons.

“After their shift” supplies a scheduling example; “an entry point” explains the comparison. Expand those connections without inventing participation statistics. Read Task 2 samples with answers for full-length practice.

Revise content, length and language separately

First, match each instruction to a sentence in your draft. In an email, check that the recipient can identify both the issue and the desired response. In a survey, check that your final preference agrees with your opening and that your reasons support that specific choice.

Next, use the editor’s word counter. Below 150 words, add a missing explanation or consequence. Above 200, remove repeated claims and background that does not change the decision. Keep enough room for the required points before polishing individual expressions.

Finally, check verb forms, sentence boundaries and references such as “this” or “they”. Spell-check is available, but read for meaning as well. Replace a phrase you cannot use confidently with a familiar one. The vocabulary list offers situational language you can practise in a fresh response.