CELPIP® Writing Task 1 sample: Farewell Party Venue Falls Through
Writing an Email · 27 minutes · 150–200 words · Published
Original practice questions in CELPIP® task formats, created independently by CELPIP Study.
Practice question
You and your coworker Inés are organizing a retirement party in Sherbrooke for Joaquín, who has worked at your company for 22 years. Twenty-five coworkers each contributed $30, and you booked a private room at Bistro Lanthier for about 30 guests, including his family, on Friday, December 4. Today the restaurant called: a pipe burst, the room is unavailable, and the date cannot move because Joaquín's family is travelling from Vancouver. Inés is away at a conference this week, so you must agree on a plan by email.
Write an email to your coworker Inés.
- Let Inés know what happened with the booking
- Compare two other options for the party, including any drawbacks
- Say which option you prefer and ask her to take on one task
Model answers
Level 7 sample answer
171 words
Hi Inés,
I have some bad news about Joaquín's party. Bistro Lanthier called me today. A pipe burst in their building, so the private room is not available on December 4 anymore. We can't change the date because his family is coming from Vancouver.
I found two other options. First, we can have the party in the big boardroom at our office and order food from a caterer. It is cheap, about $20 per person, so we have money left for a nice gift. But the room is a little boring and people may not feel like it's a real party. The second option is Chez Rouleau, a restaurant downtown. It looks nice but it costs $38 per person, so we will need more money then we collected.
I prefer the boardroom, because we can decorate it and still buy a good gift. Can you call the caterer and ask about the price for 30 peoples? I will take care of the decorations.
Thanks, and enjoy your conference!
Talk soon,
Andrei
Why this answer is at level 7
The level 7 answer clearly explains the cancellation, compares workable alternatives, and assigns Inés a task. Its straightforward organization makes it easy to follow, but general descriptions and noticeable language errors limit the precision and fluency shown in the higher-level answers.
It is cheap, about $20 per person, so we have money left for a nice gift.
— Content/Coherence: The answer connects the catering price to a useful benefit: money for Joaquín's gift. However, it leaves the remaining budget vague; the higher-level answers make the financial comparison more concrete by stating the collected budget or total catering cost.But the room is a little boring and people may not feel like it's a real party.
— Vocabulary: The drawback is understandable, but “a little boring” and “a real party” are broad descriptions. The higher-level answers explain the atmosphere more precisely, connecting the boardroom to an ordinary workday or the significance of Joaquín's long service.so we will need more money then we collected.
— Readability: The meaning remains clear, but “then” should be “than” in this comparison. Together with “30 peoples” later, this shows less grammatical control than the smoother language in the higher-level answers.Can you call the caterer and ask about the price for 30 peoples?
— Task Fulfillment: This gives Inés a specific task connected to the preferred venue and expected attendance. The level 9 answer makes the request more useful by asking her to confirm that the deli can actually cater for the group.
Level 9 sample answer
193 words
Hi Inés,
I'm afraid our plans for Joaquín's party have hit a snag. Bistro Lanthier called this morning to say a pipe burst above their private room, and it won't be repaired in time for December 4. Since his family is coming all the way from Vancouver, moving the date isn't an option.
I've looked into two alternatives. The first is our third-floor boardroom with catering from the deli on our street, which would come to roughly $18 a head. That would leave plenty of our $750 for a really memorable gift, though the room might feel a bit too much like a regular workday. The second is Chez Rouleau downtown, which has a lovely private space but charges $38 per person. We'd have to ask everyone to chip in again, and I'm not sure people would be happy about that so close to the holidays.
Personally, I'd go with the boardroom and put the savings toward the gift and some proper decorations. Could you contact the deli and confirm they can cater for about 30 people? I'll handle booking the room and telling everyone about the change.
Enjoy the conference!
Cheers,
Andrei
Why this answer is at level 9
The level 9 answer develops the comparison with a clear budget, a realistic concern about collecting more money, and a practical division of work. Its language is fluent and appropriately friendly, though the level 11 answer connects the venue choice more closely to Joaquín's retirement; this answer also exceeds the requested word range.
That would leave plenty of our $750 for a really memorable gift
— Content/Coherence: Naming the collected budget makes the boardroom's advantage clearer than in the level 7 answer. However, “plenty” remains approximate; the level 11 answer strengthens the comparison by giving the catering total and the amount left for the gift.I'm afraid our plans for Joaquín's party have hit a snag.
— Vocabulary: The idiom “hit a snag” introduces the problem naturally in an informal email, showing more range than “some bad news.” The level 11 answer uses similarly natural language while adding expressions that convey the retirement occasion's particular significance.We'd have to ask everyone to chip in again, and I'm not sure people would be happy about that so close to the holidays.
— Readability: The sentence smoothly links the extra expense to coworkers' likely reaction, using contractions that suit the relationship. The level 11 answer makes this reasoning more precise by stating the restaurant's total bill before explaining the need for additional contributions.Could you contact the deli and confirm they can cater for about 30 people?
— Task Fulfillment: The request specifies the supplier, group size, and confirmation needed, improving on the level 7 request for a price. The email covers all requested points, but exceeds the word range. Further improvement requires tighter editing; the level 11 answer also has this length issue.
Level 11 sample answer
199 words
Hi Inés,
I hate to interrupt your conference with bad news, but Joaquín's party has lost its venue. Bistro Lanthier phoned this morning: a burst pipe has flooded their private room, and repairs won't be finished before December 4. With his family flying in from Vancouver for the occasion, postponing simply isn't on the table.
I've narrowed it down to two alternatives. Our fourth-floor boardroom, catered by the deli around the corner, would cost about $540 for thirty guests, leaving over $200 for the gift — though, admittedly, a boardroom hardly says "twenty-two years of loyal service." Chez Rouleau, on the other hand, has a charming private room overlooking the river, yet at $38 a head the bill would reach roughly $1,140, meaning we'd have to go back to everyone for more money weeks before the holidays.
On balance, I'd lean toward the boardroom, provided we make it feel festive: string lights, a slideshow of Joaquín over the years, maybe a cake from the bakery he loves. Would you be willing to put the slideshow together, since you're more creative than I am? I'll take care of the catering and room booking.
Enjoy the rest of your conference!
Cheers,
Andrei
Why this answer is at level 11
The level 11 answer combines a detailed financial comparison with a thoughtful understanding of what Joaquín's retirement celebration should feel like. Its controlled sentences, expressive vocabulary, and tactful delegation make it strong, although it exceeds the requested word range.
at $38 a head the bill would reach roughly $1,140
— Content/Coherence: Converting the restaurant's individual price into a total makes its financial drawback immediately clear. Alongside the boardroom's catering total and remaining gift money, this gives the recommendation a more fully developed basis than either lower-level answer.a boardroom hardly says "twenty-two years of loyal service."
— Vocabulary: This expressive phrase captures why an office room might feel inadequate for Joaquín's retirement. It develops the simpler concern about a boring room into a specific judgment about recognizing his contribution, while preserving a conversational tone.On balance, I'd lean toward the boardroom, provided we make it feel festive:
— Readability: The sentence clearly signals a considered preference and attaches a condition to it. The colon introduces practical ways to meet that condition, so the recommendation flows directly into a solution for the boardroom's main drawback.Would you be willing to put the slideshow together, since you're more creative than I am?
— Task Fulfillment: The request is specific, tactful, and linked to making the boardroom feel celebratory. The writer also takes responsibility for catering and booking. All requested points are addressed, but the email needs trimming to fit the stated word range.
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