CELPIP writing topics: practice questions for Task 1 and Task 2

CELPIP writing has two tasks: an email to a stated reader, and a survey answer where you choose between two options. Paragon says real prompts come from everyday situations and that there are many test forms. Below are forty original practice prompts we wrote, twenty for each task, grouped by theme.

Paragon, which runs CELPIP, says the whole test is built on everyday situations. For writing, that means messages and opinions of the kind you would write in a normal week in Canada.

Paragon's blog on tone adds two details about the two tasks. In Task 1 you might write to a manager, landlord, customer service representative, colleague or community organization. In Task 2 you are usually giving your opinion about two options.

Paragon's own sample prompts, which it publishes on its Scoring Levels page, share a shape. The email prompt gives a situation and lists what your email should do. The survey prompt gives a situation and two options, and asks you to choose and explain.

So a good practice prompt names the situation, gives you a reader, and either lists the points to cover or offers two options. The prompts below follow that pattern with situations we made up.

Each prompt gives a situation and three things to cover. Write about 150 to 200 words. Before you start, decide who is reading and how formal to be, as the table shows.

Housing and neighbours

1. Loud music. Your neighbour plays loud music late on weeknights. You have spoken to them once and nothing changed. Write to the building manager. Cover: what is happening and when; what you have already done; what you would like done.
2. No hot water. The hot water in your apartment has been off for three days. Write to your landlord. Cover: when it stopped; how it affects you; when you can be home for a repair visit.
3. Moving out. You are moving out at the end of next month. Write to your landlord. Cover: your moving date; when you would like your deposit back; how to arrange the final inspection.
4. Branches in the driveway. Branches from a neighbour's tree have fallen across the driveway you share. Write a friendly email to your neighbour. Cover: what happened; why it matters; what you suggest.

Work

1. A missed meeting. You will miss a team meeting because of a medical appointment. Write to your manager. Cover: which meeting and why; how you will catch up; who could take notes.
2. A shift change. You would like to change your shifts for the next month. Write to your supervisor. Cover: the change you want; the reason; how you will make sure the work is covered.
3. Thanking a colleague. A colleague stayed late to help you finish a big project. Write to your manager about her help. Cover: what she did; what difference it made to the team; how you would like it recognised.
4. A farewell lunch. You have been asked to organise a farewell lunch for a co-worker. Write to the team. Cover: the day and place; the cost; how to sign up.

Shops and services

1. A bill that is too high. Your internet bill is higher than the plan you agreed. Write to customer service. Cover: the difference you found; what you did to check; what you want done.
2. A missed repair visit. A technician was booked to repair your washing machine and never came. Write to the company. Cover: what was agreed; what happened; what you want next.
3. The wrong message on a cake. You ordered a birthday cake and it arrived with the wrong name on it. Write to the bakery. Cover: what you ordered; what was wrong; what you ask for.
4. New gym hours. Your gym has changed its opening hours and you can no longer use your membership. Write to the manager. Cover: how the change affects you; what you have tried; what you suggest.

School and community

1. A new pick-up time. Your child's school is changing its pick-up time. Write to the principal. Cover: how it affects your family; a suggestion; a request for a reply.
2. A class that may be cancelled. Your community centre plans to cancel a weekly language class that you attend. Write to the coordinator. Cover: why the class matters; who else benefits; what you suggest.
3. A street clean-up. You want to invite neighbours to a street clean-up day. Write the invitation. Cover: the day, time and place; what to bring; why it matters.
4. A broken swing. You noticed a broken swing at a local playground. Write to the city office. Cover: where it is; why it is a risk; what you want done.

Travel, health and friends

1. A late hotel arrival. Your flight is delayed and you will reach your hotel after midnight. Write to the hotel. Cover: your new arrival time; what you need from them; a request to confirm.
2. Moving an appointment. You need to reschedule a medical appointment. Write to the clinic. Cover: your current appointment; the change you want; the reason.
3. Advice for a friend. A friend wants to learn a new skill and asks your advice. Write back. Cover: what you suggest; why it worked for you; how to start.
4. A visit to a friend. You are visiting a friend in another city next month. Write to them. Cover: when you arrive; what you would like to do; what you need to know.

Each prompt gives a situation and two options. Choose one, give two reasons with examples, mention the other side once, and write about 150 to 200 words. Pick the option you can argue best, not necessarily the one you would choose in life.

Community and city

1. Transport money. A city has money for one transport improvement. Option A: a network of bike lanes. Option B: more frequent buses.
2. A neighbourhood fund. A neighbourhood has money for one project. Option A: a summer street festival. Option B: a permanent skate park.
3. Closing the main street. A town is deciding what to do with its main street. Option A: close it to cars on weekends. Option B: keep it open and add more parking.
4. The public library budget. A library has money for one improvement. Option A: longer opening hours. Option B: a bigger section for children.

Work and study

1. The work week. A company is changing the work week. Option A: four longer days. Option B: five days with flexible start times.
2. College classes. A college can add more of one kind of class. Option A: more evening classes. Option B: more online classes.
3. Staff training. A team will change how it trains staff. Option A: one full-day workshop each year. Option B: short sessions every month.
4. Working from home. A company is setting a new policy. Option A: staff may work from home two days a week. Option B: staff work in the office every day, with a free lunch.

Technology and daily life

1. Money for a school. A school has money for one thing. Option A: a tablet for every student. Option B: smaller class sizes.
2. A building upgrade. An apartment building will make one change. Option A: install a package locker. Option B: hire a part-time concierge.
3. Public parks. A town will improve its main parks. Option A: free public Wi-Fi. Option B: more shade and outdoor seating.
4. The supermarket. A shopping centre is changing its supermarket. Option A: self-checkout machines. Option B: more staff at the tills.

Health and family

1. The clinic. A clinic can offer one new service. Option A: walk-in hours every morning. Option B: online appointments.
2. The sports club. A sports club will start one new programme. Option A: a free family fitness day each month. Option B: a free health check each year for members.
3. The school day. A school is changing its day. Option A: start classes later in the morning. Option B: keep the early start and finish earlier.
4. The neighbourhood. A neighbourhood has space for one project. Option A: more playgrounds. Option B: more benches and quiet green spaces for older residents.

Money and shopping

1. The grocery store. A grocery store will make one change. Option A: lower prices on basic foods. Option B: a wider selection of imported foods.
2. A car. A friend asks your advice about a car. Option A: buy a used car. Option B: buy a new one.
3. The farmers market. A town's farmers market is choosing a day. Option A: keep it on Saturday mornings. Option B: move it to Wednesday evenings.
4. A fundraiser. A community group needs to raise money. Option A: hold a bake sale. Option B: run an online auction.

1. Choose one Task 1 prompt and one Task 2 prompt from different themes. Do not repeat a theme until you have been through all five.
2. Take two minutes to name the reader, the tone and the parts of the task. Write them at the top of your page.
3. Write for a fixed time, on a computer, with the word counter in view. Our CELPIP writing tips page has a practice time split.
4. Mark the answer on the four dimensions that Paragon lists. Our CELPIP writing practice test page has a mark sheet.
5. Rewrite the weakest paragraph and keep both versions. Look at the difference.
6. Once a week, change the reader on a prompt you have already done, for example by writing the same complaint to a friend and to a manager, to hear the change in tone.

The last step is the one most people skip, and it is where tone is learned. For models of finished answers, see our CELPIP writing samples.

Many sites sell or share lists of CELPIP questions that test takers remember. We do not, for three reasons. Paragon says there are many test forms and that different test takers get different ones, so a remembered question may never come up. Paragon says it counts memorising answers as cheating. And practice on original prompts teaches the skill, which is what raters mark.

Use the prompts above as a gym, not a script. Write fresh answers each time, in your own voice.

Common questions