CELPIP Writing Task 1 — perfect email format (with template)

A Task 1 email follows a fixed skeleton: a greeting line such as "Hi [Name]," or "Dear [Name],", an opening sentence that restates the purpose in your own words, three body paragraphs that each address one bullet point from the prompt with detail, a forward-looking closing line, and a sign-off such as "Best, [Your name]". Keeping every one of these parts visible makes it easy for raters to see the email register.

The official target is 150 to 200 words. Aim for roughly 170 to 180 words in practice. Going below 150 words risks a task-fulfillment penalty, while going above about 220 words usually lowers quality without raising your score. A useful split is around 40 to 50 words per body paragraph, which keeps you inside the range without padding.

You have about 27 minutes for Task 1, and it is always an email. That time has to cover reading the prompt, planning your three body paragraphs, writing 150 to 200 words, and a quick check for register and word count. Task 2, the survey response, gets a similar amount of time, so the whole Writing section is two timed tasks back to back.

Start with a greeting that matches the relationship in the prompt, then one opening sentence that states why you are writing in your own words rather than copying the prompt. End with a forward-looking closing line, for example what you hope happens next, followed by a sign-off and your name. "Best, [Your name]" works for most informal and semi-formal emails; use a more formal close for a stranger or official.

Reread the prompt to identify the relationship: friend, boss, landlord, neighbour, company. Then match the register exactly. Writing "Hey buddy" to a landlord or "Dear Sir/Madam" to a friend both cost you on Task Fulfillment because the tone does not fit the reader. Tone is the most-missed criterion in Task 1, so decide formal or informal before you write the greeting.

Yes. Task Fulfillment depends on covering every point the prompt asks for, so give each bullet its own body paragraph with specific detail rather than a single line. Three bullets means three body paragraphs of roughly 40 to 50 words each. Skipping or merging points is one of the fastest ways to lose marks even when your grammar and vocabulary are strong.

No. Your opening sentence should restate the purpose of the email in your own words, not repeat the prompt. Copied phrasing does not show your own vocabulary and can read as filler. Paraphrase the reason for writing, then move straight into your first body paragraph. If you want to check your register and structure, submit a practice Task 1 email and compare it with a band-9 sample.