CELPIP Writing Task 1: Writing an Email

CELPIP Writing Task 1 Sample Answer: Congratulations on a New Baby

This warm email congratulates a close friend on a new baby, offers specific help and asks about visiting. The tricky part is making the offers concrete and the visit request respectful of an exhausted new family.

Time

27 minutes

Length

150–200 words

Tone

Formal or semi-formal, depending on the reader

The question

Your close friend Mei and her husband have just had their first baby. You live about ten minutes from them, and you know that they do not have any family nearby.

Write an email to your friend Mei in about 150-200 words. Your email should do the following things:

Congratulate her on the new baby.

Offer some specific ways you could help her family.

Ask when would be a good time to visit.

How to plan your answer

What they want

A warm, informal email to your close friend Mei about her new baby.
Cover: congratulations, specific ways to help, and when to visit.

Plan (27 min)

Greeting: "Dear Mei," and warm congratulations to her and her husband; ask the baby's name and how she feels.
Help: since you live ten minutes away and they have no family nearby, offer to bring home-cooked meals, do grocery runs, walk the dog, or babysit so she can nap.
Visit: ask when suits them; promise a short visit and to wash your hands, or just drop off food at the door.
Closing: say you're thrilled, "Lots of love," first name.

Useful vocabulary

newborn, new parents, congratulations, sleepless nights
home-cooked meals, run errands, lend a hand, drop by

Phrases

Congratulations on your beautiful baby!
Since I live so close, I could easily...
When would be a good time for me to...?

Avoid

Vague offers like "let me know if you need anything"; be specific.
Planning a long visit; new parents are tired.

Excellent answer: around CLB 11–12

Dear Mei, Congratulations to you and Wei on the arrival of your little girl! I teared up when I saw the photo of her wrapped in that tiny striped blanket. She's absolutely perfect, and I'm thrilled for you both. I know how hard it must be not to have your parents nearby right now, so please think of me as your backup family. Since I'm only ten minutes away, I'd love to drop off a few home-cooked dinners, maybe my lasagna and a big pot of chicken soup you can freeze. I'm also happy to do grocery runs, walk Biscuit, or pick up anything from the pharmacy. And whenever you're desperate for a nap or a long shower, I can come over and hold the baby while you rest. Please don't hesitate to text me, even at short notice. I really mean it. When would be a good time to visit? I don't want to intrude during those first exhausting days, so whatever suits you is perfect, whether that's a quick doorstep drop-off this weekend or a proper visit later on. With love and hugs, Rachel

186 words

Why it scores high

Vocabulary: 'I teared up', 'think of me as your backup family' and 'desperate for a nap' sound personal and natural between close friends.
Content/Coherence: details such as 'that tiny striped blanket', 'my lasagna' and 'walk Biscuit' make every offer specific to this family.
Task Fulfillment: offering 'a quick doorstep drop-off this weekend or a proper visit later on' gives Mei a flexible, pressure-free choice.

Good answer: around CLB 7–8

Dear Mei, Congratulations to you and David on the birth of your baby boy! I was so excited when I saw your message and the photos. He is absolutely adorable, and I can already see that he has your eyes. I hope you are both recovering well. Since your family lives so far away, I want you to know that I am only ten minutes away and happy to help in any way. For example, I could cook a few meals for your freezer so you don't have to worry about dinner for a while. I could also pick up groceries or anything you need from the pharmacy. If you would like to take a nap or a shower in peace, I would be glad to hold the baby for an hour or two. Please don't feel shy about asking for help. That's what friends are for! When would be a good time for me to visit? I know the first few weeks can be exhausting, so I'm happy to wait until you're ready. Just let me know which day works best. Lots of love, Jessica

186 words

What works, and what's missing

Content/Coherence: 'cook a few meals for your freezer' and 'take a nap or a shower in peace' show practical understanding of a new parent's needs.
Task Fulfillment: 'I know the first few weeks can be exhausting, so I'm happy to wait until you're ready' asks about visiting with real sensitivity.
Vocabulary: friendly phrases like 'That's what friends are for!' work well, though some offers are listed with simple wording like 'I could also pick up groceries'.

Basic answer: around CLB 4–5

Hi Mei, Congratulation to you and Kevin! I am so happy to hear about your baby girl. I saw the photo and she is so beautiful and small. You must be very happy, but also very tired, I think. I know your family live in China and you don't have any family here. I live only ten minutes from you, so I want to help. I can cook some food for you, like soup and dumplings, and bring it to your house. Also I can go to grocery store for you when you need something. If you want to sleep a little, I can watch the baby for one or two hour. When is good time for me to visit? I don't want to come when you are busy or sleeping. Maybe this weekend or next week? Just tell me the day and time. Take care of yourself! Love, Ana

150 words

What holds it back

Readability: 'Congratulation to you and Kevin' and 'your family live in China' show small but repeated grammar errors in a short, friendly email.
Vocabulary: 'she is so beautiful and small' and 'for one or two hour' use simple wording that lacks the warmth the situation calls for.
Task Fulfillment: the offers of soup, dumplings and groceries are concrete, and 'I don't want to come when you are busy or sleeping' handles the visit politely.

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