CELPIP Guide
CELPIP Writing: Complete Guide to Task 1 and Task 2
What the CELPIP writing tasks actually test, how scoring works, and the practical steps that move candidates from Level 7 to Level 9.
9 min read · Updated May 2026
CELPIP Writing has two tasks. Task 1 is an email — 150 to 200 words in 27 minutes. Task 2 is an opinion survey response — 150 to 200 words in 26 minutes. Both tasks are typed on a keyboard, not handwritten, which is different from IELTS. Both are scored on a 12-point scale that converts to CELPIP Levels 1 to 12.
How CELPIP Writing is scored
Each CELPIP writing task is rated by trained raters against five criteria: Content/Coherence, Vocabulary, Readability, Task Fulfilment, and Conventions. Your overall Writing score is determined by how consistently you perform across both tasks. Unlike IELTS, there is no separate band for each criterion in your official report — you receive a single level for Writing.
| CELPIP Level | CLB Equivalent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Level 12 | CLB 12 | Expert — rare grammatical errors, sophisticated vocabulary |
| Level 10–11 | CLB 10–11 | Advanced — clear argument, varied sentence structures |
| Level 9 | CLB 9 | Competent+ — well-organised, mostly accurate |
| Level 7–8 | CLB 7–8 | Adequate — clear meaning, some errors, limited range |
| Level 5–6 | CLB 5–6 | Developing — meaning understood, frequent errors |
Task 1: How to write a high-scoring CELPIP email
Task 1 presents a situation and asks you to write an email to a specific person — a manager, a landlord, a friend, a company. The situation always specifies the purpose (complaint, request, apology, invitation, recommendation). You must fulfil all the points in the task instructions.
Email structure that raters expect
- Subject line: Write a clear, relevant subject line. Raters check this.
- Opening: Use an appropriate greeting for the relationship (formal for a manager, semi-formal for a landlord, informal for a friend).
- Body paragraph 1: State the situation clearly and directly in your first sentence.
- Body paragraph 2: Address each bullet point from the task instructions. Do not skip any.
- Closing: Match the register of your opening. Offer a follow-up or action step if appropriate.
- Sign-off: Use your own name or a placeholder like 'Alex'. Do not write 'Sincerely, Test Taker'.
The most common Task 1 error is writing an email that sounds too generic or formal for the stated relationship. If you are writing to a friend, the rater expects a natural, conversational tone — not a formal letter structure. If you are writing to a manager, neutral professional register is appropriate. Tone mismatch is one of the main reasons candidates score below Level 8.
Task 2: How to write a CELPIP opinion survey response
Task 2 asks you to respond to a community or workplace survey. You are shown two options — for example, 'Should parking fees be introduced in the city centre?' — and asked to choose one and explain your view. This is not an academic essay. The register is semi-formal to formal, and the rater is looking for a clear position with specific supporting reasons.
Task 2 structure
- Position statement: State your choice clearly in the first sentence. Do not spend a paragraph introducing the topic.
- Reason 1 with detail: Give a specific reason and support it with a concrete example or explanation.
- Reason 2 with detail: Give a second distinct reason. Avoid repeating the same idea in different words.
- Optional concession: Acknowledging the other side briefly (one sentence) shows sophistication without weakening your argument.
- Conclusion: Restate your position in different words. One sentence is enough.
The vocabulary range criterion specifically rewards words that go beyond common everyday terms. Practice replacing general words: instead of 'good for the city' try 'beneficial for urban development'; instead of 'hard to do' try 'challenging to implement'. This does not mean using rare words — it means using precise ones.
CELPIP vs IELTS Writing: what is actually different
| CELPIP | IELTS Academic | |
|---|---|---|
| Task 1 | Email (informal to formal) | Describe a graph, chart, or diagram |
| Task 2 | Opinion survey | Academic argument essay |
| Word count | 150–200 each task | 150 (T1) / 250 (T2) |
| Time | 27 min + 26 min | 20 min + 40 min |
| Format | Typed | Handwritten or typed (IDP) |
| Accepted in Canada | Yes (all pathways) | Yes (IRCC, most provinces) |
Candidates with IELTS experience sometimes score lower on CELPIP Task 2 because they write an academic-style argument when the task calls for a personal opinion survey response. The difference in register is significant. CELPIP Task 2 expects you to write from your own point of view with specific personal examples, not to present a balanced academic argument.
How to practice CELPIP writing effectively
- Write at least one Task 1 and one Task 2 under timed conditions each week. Do not aim for perfection on the first draft — build the habit of completing both tasks within the time limit.
- Get feedback on task fulfilment specifically. Grammar errors are easier to spot yourself. Whether you fully addressed each instruction point is harder to assess alone.
- Study the official CELPIP Writing Sample Tasks on the Paragon Testing website. Note the level-specific comments about what distinguishes a Level 7 from a Level 9 response.
- After each practice, read your response aloud. If a sentence sounds awkward spoken, it will likely read as awkward too. This is a fast way to catch register errors.
- Build a vocabulary notebook by category: ways to disagree politely, ways to describe consequences, ways to give examples. Use each word or phrase in a complete sentence, not just as a list.
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Get your CELPIP writing scored by a specialist →Frequently Asked Questions
Is CELPIP writing harder than IELTS?
Most candidates find CELPIP Writing easier than IELTS Academic Writing because Task 1 is an email (not a graph/chart description) and Task 2 is an opinion survey (not a formal academic argument). However, CELPIP Writing is harder than IELTS General Training Writing for some candidates because Task 2 requires specific reasons and examples rather than general discussion.
What CELPIP level do I need for Express Entry?
For Federal Skilled Worker and Canadian Experience Class, the minimum is CLB 7 — which corresponds to CELPIP Level 7 in each skill. However, every level above 7 increases your CRS score. Moving from Level 7 to Level 9 in all four skills adds roughly 32–34 CRS points — enough to significantly improve your draw chances in competitive rounds.
How long should my CELPIP Task 1 email be?
The official guidance says 150 to 200 words. In practice, 160 to 185 words is the ideal range. Emails under 130 words risk losing marks for task fulfilment (you may not have addressed all the required points). Emails over 200 words give the rater more to evaluate and increase the chance of finding errors — without adding marks.
Can I use bullet points in CELPIP Task 2?
No. CELPIP Task 2 should be written in paragraphs, not bullets. The opinion survey format expects connected prose — using bullet points suggests you cannot organise ideas into coherent paragraphs, which directly affects your Content/Coherence score.
Does spelling matter in CELPIP?
Yes. CELPIP Writing is typed and spell-check is not available. Consistent spelling errors affect your Conventions score. Canadian spelling (colour, centre, recognise) is acceptable, as is American spelling (color, center, recognize). Mixing the two does not affect your score, but consistency is good practice.