CELPIP® Writing Task 1 sample: Choosing a Winter Lesson Route
Writing an Email · 27 minutes · 150–200 words · Published
Original practice questions in CELPIP® task formats, created independently by CELPIP Study.
Practice question
You have a two-hour winter driving lesson booked with your instructor in London, Ontario, on Saturday, ahead of your driving test on Thursday. Your instructor has proposed practising on rural roads, but you want more experience at busy city intersections, and the rural route would add a $40 travel fee. The lesson starts at 3 p.m., so you also want to use the remaining daylight wisely before confirming the route tomorrow.
Write an email to your driving instructor, Annika.
- Explain which driving skills you most want to practise.
- Weigh the rural route against the fee and available daylight.
- Suggest a lesson plan and request confirmation of the total cost.
Model answers
Level 7 sample answer
169 words
Hi Annika,
Before we confirm tomorrow, I would like to discuss Saturday's two-hour winter driving lesson. My driving test is on Thursday, and I want more practice at busy intersections in city. I would like to feel more comfortable choosing when to turn and dealing with traffic coming from different directions.
I understand that practising on rural roads could also be useful in winter. However, that route adds a $40 travel fee. Since we start at 3 p.m., I am also concerned about how much daylight we would have for the lesson. I want to use the available time for skills that need the most attention.
Could we spend the first hour at city intersections and use the second hour to review whichever skills still need work? We could discuss both part of the lesson before setting off. Please confirm whether this city route would avoid the travel fee and tell me the total cost before we agree on the plan tomorrow.
Thank you for your advice.
Best,
Jonah
Why this answer is at level 7
This level 7 example communicates the lesson priorities, cost concern, and proposed plan clearly. Compared with the stronger examples, its vocabulary is more general, its daylight concern is less closely connected to the plan, and occasional grammar errors reduce polish.
Could we spend the first hour at city intersections and use the second hour to review whichever skills still need work?
— Content/Coherence: The proposed division makes the lesson easy to picture and allows time for review. However, it does not explicitly connect intersection practice with better daylight, as the stronger examples do.dealing with traffic coming from different directions.
— Vocabulary: This explains the learner's difficulty in accessible language, but the wording is broad. The stronger examples identify more precise actions, such as judging gaps and coordinating observations.We could discuss both part of the lesson before setting off.
— Readability: The intended meaning is understandable, but 'both part' needs the plural 'parts.' The stronger examples maintain grammatical control while explaining a similarly flexible lesson plan.Please confirm whether this city route would avoid the travel fee and tell me the total cost
— Task Fulfillment: The request covers both the possible removal of the travel fee and the total price. The level 11 example makes this more precise by explicitly identifying the $40 fee and connecting the price to the revised plan.
Level 9 sample answer
182 words
Hi Annika,
Could we adjust the focus of Saturday's winter driving lesson before confirming the route tomorrow? With my test coming up on Thursday, I would particularly like to practise busy city intersections. Judging gaps, choosing a suitable moment to turn, and keeping track of several directions of traffic are the areas I want to work on.
I can see the value of rural driving, especially for gaining experience in different winter conditions. However, the additional $40 travel fee makes me question whether that route is the best use of this particular lesson. Our 3 p.m. start also means we should make the most of the remaining daylight during the two hours.
Would it be possible to begin with intersection practice while the light is better, then use the remaining time to revisit anything you identify as needing attention? We could leave rural driving for a separate lesson rather than spread ourselves too thin. Please confirm whether this plan removes the travel fee and provide the total cost before we finalize the booking details tomorrow.
Thanks for helping me prepare.
Best,
Jonah
Why this answer is at level 9
This level 9 example develops the driving priorities with precise vocabulary and organizes the route, fee, daylight, and proposed plan logically. Compared with level 11, it gives a less developed explanation of how the instructor could adapt the lesson to the learner's performance.
We could leave rural driving for a separate lesson rather than spread ourselves too thin.
— Content/Coherence: This resolves the competing priorities by postponing rural practice, giving the lesson a clear focus. The level 11 example further explains how that focus can coexist with adjustments based on the learner's performance.Judging gaps, choosing a suitable moment to turn, and keeping track of several directions of traffic
— Vocabulary: These specific actions explain what intersection practice should achieve, improving on level 7's broader wording. Level 11 adds the practical challenge of making turning decisions while feeling pressure from surrounding traffic.Would it be possible to begin with intersection practice while the light is better,
— Readability: The polite question smoothly connects the proposed activity with the daylight constraint. Level 11 sustains this clarity while also explaining the balance between a focused plan and the instructor's freedom to adapt it.Please confirm whether this plan removes the travel fee and provide the total cost before we finalize the booking details tomorrow.
— Task Fulfillment: This clearly requests the total cost and an answer about the surcharge before tomorrow's decision. Level 11 makes the reference more explicit by naming the $40 fee and requesting the price for the revised plan.
Level 11 sample answer
187 words
Hi Annika,
Before we confirm Saturday's route tomorrow, could we tailor the lesson more closely to my priorities ahead of Thursday's driving test? I would like concentrated practice at busy city intersections, particularly assessing gaps, coordinating observations, and deciding when to turn without feeling rushed by surrounding traffic.
Your rural route would broaden my winter driving experience, which I value. For this lesson, though, the additional $40 travel fee needs to be weighed against the benefit of spending our two hours on the skills I most want to strengthen. Since we begin at 3 p.m., I would also prefer to tackle the more demanding intersections while we still have better daylight.
Could we start with city intersections, then devote the remaining time to repeating manoeuvres or reviewing decisions you think need attention? That would give the lesson a clear focus while leaving you room to adjust it to my performance. Rural practice could be considered separately. Please confirm the total price for this revised plan, including whether the $40 fee would be removed, before we settle the route tomorrow.
Thank you for considering this adjustment.
Best,
Jonah
Why this answer is at level 11
This level 11 example combines precise driving priorities with a balanced explanation of the rural route's value, its fee, and the daylight constraint. Its proposed plan is focused yet adaptable, and the language remains controlled and appropriate for writing to an instructor.
That would give the lesson a clear focus while leaving you room to adjust it to my performance.
— Content/Coherence: This explains why the proposed structure works: intersection practice remains the priority, while Annika can respond to what happens during the lesson. It develops the reasoning beyond simply reserving time for review.particularly assessing gaps, coordinating observations, and deciding when to turn without feeling rushed by surrounding traffic.
— Vocabulary: The coordinated phrases identify specific skills and connect them to the pressure of busy intersections. The language communicates a practical learning need precisely without making the email sound unnecessarily technical.Your rural route would broaden my winter driving experience, which I value.
— Readability: This concise acknowledgment creates a smooth transition from the learner's priorities to the discussion of cost. It also keeps the disagreement respectful and maintains the semi-formal relationship with Annika.Please confirm the total price for this revised plan, including whether the $40 fee would be removed,
— Task Fulfillment: The request explicitly connects the total price and the specific surcharge to the proposed change. Together with the earlier daylight-based sequencing and the deadline of tomorrow, it makes the requested confirmation actionable.
What moves an answer from 7 to 9 to 11
These are model answers written to show each level. The labels are practice estimates, not examiner scores.
Cover each email bullet with relevant detail, explain its effect on the reader and make a workable request. Keep a consistent register, with an opening, connected paragraphs and an appropriate closing.
- Content/Coherence: Level 7 models communicate the main ideas; level 9 models develop relevant details with clear connections; level 11 models sustain precise, well-integrated development.
- Vocabulary: Compare adequate everyday wording with more varied, accurate choices at level 9 and flexible, precise expression at level 11.
- Readability: Look for increasingly controlled grammar, sentence variety, punctuation and paragraphing. Complexity helps when it keeps the message easy to read.
- Task Fulfillment: Compare how fully the response addresses the request, develops enough relevant detail and maintains an appropriate tone for the audience within the task limits.
Assess the criteria together. A longer answer or rarer words alone do not establish a higher level.
Answer this question and get your level