CELPIP: Writing Task 1: Writing an Email

All 16 questions in this test

Every question and its answer choices. The correct answers and explanations appear when you take the test above.

1. You must email the manager of your building, whom you have never met. Which greeting fits best?

   1. Dear Building Manager,
   2. Hi buddy,
   3. Yo, building manager,
   4. Hey Chen!

2. Which request is both polite and clear for a formal complaint email?

   1. Could you please arrange a replacement by Friday?
   2. Maybe do something about it?
   3. I want a replacement right now, or I will call my lawyer.
   4. Give me a new one now.

3. Which transition best introduces a second reason in your email?

   1. For instance,
   2. In conclusion,
   3. On the contrary,
   4. In addition,

4. Which closing best suits a formal email to a company's customer service team?

   1. Cheers, dude
   2. Love ya,
   3. Later!
   4. Sincerely,

5. Which error is a spell-check feature unlikely to catch?

   1. 'their' typed instead of 'there'
   2. 'adress' typed for 'address'
   3. 'tommorow' typed for 'tomorrow'
   4. 'recieve' typed for 'receive'

6. The prompt asks you to 'explain how the problem has affected you.' Which sentence does that?

   1. Please send a technician this week.
   2. Without the heater, my children have been sleeping in coats.
   3. The heater was installed in October.
   4. The heater is made by a large company and came with a warranty.

7. What is Writing Task 1 in the CELPIP-General Test?

   1. Writing a Short Essay
   2. Writing an Email
   3. Responding to Survey Questions
   4. Summarizing an Article

8. Which phrase makes a complaint about late buses more specific?

   1. the bus I sometimes take
   2. public transit in general
   3. the 7:15 a.m. Route 22 bus
   4. a bus in the morning

9. A Task 1 prompt lists three things your email should do. What is the best approach?

   1. Copy the points word for word
   2. Cover them only if time allows
   3. Cover all three points clearly
   4. Choose the most interesting point

10. Your new coffee maker stopped working. Which opening sentence states your purpose best?

    1. I am writing about a coffee maker I bought on May 3.
    2. Yesterday was a long day for me.
    3. I own many appliances in my kitchen.
    4. Coffee is the most popular hot drink in all of Canada.

11. Why is it useful to glance at the word counter while writing Task 1?

    1. To check the time remaining
    2. To avoid using long words
    3. To stay near the suggested length
    4. To count your spelling errors

12. In a complaint to a store, which sentence keeps a firm but respectful tone?

    1. This is the worst store on earth.
    2. I expect this to be resolved promptly.
    3. I will never shop anywhere again.
    4. Your staff are completely useless.

13. Which sentence supports a suggestion with a reason?

    1. Opening on Sundays would help families who work weekdays.
    2. Sundays are the first day of the week on most calendars here.
    3. The library should open on Sundays.
    4. I like the library very much.

14. You are writing to a close friend about missing her party. Which sentence has the right tone?

    1. Your event was not attended by me.
    2. Please accept this formal apology.
    3. I'm so sorry I missed your party — work ran late!
    4. I regret to inform you of my absence at your event.

15. In CELPIP's published sample email task, about how many words are you asked to write?

    1. About 50–100 words
    2. At least 400 words
    3. About 250–300 words
    4. About 150–200 words

16. Which plan gives a Task 1 email the clearest structure?

    1. A list of bullet points only
    2. Closing first, then the details
    3. One long paragraph with no greeting
    4. Greeting, a paragraph per point, closing