Task 1 — Writing an Email

What you'll learn: how CELPIP Task 1 prompts are built, the email structure that fits every scenario, and how to choose the right tone for the named recipient.

What Task 1 actually tests

Task 1 gives you a situation (a problem, a request, an invitation, a complaint) and a recipient (a landlord, a coworker, a company, a friend). You have 27 minutes to write a complete email of roughly 150–200 words. The recipient matters as much as the situation — the same complaint written to a friend and to a company manager should sound noticeably different.

The universal email structure

Every Task 1 response fits this four-part shape:

1. Greeting matched to the recipient (Dear Mr. Chen / Hi Sam).
2. Opening line stating why you're writing.
3. Body (1–2 paragraphs) with the details, context, or reasons.
4. Closing with a clear request or next step, plus a sign-off matched to tone.

Worked example

Prompt: "Your neighbor's dog barks loudly every night. Write an email to your neighbor describing the problem and requesting a solution."

Dear Mr. Patel,

I hope you're doing well. I'm writing about your dog, Max, who has been barking loudly most nights over the past two weeks, usually between 11 p.m. and 1 a.m. It's been difficult to get enough sleep before work.

I understand dogs bark for all kinds of reasons, so I wanted to raise it with you directly before it becomes a bigger issue. Would it be possible to bring him inside earlier in the evening, or is there something else that might help?

Thanks for understanding, and please let me know if there's anything I can do to help as well.

Best regards,
Alex

Notice the tone: direct but polite, specific about the problem (time, duration), and closing with a request rather than a demand.

Task 1 checklist

• Greeting matches the relationship to the recipient
• First line states the reason for writing
• Body includes specific, concrete detail (not vague complaints)
• Closing has a clear ask or next step
• Sign-off tone matches the greeting tone
• Length is roughly 150–200 words

Common mistakes

• Using "Dear Sir/Madam" for a personal recipient like a neighbor or coworker — read the prompt for the relationship.
• Forgetting the actual request — describing the problem but never asking for anything.
• Mixing formal and informal register within the same email (e.g., "Dear Mr. Patel" followed by "hey, so anyway").

Recap

Task 1 rewards a clean four-part structure — greeting, opening line, specific body, closing request — matched consistently to the recipient's tone. Master this shape once and it adapts to almost any Task 1 scenario CELPIP can present.