How to Write a CELPIP Email (Writing Task 1): Formal vs Informal Tone

What CELPIP Writing Task 1 asks you to do

The prompt describes an everyday situation, such as a problem with a purchase, a noisy neighbour or a change at work, and then lists three things your email must do. You type your answer on screen. A word counter is shown, and you can cut, copy and paste, but there is no spell checker.

Raters score the email on four dimensions: Content/Coherence, Vocabulary, Readability and Task Fulfillment. Task Fulfillment is the easiest to lose: if one of the three bullet points is missing, your level is limited no matter how good the rest of the email is.

Who is the reader? Choosing your tone

Before you write a word, find out who the email is for. The prompt always tells you, sometimes directly ("Write an email to your manager") and sometimes through the situation ("your friend has invited you to..."). The reader decides the tone, and the tone decides your greeting, your closing and many of your word choices.

Tone is part of how raters judge whether the email suits its purpose. A complaint to a company that starts "Hey guys!" sounds wrong, and so does an email to a close friend that starts "I am writing to inform you that...". Neither is a grammar mistake, but both show weaker control of the task.

A simple four-paragraph structure

Most Task 1 prompts fit the same shape: a short opening, one paragraph for each bullet point, and a short closing. Keeping the bullets in separate paragraphs makes it obvious to the rater that you covered all three.

1. Greeting and opening line: say who you are (if needed) and why you are writing. One or two sentences.
2. Paragraph for bullet 1: usually the background or the situation. Add one or two concrete details, such as a date, a place or an order number.
3. Paragraph for bullet 2: usually the problem, your reasons or your feelings. Explain, do not just state.
4. Paragraph for bullet 3: usually a request, a suggestion or a plan. Make it specific: what, when and how.
5. Closing line and sign-off: thank the reader or say what you expect next, then your name.

Four or five short paragraphs of three to four sentences each lands naturally in the 150–200 word range. You do not need to count every word while writing; check the word counter once you finish your third paragraph.

Formal vs informal: the same message in two tones

The clearest way to see the difference is to write the same idea twice. Here are original CELPass examples of an apology for missing an event:

• Formal (to a community centre): "I sincerely apologise for not attending the volunteer orientation on Saturday. Unfortunately, I was required to work an extra shift at short notice."
• Informal (to a friend): "I'm so sorry I missed your party on Saturday! My boss called me in at the last minute and I couldn't say no."

Notice what changes: contractions (I'm, couldn't) are fine in an informal email and best avoided in a formal one. Informal writing can use exclamation marks and everyday phrases like "at the last minute"; formal writing prefers "at short notice" and "unfortunately". What does not change is the content: both versions apologise, explain and stay clear.

Informal does not mean careless. Avoid text-message spelling (u, thx), slang you would not say to an older relative, and emojis. The grammar is still being rated.

Sample informal email (original CELPass example)

Prompt: Your friend is moving to your city next month and has asked for advice. Write an email to your friend (150–200 words). In your email: congratulate them on the move; recommend a neighbourhood to live in and explain why; offer to help in some way.

Hi Daniel, That's fantastic news about the new job! Congratulations. I knew the interview went well, and I'm really happy that you'll be living so close to us.

If I were you, I'd look for an apartment in Riverside. It's a quiet area, but it's only fifteen minutes from downtown on the SkyTrain, so your commute would be easy. There's also a big park by the river where people run and cycle, which I know you'll love. Rents are a bit lower than in the city centre, too.

I'd be glad to help you settle in. I'm free most weekends next month, so I could come with you to view apartments, or pick you up from the airport when you arrive. If you need somewhere to stay for a few nights while you look, our spare room is yours.

Let me know your dates once you've booked your flight. I can't wait to show you around! Take care, Amira

Why it works: each bullet has its own paragraph, the recommendation gives three reasons, the offer of help is concrete, and the tone is warm without becoming sloppy. It is about 170 words.

Mistakes that cost marks in Task 1

• Covering only two of the three bullet points, or covering one in a single vague sentence.
• Using a casual tone with a manager, company or official, or a stiff, formal tone with a close friend.
• Forgetting a greeting or a sign-off.
• Writing under 150 words, which usually means a point was not developed.
• Making vague requests ("please fix this") instead of specific ones ("please send a replacement by Friday").
• Spending too long on the opening and running out of time before the third point.
• Leaving no time to check spelling, when there is no spell checker to catch mistakes.

A useful habit: before you start writing, type the three bullet points as short notes at the top of your answer box, then delete each note once its paragraph is done. When the notes are gone, you know every point is covered.

Practise the email task

The fastest way to improve is to write one email under real timing and get feedback on all four dimensions. CELPass scores each practice answer on the CELPIP dimensions and points out tone and Task Fulfillment problems specifically.

• Writing Task 1 format and full sample answer
• Useful phrases for CELPIP Writing
• Time management in CELPIP Writing
• Practise Writing Task 1 in the question bank

Frequently asked questions

Keep reading

• Can ChatGPT Score Your CELPIP Writing? What It Gets Right and Wrong
• CELPIP Writing Templates for Task 1 and Task 2: Structures That Reach CLB 9
• How to Get CELPIP Writing Level 10 or Higher
• How to Answer the CELPIP Survey Question (Writing Task 2)