CELPIP Email Writing Format
A CELPIP email has a fixed shape that raters expect: greeting, purpose line, one paragraph per bullet point, a closing line and a sign-off. This page shows each line for a formal, a semi-formal and a friendly reader, with a complete example of each, so you never lose Task Fulfillment marks on tone or structure.
Updated October 20, 2026
The six lines of a CELPIP email
| Line | Formal (manager, landlord, company) | Semi-formal (coworker, neighbour) | Friendly (friend, family) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greeting | Dear Mr. Okafor, · Dear Ms. Tremblay, · Dear Customer Service, | Hi Jordan, · Hello Mrs. Chen, | Hi Marco, · Hey Priya, |
| Purpose line | I am writing about… / to ask whether… / to let you know that… | I hope your week is going well. I wanted to ask you about… | I was so happy to read your message! / Thanks for your note about… |
| Bullet 1 | The facts, with one specific detail (a date, a number, a place). | ||
| Bullet 2 | The effect or the reason, with one consequence the reader can picture. | ||
| Bullet 3 | Could you please…? / I would appreciate it if… / If that is not possible, … | How about…? / Would you be interested in…? / Let me know if… | Can you…? / Let's… / Just bring… |
| Closing + sign-off | Thank you for your help with this matter. · Sincerely, / Kind regards, | Let me know what you think. · Best, / Thanks, | Let me know as soon as you book. · See you soon, / Love, |
No subject line (the test gives you a text box, not an email client), no address block, no date. Paragraphs are separated by a blank line. A name at the end is expected; a job title or apartment number is a nice touch in a formal email.
A formal email, line by line
From the renovation noise sample (level 10):
Notice the purpose line names the subject precisely (which apartment, how long), and the first paragraph already contains the detail for bullet 1. The full email is on the sample page with its category ratings.
A friendly email, line by line
From the visiting friend sample (level 9):
Friendly tone changes the greeting, the contractions and the warmth, not the structure: there is still a purpose line, one paragraph per bullet point, and a closing line.
The tone mistakes raters notice
- "Dear Sir or Madam" is acceptable but dated; "Dear Customer Service" or "Dear Membership Services" is better when no name is given. Never "Dear Manager," with a capital M and no name in a friendly email, and never "Hey" to a landlord.
- Mixing registers: "Dear Mr. Okafor, … Thanks a lot!! Cheers," is a Task Fulfillment deduction.
- Requests as commands: "Please you can talk to the tenant" → "Could you please talk to the tenant?"
- No closing line: ending on the request feels abrupt. One sentence of thanks or anticipation is enough.
- "Yours faithfully" after a named greeting: in Canada, "Sincerely" or "Kind regards" fits every formal email.
Word count and paragraphing
The recommended length is 150–200 words. A greeting, a purpose line, three paragraphs of 40–50 words and a closing line land naturally at 170–190. Paragraph breaks are part of Readability ("format and paragraphing" is an official factor), so one solid block of text costs marks even when every sentence is correct.
Read the full Task 1 guide for the planning method and phrases, compare the five Task 1 sample pairs, and score your own email.