CELPIP Writing Task 1 Template — Request for Information Email

A request-for-information email is one of the most common prompts in CELPIP Writing Task 1: you are asked to write to a person or organisation to find out details about a course, product, service, event, or job. You have about 27 minutes to write 150–200 words and you must address all three bullet points in the task. This guide gives you a repeatable structure, two phrase banks (organised by tone), a vague-vs-specific question table, a CLB 9+ model answer, and a line-by-line breakdown of why it scores well.

The key skill in this variant is asking clear, specific, answerable questions. A weak email asks for "more information" in general terms; a strong one asks targeted questions the reader can actually answer in a reply. Get that right and you will hit Task Fulfilment and Content & Coherence at the same time.

What the examiner is looking for

CELPIP Writing is scored on four criteria, each from 3–12 (the number is your CLB level). Here is what each one means for a request-for-information email and how to hit it.

The single biggest lever in this variant is Task Fulfilment: if you skip a bullet or your "questions" are too vague to answer, your score drops regardless of how nice your vocabulary is.

Plan first: the 3-minute rule of 3

Before you type a single sentence, spend about three minutes planning. Read the prompt and underline the three bullets — these are your three question areas. The structure is built around a rule of 3: one purpose, three question groups (often mapped to the three bullets), one polite close. Jot a single keyword next to each bullet (for example: fees, schedule, materials) and decide your tone before you start. A 3-minute plan saves you from the most expensive mistake: realising at word 180 that you forgot bullet three.

Step 1 — State who you are and why you're writing

Open with a one-sentence reason for the email so the reader has context immediately. Name the specific thing you are asking about and where you heard of it. For example: "I am writing to enquire about the Intermediate Spanish course advertised on your website." This frames everything that follows and signals your purpose before any questions. If the prompt gives a name or scenario, use it — examiners reward you for grounding the email in the situation.

Step 2 — Ask your first question group (bullet 1)

Move straight into your first set of questions, tied to the first bullet. Keep questions specific and answerable: ask about price, dates, location, or eligibility rather than "details." A good first group might read: "Firstly, could you tell me how much the course costs and whether the fee includes study materials?" Notice this is two linked sub-questions in one polite sentence — efficient and clear. Use a transition word (Firstly) so the reader can track your structure.

Step 3 — Ask your second and third question groups (bullets 2 and 3)

Continue with the remaining bullets, each in its own short paragraph or clearly signposted sentence. Vary your question forms so it doesn't read like a checklist: mix direct questions ("When does the next session begin?") with embedded ones ("I would also like to know whether evening classes are available."). Connect them with Secondly, In addition, and Finally. This keeps Content & Coherence high because every question maps to a bullet and the order is predictable.

Step 4 — Close politely and request a reply

Finish with a sentence that explicitly asks for a response, ideally with a soft time frame, then sign off in a register that matches your opening. For example: "I would appreciate a reply at your earliest convenience. Thank you for your time." A clear request-for-reply is part of the task in this variant — don't end on the last question and leave the reader unsure what you want.

The fill-in template

Dear [Name / Sir or Madam],

I am writing to enquire about [the course / product / service / event / job] [where you saw or heard of it]. I am interested in [your situation / goal], and I have a few questions before I [enrol / buy / apply / attend].

Firstly, could you tell me [question 1 — e.g. the cost and what it includes]? I would also like to know [linked sub-question — e.g. whether there are any discounts].

Secondly, [question 2 about bullet 2 — e.g. when it starts and how long it lasts]. In addition, [follow-up — e.g. whether the schedule is flexible].

Finally, I would be grateful if you could confirm [question 3 about bullet 3 — e.g. eligibility / requirements / what to bring].

I would appreciate a reply at your [earliest convenience / by (date)] so that I can [next step]. Thank you for your time and assistance.

Yours [faithfully / sincerely / Best regards],
[Your name]

Phrase bank by tone

Match your phrasing to the reader. A formal organisation (a college admissions office, a company) calls for a formal register; a familiar contact (a colleague, a club you already belong to) allows semi-formal or friendly. Pick a column and stay in it.

Use Yours faithfully when you opened with Dear Sir or Madam and Yours sincerely when you used the reader's name. Don't mix a formal opening with a friendly sign-off — register consistency is part of Task Fulfilment.

Asking clear questions: vague vs specific

The heart of this variant is the quality of your questions. Vague questions are hard to answer and look like padding; specific questions show real purpose and give the reader something concrete to respond to. Compare these:

The pattern: replace abstract nouns (information, details, things) with concrete ones (fee, intake date, documents, discount), and turn yes/no fillers into questions that demand a real answer. Aim for three to five specific questions spread across your bullets — enough to be thorough, not so many that you blow past 200 words.

Model answer

Prompt: You saw an advertisement for a part-time photography course at a local community college. Write an email to the college. In your email: say which course you are interested in; ask about the schedule and cost; and ask what equipment you will need.

Why this answer scores high

• Opening (purpose first): The first sentence names the exact course and where it was seen, then gives the reader context ("a beginner hoping to develop my skills"). The examiner immediately knows the purpose — strong Content & Coherence.
• Bullet 1 (schedule): "Firstly, could you tell me when the next course begins and how long it runs?" bundles two specific sub-questions and adds a reason for the follow-up ("as I work during the day"), which makes the request feel real rather than mechanical.
• Bullet 2 (cost): "I would be grateful if you could confirm the total cost" uses precise request vocabulary, then drills into specifics (materials included? discount?). This is the vague-to-specific move in action — high Vocabulary and Task Fulfilment.
• Bullet 3 (equipment): The question is concrete and shows the writer's situation ("I own a basic camera but am unsure…"), giving the reader exactly what they need to reply usefully.
• Close: "I would appreciate a reply at your earliest convenience so that I can secure a place" explicitly requests a response and states the next step — the required polite close for this variant.
• Register and length: Consistent formal tone from Dear Sir or Madam to Yours faithfully, clean paragraphing, varied sentence forms, and about 185 words — comfortably inside the 150–200 range.

What CLB 7, 9 and 11 look like

• CLB 7: All three bullets are addressed and the email is understandable, but questions lean general ("Can you tell me about the cost?"), vocabulary repeats, and there are noticeable grammar or punctuation slips (missing question marks, wrong verb forms). The reader can reply, but has to guess at some specifics.
• CLB 9: Questions are specific and well grouped, transitions (Firstly, In addition, Finally) guide the reader, register is consistent, and request language is varied and accurate. Minor errors may appear but never block meaning. This is the level the model answer targets.
• CLB 11: Effortless, natural control. Questions are precise and economical, sentences vary fluidly (embedded questions, conditionals like "If there is a discount…"), tone is perfectly calibrated to the reader, and word choice is idiomatic without sounding memorised. Errors are rare and trivial.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Vague questions. "Send me more information" wastes words and is hard to answer. Always name the concrete thing — fee, date, eligibility, equipment.
• Missing a bullet. Each of the three bullets must produce at least one clear question. Tick them off in your 3-minute plan and again in proofreading.
• No question marks. It is easy to write embedded questions and forget that direct ones need a ?. Lost punctuation hurts Readability.
• Mixed register. Don't open with "Dear Sir or Madam" and close with "Cheers." Choose formal, semi-formal, or friendly and stay there.
• No request for a reply. This variant specifically expects a polite closing that asks for a response. Ending on your last question leaves the task unfinished.
• Going over 200 words. Five sharp questions beat ten rambling ones. If you're over the limit, cut the least essential question, not the structure.