Study & Education — Part 4
The Celpip Plus team
Written and reviewed against the official CELPIP scoring criteria
What you'll learn: formal written-register phrases and connectors for education-related CELPIP Writing tasks — emails to instructors or administrators, and survey responses about school policy or learning.
Why education writing needs its own register
A student email to a professor requesting an extension, or a survey response arguing for a curriculum change, both demand formal register — the same conversational chunks that work in Speaking (covered in Part 5) would sound out of place here. This lesson focuses on the connectors and set phrases that keep education-related writing precise, respectful, and well-organized.
Requests versus arguments
These formal phrases split into two functions: making a polite formal request (I am writing to request, I would be grateful if) and building a structured argument (this suggests that, taking this into account). Writing Task 1 education emails typically need the first set; Task 2 survey responses about education policy need the second.
Word bank: formal education-writing phrases
| Collocation | Meaning | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| I am writing to request | formally opens a request in a letter or email | I am writing to request a short extension on my assignment. |
| I would be grateful if | polite way to ask for something | I would be grateful if you could clarify the exam format. |
| due to unforeseen circumstances | formally explains an unexpected reason | Due to unforeseen circumstances, I was unable to attend the seminar. |
| this suggests that | introduces a conclusion drawn from evidence | This suggests that smaller class sizes improve student outcomes. |
| taking this into account | signals a conclusion based on prior points | Taking this into account, the school should reconsider the policy. |
| a growing body of research | refers to increasing academic evidence on a topic | A growing body of research supports project-based learning. |
| it stands to reason that | introduces a logical, expected conclusion | It stands to reason that motivated students perform better. |
| with this in mind | connects a following point to prior reasoning | With this in mind, I propose extending library hours during exams. |
| should you require further information | polite formal offer of availability | Should you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact me. |
| a considerable proportion of | a large, unspecified share | A considerable proportion of students commute over an hour daily. |
| in the interest of (fairness) | states the motivating principle behind a request | In the interest of fairness, I ask that the deadline apply equally to all students. |
| I trust this meets with your approval | formal closing expressing confidence in a request | I trust this meets with your approval and thank you for your time. |
Worked example — Writing Task 1 email
"Dear Professor Nguyen,
I am writing to request a short extension on the research paper due Friday. Due to unforeseen circumstances — a family emergency this week — I have been unable to complete the final section. I would be grateful if you could grant a three-day extension. In the interest of fairness, I understand if a small penalty applies, and I am happy to accept one. Should you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact me. I trust this meets with your approval, and I appreciate your understanding.
Sincerely, R. Patel"
Common mistakes
- "I want an extension" instead of I am writing to request an extension — too blunt for formal register; the fuller phrase signals appropriate politeness.
- "Because of bad luck" instead of due to unforeseen circumstances — informal phrasing that undercuts a formal request; the set phrase is more professional without being vague about the reason.
- "A lot of research shows" instead of a growing body of research — acceptable but casual; the collocation reads as more academically credible in Task 2 writing.
- Ending an email with just "Thanks" after a formal request — pair the closing with a fuller phrase like I trust this meets with your approval for a more complete formal tone.
Recap
Formal connectors and set phrases give education-related writing the polite, structured tone CELPIP raters expect in Task 1 emails and Task 2 opinion responses, distinct from the fluency chunks reserved for speech. Draft a short email requesting something plausible from an instructor — an extension, clarification, or meeting — using at least four phrases from this table.