CELPIP® Writing Task 1 sample: Collecting a Parcel Before Renovations

Level 7 sample answer

173 words

Dear Brett,

I am writing about a parcel at your Mississauga postal outlet. Your notice says that renovations start next Monday and uncollected parcels will move to a receiving outlet 8 km away. However, it does not say if I can still collect my parcel this Saturday or ask someone else to collect it.

The collection deadline for my parcel is Wednesday. It contains materials for a volunteer workshop on Thursday, and these materials is needed for the session. My work shifts finish after the receiving outlet closes, so I cannot get there during its opening hours. I could visit the original outlet on Saturday, but I need to know whether the parcel will still be available.

Please explain me how I can collect it before the deadline. If Saturday collection is not possible, could another person pick it up for me? Please tell me what permission or identification would be required. I would like to make a clear plan before the outlet closes for renovations.

Thank you for your help.

Sincerely,

Taras

Why this answer is at level 7

This level 7 answer covers the parcel problem, explains the urgency, and offers a practical backup in a clear sequence. Compared with the higher answers, repeated wording and errors in agreement and verb patterns reduce its precision and fluency.

• My work shifts finish after the receiving outlet closes, so I cannot get there during its opening hours. — Content/Coherence: The cause and effect are easy to follow: work prevents collection at the receiving outlet. The higher answers connect this obstacle more tightly to the collection deadline and possible workshop disruption.
• these materials is needed for the session. — Readability: The meaning remains clear, but the plural subject needs “are.” The higher answers maintain grammatical control while explaining the same urgency through more complex sentences.
• Please explain me how I can collect it before the deadline. — Vocabulary: The request is understandable, but “explain me” is an incorrect verb pattern. The higher answers use more natural, precise request language, such as asking Brett to confirm availability or specify requirements.
• If Saturday collection is not possible, could another person pick it up for me? — Task Fulfillment: This directly supplies the requested backup arrangement. The following request for permission and identification is useful; the top answer makes the arrangement more precise by naming the receiving outlet.

Level 9 sample answer

188 words

Dear Brett,

Could you clarify the collection arrangements for my parcel before your Mississauga outlet closes for renovations next Monday? The notice explains that uncollected parcels will be transferred 8 km away, but it does not confirm whether collection will still be available this Saturday. It also leaves unclear whether someone can collect on my behalf.

My parcel must be collected by Wednesday, and it contains materials for a volunteer workshop on Thursday. Unfortunately, my work shifts end after the receiving outlet closes, which rules out collecting it there myself. If I cannot obtain the materials in time, the workshop may need to be changed. The transfer therefore creates a scheduling problem as well as a longer journey.

I could visit the original outlet this Saturday, so please confirm whether my parcel will be available then. If that option is unavailable, I would like to arrange collection by another person. Please specify what authorization and identification you would require, so that person can arrive with the correct documents.

A clear answer before Saturday would help me keep the workshop on track. Thank you for your assistance.

Sincerely,

Taras

Why this answer is at level 9

This level 9 answer combines complete task coverage with fluent grammar, clear paragraphing, and appropriate formal requests. It is stronger than the level 7 answer, but some repetition and broad wording make it less economical and precise than the level 11 answer.

• The transfer therefore creates a scheduling problem as well as a longer journey. — Content/Coherence: This summarizes the transfer’s consequences logically, but repeats difficulties already established. The top answer uses that space to connect collection problems directly to the deadline and workshop.
• the workshop may need to be changed. — Vocabulary: This communicates a consequence, but “changed” leaves its nature vague. The top answer’s wording about disruption expresses the risk more directly without inventing details.
• Unfortunately, my work shifts end after the receiving outlet closes, which rules out collecting it there myself. — Readability: The relative clause smoothly explains why personal collection is impossible, showing stronger grammatical control than the level 7 answer. The top answer integrates this difficulty more tightly with the deadline.
• If that option is unavailable, I would like to arrange collection by another person. — Task Fulfillment: The backup is polite and practical, supported by a request for authorization and identification requirements. The top answer removes a remaining ambiguity by specifying where the representative would collect.

Level 11 sample answer

190 words

Dear Brett,

I am seeking clarification about a parcel awaiting collection at your Mississauga outlet. The renovation notice states that uncollected parcels will be transferred to a receiving outlet 8 km away when you close next Monday, but does not address Saturday collection or collection by an authorized representative.

These details matter because my parcel has a Wednesday collection deadline and contains materials for a volunteer workshop the following day. Although I could visit your original outlet this Saturday, my work shifts finish after the receiving outlet closes. Consequently, the transfer would leave me unable to collect it personally before the deadline, and delayed access to the materials could disrupt the workshop.

Please confirm whether the parcel can be collected at the original location on Saturday. If that is not possible, could I authorize someone else to collect it at the receiving outlet? I would appreciate precise instructions about the identification and written permission required, so the person collecting it does not make an unnecessary trip.

A response before Saturday would allow me to arrange collection without putting the workshop plans in limbo.

Thank you for your assistance.

Sincerely,

Taras

Why this answer is at level 11

This level 11 answer presents the uncertainties, scheduling conflict, and workshop consequences with precise language and controlled sentence structure. Its specific backup location and request for documentation instructions make the email especially clear and actionable.

• These details matter because my parcel has a Wednesday collection deadline and contains materials for a volunteer workshop the following day. — Content/Coherence: This links the notice’s missing details to both the collection deadline and workshop timing. The explanation develops the request’s urgency without repeating the opening paragraph.
• does not address Saturday collection or collection by an authorized representative. — Vocabulary: The wording identifies both uncertainties compactly. “Authorized representative” precisely describes the proposed collector and suits the formal request to a postal supervisor.
• Consequently, the transfer would leave me unable to collect it personally before the deadline, — Readability: The transition clearly marks the consequence of the work schedule. The sentence then connects collection difficulty to workshop disruption, keeping several related facts easy to follow.
• If that is not possible, could I authorize someone else to collect it at the receiving outlet? — Task Fulfillment: The fallback specifies the collector’s role and collection location while asking whether authorization is possible. Together with the documentation request, it gives Brett a concrete arrangement to confirm.