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CELPIP Writing Task 1 questions

Practise all 15 CELPIP Writing Task 1 questions in the real exam format. Each gives you a situation and three points to cover in an email of about 150 to 200 words, with 27 minutes on the clock. The first question is free, and new accounts get a free welcome credit for AI feedback.

Inside a question

What a CELPIP Writing Task 1 question looks like

Every Task 1 question has the same two parts on screen: a situation to read, and an instruction that names your reader and lists the points your email must cover, usually three. This is the first question in the list, and it is free to write.

Writing Task 1: Writing an Email

Changing your work schedule · 27 minutes

Read the following information.

You have worked at a busy garden centre for two years. Starting next month, you will be taking an evening course that meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and your current shifts end too late for you to attend. Your supervisor prepares the staff schedule three weeks in advance.

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

  1. 1Explain why you need to change your current work schedule.
  2. 2Suggest the specific shifts you would be able to work instead.
  3. 3Offer a way to make sure your usual duties are still covered.

The reader

The instruction names your reader. A supervisor is someone you work with every week, so write politely and get to the point: the request comes first.

The situation

The situation gives you facts to reuse: two years at the garden centre, classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, a schedule made three weeks ahead. Using them makes your request concrete.

The three points

Each point becomes one short paragraph. Task Fulfillment checks that all three are there, so tick them off as you plan.

  1. 1The course starts next month, and your shifts end too late to attend.
  2. 2Name the days and times you can work instead.
  3. 3Offer to swap shifts with a coworker or train someone on your duties.
Write this email

Question types

Types of CELPIP Writing Task 1 questions

The 15 questions here sort into the email types below. Each type tells you who is reading, and the reader decides how formal you should be.

Timing and scoring

How CELPIP Writing Task 1 is timed and scored

You write one email of about 150 to 200 words in 27 minutes. Each task runs on its own timer, so plan to finish and check the email inside those 27 minutes.

Task 1: email27 minutes
Task 2: survey26 minutes
The CELPIP Writing test lasts 53 minutes.
Content/Coherence
Ideas developed with specific details and set out in a logical order, one paragraph for each point.
Vocabulary
Word choice that is varied, natural and precise. A cracked side panel says more than a bad product.
Readability
How easy the email is to read: grammar, spelling, punctuation, paragraphing and connectors.
Task Fulfillment
Every point answered, a tone that suits the reader, and a length close to what the question asks for.

How should I practise CELPIP Writing Task 1?

Read the situation before you start typing. Identify who will receive your email, why you are writing and every point the prompt asks you to cover. A complaint to a manager needs a different tone from an invitation to a friend.

  1. Plan your email: note a specific detail for each requested point. Open with the purpose, develop the details in a logical order, then close with the action or reply you want.
  2. Write about 150–200 words. Use a suitable greeting and closing, short paragraphs and natural language. Replace a vague complaint such as ‘the service was bad’ with what happened and how it affected you.
  3. Check the instructions again. Have you explained the problem, answered each request and kept the tone appropriate? Leave time to correct tense, articles, spelling and punctuation.

Use the timer to practise a complete response

This task uses a 27-minute practice timer. The official Writing component lasts 53 minutes for both tasks. Try reserving a few minutes to plan and a few more to review; adjust your routine after each attempt. Finishing a clear response matters more than adding complicated vocabulary at the last moment.

After writing, read the linked sample and compare the decisions: how it opens, develops details and addresses the reader. Then revise one weak paragraph in your own words. The sample is a study model, not a script to memorize.

Build these skills in the free CELPIP Writing course or use the free prep pack for offline study. Check the official test format and Writing performance standards for the test provider’s guidance.

Practice guidance by CELPIP Practice. Reviewed October 29, 2026.

Get AI feedback on your writing

New accounts get a free welcome credit for AI feedback, shared across speaking and writing. Use it on an email response to get an estimated CELPIP level and a model answer. Your feedback covers Content/Coherence, Vocabulary, Readability and Task Fulfillment. Premium includes additional question access, full mock tests and unlimited AI feedback.

FAQ

CELPIP Writing Task 1 questions, answered

How many questions are in CELPIP Writing Task 1?

One. Task 1 is a single email question, and you have 27 minutes to write it. It is the first part of the 53-minute Writing test, followed by Task 2, the survey response, with 26 minutes.

How many words should a Task 1 email be?

The question asks for about 150 to 200 words. Length is part of Task Fulfillment, so an email far over the range does not earn extra credit. Spend spare minutes checking that every point is covered.

Should a Task 1 email be formal or informal?

It depends on the reader the question names. A store's customer service department needs a formal email, while a neighbour who helped you can get a warm, informal one. Check who you are writing to before you plan.

Are these real CELPIP Writing Task 1 questions?

No. They are original questions written by CELPIP Practice to match the official format: a situation, an instruction that names your reader, and a list of points to cover, usually three. They are not recalled exam questions.

How should I structure a Task 1 email?

Use a structure, not memorized sentences. A greeting, a sentence that states your purpose, one paragraph for each point and a closing line work for every question on this page. Sentences prepared in advance tend to ignore the situation and make the email sound generic.

See the Task 1 email template with a filled-in answer

How many Task 1 questions can I practise for free?

The first question is free to write, and new accounts get a free welcome credit for AI feedback on speaking or writing. Premium opens all 15 questions, every writing mock test after the first and unlimited AI feedback.

First, study a CELPIP Writing Task 1 sample answer. Ready to practise both tasks together? Take a complete CELPIP Writing practice test. The first one is free.