CELPIP Writing Task 1: Writing an Email

CELPIP Writing Task 1 Sample Answer: Community Garden Plot Request

This email introduces you to a community garden coordinator, describes your gardening background and asks about costs, rules and applying. The tricky part is answering three separate questions clearly without the email turning into a list.

Time

27 minutes

Length

150–200 words

Tone

Formal or semi-formal, depending on the reader

The question

You live in an apartment in Charlottetown and do not have a yard. You have learned that there is a community garden in a park near your building, where residents can rent small plots to grow vegetables and flowers.

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

Introduce yourself and explain why you would like a garden plot.

Describe your gardening experience and what you would like to grow.

Ask about the cost, the rules and how to apply.

How to plan your answer

What they want

A polite, friendly but formal email to the community garden coordinator asking for a garden plot in Charlottetown.
Cover: who you are and why, your experience and plans, and cost, rules and how to apply.

Plan (27 min)

Greeting: "Dear Garden Coordinator," then your name and that you live in an apartment near the park with no yard.
Why: grow fresh vegetables, spend time outdoors, meet neighbours.
Experience: you grew tomatoes and herbs on a balcony, or helped in a family garden; you'd like to grow lettuce, beans and some flowers.
Questions: plot fee per season, rules on watering and tools, the application process and waitlist.
Closing: thank them, full name and phone.

Useful vocabulary

garden plot, community garden, growing season, organic
seedlings, compost, waitlist, application form

Phrases

I am writing to ask about renting a plot in...
Although I don't have a yard, I have grown...
Could you please tell me about the cost and...?

Avoid

Forgetting one of the three questions (cost, rules, how to apply).
Only listing plants without explaining why you want a plot.

Excellent answer: around CLB 11–12

Dear Community Garden Coordinator, My name is Thomas MacLeod, and I live in an apartment building on Kent Street, just around the corner from the park. A neighbour recently told me about the community garden, and I'd love to rent a plot this season. Since moving to Charlottetown last year, I've really missed having a yard, and a plot would let me grow my own food and get to know other residents. I grew up on a potato farm near Montague, so I'm comfortable with hard work and basic soil care. More recently, I've kept a small herb garden on my windowsill, but it's no substitute for the real thing. If I'm given a plot, I'd like to grow tomatoes, snap peas, kale and zucchini, along with some dahlias for a bit of colour. Could you let me know the seasonal fee for a plot and whether water and tools are included? I'd also appreciate a copy of the garden rules, particularly regarding volunteer hours and organic practices. Finally, what is the application process, and is there currently a waiting list? Thank you for your help. Kind regards, Thomas MacLeod

190 words

Why it scores high

Content/Coherence: 'I grew up on a potato farm near Montague' and wanting to 'get to know other residents' give a memorable and local introduction.
Vocabulary: 'it's no substitute for the real thing', 'a bit of colour' and 'organic practices' sound natural and knowledgeable.
Task Fulfillment: asking specifically about 'volunteer hours and organic practices' shows thoughtful questions that go beyond the basic rules request.

Good answer: around CLB 7–8

Dear Community Garden Coordinator, My name is Emily Gallant, and I live in an apartment building on Grafton Street, just a few minutes' walk from Victoria Park. I recently learned about the community garden there, and I am very interested in renting a plot this coming season. Since my apartment has no yard and only a tiny shaded balcony, a garden plot would give me a chance to grow fresh food and spend more time outdoors. I have some gardening experience. Growing up in Summerside, I helped my parents with their vegetable garden every summer, and for the past two years I have grown herbs in containers indoors. If I get a plot, I would like to grow tomatoes, lettuce, carrots and green beans, as well as some sunflowers and marigolds. Could you please tell me how much it costs to rent a plot for the season? I would also like to know the garden rules, for example, whether water and tools are provided. Finally, how do I apply, and is there a waiting list? Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Emily Gallant

183 words

What works, and what's missing

Content/Coherence: the 'tiny shaded balcony' and the hope to 'spend more time outdoors' explain clearly why a plot matters.
Task Fulfillment: the closing questions cover cost, whether 'water and tools are provided', the application and a waiting list, so every point is answered.
Vocabulary: the plant list is specific, but phrases like 'I have some gardening experience' are plain introductions rather than vivid descriptions.

Basic answer: around CLB 4–5

Dear Garden Coordinator, My name is Fatima Ahmed. I live in apartment on Queen Street in Charlottetown, near the park. My apartment don't have a yard, only small balcony. I hear about the community garden from my neighbour and I am very interest to rent a plot. In my country, my family have a big garden and I help my mother every summer when I was child. We grow tomato, cucumber and many herbs. Last year I try to grow some tomatoes in pots on my balcony, but there is not enough sun. If I have a plot, I want to grow tomato, peppers, beans and some flowers. I have some questions. How much it cost to rent one plot for the season? What are the rules for the garden, for example about water and tools? And how I can apply? Thank you very much. Fatima Ahmed

147 words

What holds it back

Readability: 'My apartment don't have a yard', 'I am very interest' and 'How much it cost' show agreement, word-form and question-order errors.
Vocabulary: 'tomato, cucumber and many herbs' and 'I want to grow tomato, peppers' contain plural errors in the gardening details.
Content/Coherence: the childhood garden and balcony tomatoes with 'not enough sun' are relevant, but the reason for wanting a plot is only briefly stated.

These are original CELPass examples written at each level. The CLBs are our estimates, not official CELPIP scores. How we estimate CLB