Task 1: Reusable Template
The Formula¶
| Section | What to Write | Target Words |
|---|---|---|
| Salutation | Greeting matched to recipient | ~3 words |
| Opening | Who you are + Why you're writing | ~30 words |
| Bullet 1 | The situation / background | ~40 words |
| Bullet 2 | The problem / details | ~40 words |
| Bullet 3 | The solution / request | ~40 words |
| Closing + Sign-off | Thank you + Name | ~20 words |
| Total | ~175 words |
Step 0: Pick Your Salutation + Sign-off¶
Before writing, decide the tone. Salutation must match Sign-off.
| Who are you writing to? | Salutation | Sign-off |
|---|---|---|
| Manager / Company / Official (unknown name) | Dear Sir or Madam, | Yours Faithfully, |
| Boss / Official (known name) | Dear Mr./Ms. [LAST NAME], | Sincerely, |
| Neighbor / Colleague / Acquaintance | Dear [FIRST NAME], | Best regards, |
| Close friend / Family | Hi [FIRST NAME], | All the best, |
The Template¶
Everything outside the brackets stays the same every time. Only fill in the [BRACKETS].
[SALUTATION],
My name is [YOUR NAME], and I have been a [YOUR ROLE] for
[DURATION]. I am writing to [PURPOSE VERB] regarding
[TOPIC].
To briefly review the situation, [DESCRIBE THE BACKGROUND —
what happened / what exists / the context]. [ADD A SPECIFIC
DETAIL about the condition, date, or event].
In terms of [THE PROBLEM / IMPACT], the most pressing issue
is that [MAIN PROBLEM], leading to [CONSEQUENCE].
Furthermore, [SECOND PROBLEM], which raises concerns
about [BROADER IMPACT].
Regarding [THE SOLUTION / REQUEST], I strongly urge you to
[PRIMARY ACTION]. I would also suggest [SECONDARY ACTION].
Alternatively, [PLAN B] could [BENEFIT].
Thank you in advance for [CLOSING PHRASE].
[SIGN-OFF],
[YOUR FULL NAME]
What to Fill In¶
Opening Placeholders¶
| Placeholder | What It Means | Examples |
|---|---|---|
[SALUTATION] |
Greeting matched to recipient (see Step 0) | Dear Building Manager / Dear Ms. Chen / Hi Sarah |
[YOUR NAME] |
A made-up full name | Alex Thompson |
[YOUR ROLE] |
Your relationship to the recipient | resident of unit 305 / loyal customer / employee in the marketing department |
[DURATION] |
How long (use Present Perfect) | five years / over three years / the past six months |
[PURPOSE VERB] |
Why you're writing | express a concern / file a complaint / inquire / offer a suggestion / apologize |
[TOPIC] |
The subject of the email | the landscaping / a recent order / the noise levels / the upcoming event |
Bullet 1 Placeholders (The Situation)¶
| Placeholder | What It Means | Examples |
|---|---|---|
[DESCRIBE THE BACKGROUND] |
Set the scene — what's going on | the large oak tree near the entrance has been deteriorating for months / the package I ordered on January 10th arrived damaged |
[ADD A SPECIFIC DETAIL] |
One concrete fact (date, size, condition) | The tree is excessively overgrown, with several branches that appear dry and brittle / The box was visibly crushed, and the item inside was cracked |
Bullet 2 Placeholders (The Problem)¶
| Placeholder | What It Means | Examples |
|---|---|---|
[THE PROBLEM / IMPACT] |
Label the issue you're zooming into | the hazards it poses / the inconvenience this has caused / the safety risks involved |
[MAIN PROBLEM] |
The biggest specific issue | the roots are uplifting the pavement / the noise continues past midnight / the replacement has not arrived |
[CONSEQUENCE] |
What the problem causes | a tripping hazard for residents / sleep deprivation among tenants / a delay in my project |
[SECOND PROBLEM] |
Another issue (different from the first) | falling branches recently scratched a tenant's car / several neighbors have filed similar complaints |
[BROADER IMPACT] |
The bigger concern | liability for the building / community well-being / customer trust |
Bullet 3 Placeholders (The Solution)¶
| Placeholder | What It Means | Examples |
|---|---|---|
[THE SOLUTION / REQUEST] |
Label what you're proposing | a potential replacement / resolving this matter / improving the situation |
[PRIMARY ACTION] |
Your main request (use strong modal) | remove the tree immediately / issue a full refund / enforce quiet hours after 10 pm |
[SECONDARY ACTION] |
A supporting suggestion | installing a bike rack in that space / sending a replacement item by express delivery |
[PLAN B] |
An alternative option | a small flower garden with benches / a store credit instead |
[BENEFIT] |
What Plan B achieves | significantly improve the curb appeal / resolve the issue in a timely manner |
Closing Placeholders¶
| Placeholder | What It Means | Examples |
|---|---|---|
[CLOSING PHRASE] |
Polite sign-off phrase | taking this matter into consideration / your prompt attention to this issue / looking into this request |
[SIGN-OFF] |
Must match salutation (see Step 0) | Yours Faithfully / Sincerely / Best regards |
[YOUR FULL NAME] |
Same name from the opening | Alex Thompson |
Before You Write: The 2-Minute Setup¶
| Step | Question | Write Down |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Who am I writing to? (→ decides tone) | Manager / Friend / Colleague |
| 2 | What is the salutation + sign-off pair? | Dear Manager, → Yours Faithfully, |
| 3 | Bullet 1: What's the situation? | One sentence summary |
| 4 | Bullet 2: What's the problem? | Two specific issues |
| 5 | Bullet 3: What's the solution? | One request + one alternative |
Address All 3 Bullet Points
The exam prompt always gives you exactly 3 bullet points. Missing even one drops your Task Fulfillment score significantly. Check them off as you write.
Purpose Verb Picker¶
Use this to fill in [PURPOSE VERB] based on the email type.
| Email Type | Purpose Verb | Full Phrase |
|---|---|---|
| Complaint | express my dissatisfaction | I am writing to express my dissatisfaction regarding... |
| Request | inquire about / request | I am writing to inquire about... and request... |
| Suggestion | offer a suggestion | I am writing to offer a suggestion regarding... |
| Apology | express my sincere apologies | I am writing to express my sincere apologies regarding... |
| Explanation | explain the situation | I am writing to explain the change in circumstances regarding... |
| Report | formally report | I am writing to formally report an incident regarding... |
| Appreciation | express my gratitude | I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for... |
Example: Tree Complaint to Building Manager¶
Prompt: You live in an apartment building. There is a large tree in the front yard that concerns you. Write an email to the building manager:
- Describe the tree and its condition.
- Explain the problems the tree creates.
- Suggest what should be installed in its place.
Setup:
| Step | Decision |
|---|---|
| Writing to | Building Manager (formal, unknown name) |
| Salutation / Sign-off | Dear Building Manager, → Regards, |
| Bullet 1 (Situation) | Tree is deteriorating, overgrown, brittle branches |
| Bullet 2 (Problem) | Roots lifting pavement + branches scratched a car |
| Bullet 3 (Solution) | Remove tree → bike rack or flower garden |
Filled-in template (~190 words):
[Dear Building Manager],
My name is [Mahdie Ahmadi], and I have been a [resident of unit 1207] for [five years]. I am writing to [express a safety concern] regarding [the landscaping in the front yard].
To briefly review the situation, [the large oak tree near the entrance has been deteriorating for months, and I believe it is time to remove it]. [This tree is excessively overgrown, with several large branches that appear dry and brittle. Additionally, it leans dangerously close to the first-level windows, blocking their natural light].
In terms of [the hazards it poses], the most pressing issue is that [the roots are uplifting the pavement], leading to [a tripping hazard]. Furthermore, [falling branches recently scratched a tenant's car], which raises concerns about [liability for the building].
Regarding [a potential replacement], I strongly urge you to [consider a facility that adds value to the property]. I would also suggest [installing a secure bike rack in that space, as many residents have nowhere to store bikes]. Alternatively, [a small flower garden with benches] could [significantly improve the curb appeal of the property].
Thank you in advance for [taking this matter into consideration].
[Regards], [Mahdie Ahmadi]
Quick Transition Phrases¶
Use these exact phrases to connect your paragraphs — they never change.
| Section | Transition Phrase |
|---|---|
| Bullet 1 | "To briefly review the situation,..." |
| Bullet 2 | "In terms of [the problem],..." + "Furthermore,..." |
| Bullet 3 | "Regarding [the solution],..." + "Alternatively,..." |
| Closing | "Thank you in advance for..." |
These Transitions Are Your Safety Net
Memorize these four phrases. They work for every email type — complaints, requests, suggestions, apologies. The examiner sees them as "signpost" phrases and they boost your Coherence score.
Source: Based on the CELPIP Writing Task 1 Template