CELPIP Writing Task 1: Writing an Email

CELPIP Writing Task 1 Sample Answer: Thank-You After a Food Bank Shift

This prompt asks you to thank a food bank coordinator after your first shift, point out one disorganized task with a fix, and ask to volunteer again. The tricky part is raising a problem tactfully so the email still sounds grateful rather than critical.

Time

27 minutes

Length

150–200 words

Tone

Formal or semi-formal, depending on the reader

The question

Last Saturday, you spent your first morning volunteering at a food bank in Saskatoon, sorting donations and packing food hampers. You enjoyed the experience very much, but you noticed that some parts of the work were disorganized and slowed the volunteers down.

Write an email to the volunteer coordinator in about 150-200 words. Your email should do the following things:

Tell the coordinator what you enjoyed about volunteering.

Describe a problem you noticed and suggest how to solve it.

Ask about volunteering again in the future.

How to plan your answer

What they want

A friendly but polite email to the food bank's volunteer coordinator after your first shift.
Cover: what you enjoyed, one problem plus a solution, and volunteering again.

Plan (27 min)

Greeting: "Dear Ms./Mr. [name]," and thank them for your first shift last Saturday.
Enjoyed: friendly volunteers, packing hampers, seeing families receive food.
Problem: donations arrived unsorted, nobody knew where items went or how to check expiry dates; suggest labelled bins and a five-minute orientation.
Future: ask about regular shifts, maybe weekday evenings, or bringing a family member.
Closing: thanks again, full name, phone number.

Useful vocabulary

volunteer, donations, food hamper, shift
sort, expiry date, orientation, labelled bins

Phrases

I really enjoyed...
One small thing I noticed was...
Would it be possible for me to...?

Avoid

Sounding like a complaint; you are a grateful newcomer.
Pointing out a problem with no suggestion.

Excellent answer: around CLB 11–12

Dear Ms. Bergen, Thank you for such a warm welcome at the food bank last Saturday. It was my first volunteer shift, and I left feeling genuinely inspired. What I enjoyed most was the atmosphere. The regular volunteers were patient with newcomers like me, and by mid-morning we had packed more than sixty hampers. Watching families collect them, some with young children in tow, made the effort feel very worthwhile. If I may offer one suggestion, the sorting area could be organized more efficiently. Donations arrived in mixed boxes, and several of us were unsure where items belonged or how strictly to check expiry dates, so we often had to stop and ask. Clearly labelled bins, along with a five-minute briefing at the start of each shift, would help new volunteers work confidently from the beginning. I would very much like to make this a regular commitment. Could you let me know whether any weekday evening shifts are available, and whether my 16-year-old son could join me? He is keen to help and needs volunteer hours for school. Thank you again for everything you do. Warm regards, Olena Kovalenko

189 words

Why it scores high

Content/Coherence: "If I may offer one suggestion" introduces the problem tactfully, keeping the grateful tone of the opening paragraphs.
Vocabulary: Natural, vivid phrases such as "young children in tow," "genuinely inspired" and "a regular commitment" make the email warm and personal.
Task Fulfillment: Specifics like "more than sixty hampers" and two clear questions in the last paragraph make every point concrete and easy to reply to.

Good answer: around CLB 7–8

Dear Ms. Bergen, I wanted to thank you for welcoming me to the food bank last Saturday. It was my first time volunteering, and I truly enjoyed it. Everyone on the team was friendly and patient, and they quickly showed me how to pack the food hampers. The best part was seeing families pick up their hampers and knowing that our work would help them through the week. One problem I noticed was with the donations. Large boxes arrived with everything mixed together, and new volunteers were not sure where each item belonged or how to check expiry dates. As a result, sorting took much longer than it should have. I think labelled bins for each type of food and a short five-minute orientation for newcomers would save a lot of time. I would love to volunteer again. Are there any regular shifts available, perhaps on weekday evenings? I could also bring my teenage son if that is allowed. Thank you again. Best regards, Olena Kovalenko

166 words

What works, and what's missing

Content/Coherence: The problem paragraph explains cause and effect, linking unsorted boxes to "sorting took much longer than it should have."
Task Fulfillment: Each point gets its own paragraph, and the final questions about "weekday evenings" and bringing a son are clear and easy to answer.
Vocabulary: Accurate and polite, but phrases like "I truly enjoyed it" and "One problem I noticed" are fairly plain; softer, more varied wording would add warmth.

Basic answer: around CLB 4–5

Dear Ms. Bergen, My name is Olena Kovalenko. Last Saturday I was volunteer at the food bank for first time and I want to say thank you. I enjoy it very much. The other volunteers was very kind and they help me a lot. I like packing the hampers, and when I see the families take the food I feel happy. But I see one problem. Many boxes of donation come and they are all mix. Nobody know where to put the cans and pasta, and we spend long time to check the expiry date. Maybe you can put labels on bins and explain to new people for five minute in the beginning. I want to come again. Can I volunteer every Saturday? Also can my son come with me? He is 16 years old. Thank you very much, Olena Kovalenko

141 words

What holds it back

Content/Coherence: All three points are covered in order, but the suggestion is squeezed into one sentence starting with "Maybe," so it feels unplanned.
Vocabulary: Errors such as "I was volunteer," "The other volunteers was" and "they are all mix" show weak control of verbs and agreement.
Readability: Very short sentences and repeated "I" openings, like "I want to come again," make the email sound abrupt for a thank-you message.

The CLBs are estimates of the level each sample was written at, not official CELPIP scores. How we estimate CLB