CELPIP Writing Task 1: Writing an Email

CELPIP Writing Task 1 Sample Answer: Complaint About Inconsistent Mail Delivery

You have been experiencing inconsistent mail delivery in your neighborhood for the past month. Write an email to the local post office manager to address the issue and request a resolution.

Time

27 minutes

Length

150–200 words

Tone

Formal or semi-formal, depending on the reader

The question

You have been experiencing inconsistent mail delivery in your neighborhood for the past month. Write an email to the local post office manager to address the issue and request a resolution.

Required Points:

-State how long you’ve experienced the issue and its frequency.

-Describe the specific problems with mail delivery.

-Explain how this affects you or your household.

-Request a specific action to resolve the issue.

Excellent answer: around CLB 11–12

Dear Ms. Carter, For the past month, mail delivery to my neighborhood has been alarmingly inconsistent, with service limited to a few days per week. Compounding this, misdelivered letters and a delayed bill have led to financial penalties and considerable inconvenience. These disruptions undermine trust in postal services and complicate household management. I urge you to investigate the root cause and implement measures to restore reliable, accurate deliveries. I’m available to discuss this matter further to ensure a swift resolution. Best regards, [Your Name]

84 words

Good answer: around CLB 7–8

Dear Ms. Carter, Over the past month, mail delivery to my neighborhood has been highly irregular, occurring only two or three times weekly. On several occasions, I’ve received neighbors’ mail, and a critical utility bill arrived late, resulting in a penalty. This unpredictability disrupts my financial planning and erodes confidence in the service. Could you investigate the cause of these inconsistencies and ensure consistent, accurate deliveries moving forward? I’m happy to provide further details if needed. Sincerely, [Your Name]

79 words

Basic answer: around CLB 4–5

Dear Ms. Carter, For one month, mail delivery in my area has been bad. Some days, we get no mail, and other days, we get the wrong letters. Last week, I didn’t receive an important bill, which caused a late payment. This makes it hard to manage my bills and trust the service. Please check why this is happening and fix the delivery system. Let me know if we can talk more. Regards, [Your Name]

75 words

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