celpipmocks
Sign up
Task 1 · Informal email · Band 9

CELPIP Writing Task 1 Sample: Inviting a Friend to Visit

A complete Task 1 informal email sample for the 2026 CELPIP format. It shows how to keep a warm, friendly tone while still hitting every point and staying accurate, with the prompt, a band 9 model answer, and a full breakdown.

Not every CELPIP Task 1 email is formal. When the prompt asks you to write to a friend or relative, the examiner expects an informal tone, and getting that register right is part of the score. This sample shows a friendly email inviting a friend to visit your new city. It is still 150 to 200 words and still marked on Content and Coherence, Vocabulary, Readability and Task Fulfilment, but the voice is warm rather than reserved. Read the model, then the breakdown, then try your own on a free writing mock test.

The prompt

Task 1. You recently moved to a new city. Write an email to a friend in about 150 to 200 words inviting them to visit. In your email:

  • tell them about your new city
  • explain why they should visit
  • suggest when they could come

Band 9 model answer

Subject: You have to come visit me in Halifax! Hi Priya, I have finally settled into my new place in Halifax, and I could not wait to tell you all about it. Honestly, I think you would love it here. The city sits right on the ocean, so there is a beautiful waterfront where you can walk for hours, grab fish and chips, and watch the boats come in. Everyone is so friendly, and life feels a lot calmer than it did back in Toronto. Last weekend I hiked a coastal trail that looked like something off a postcard. You really should come and see it for yourself. My apartment has a spare room with your name on it, and I would love to show you around, the markets, the cosy cafes, and this amazing seafood spot I keep going back to. Would August work for you? The weather is perfect then, and there is a big harbour festival I know you would enjoy. Let me know what your schedule looks like. Miss you loads. Say hi to everyone for me! Love, Daniel

Word count: 191. Register: informal. On test day, aim for about 18 to 20 minutes so you protect your time for Task 2.

Why this answer scores a band 9

An informal email is not a sloppy email. It still needs a clear structure and accurate language. What changes is the voice. Here is how this response earns marks on each criterion.

Task Fulfilment: all three points, in a friendly voice

Each bullet is covered and developed. The writer describes the city (the waterfront, the calm pace, a coastal trail), gives clear reasons to visit (a spare room, the markets and cafes, a favourite seafood spot), and suggests a time with a real reason (August, because of the weather and a harbour festival). Because the reader is a friend, the tone is warm, which is exactly what the prompt calls for.

Content and Coherence: a natural, easy-to-follow flow

The email moves logically from the news, to the city, to the invitation, to a specific time, to a warm sign-off. Even in a casual message, each paragraph has one job, so the reader is never lost. A friendly email can still be organised, and this one is.

Vocabulary: relaxed but precise

Phrases like settled into my new place, a spare room with your name on it, cosy cafes and miss you loads sound genuinely conversational without slipping into slang that could confuse the reader. That is the sweet spot for an informal email: natural, warm, and clear.

Readability: casual tone, correct grammar

Contractions such as "I could not wait" appear naturally, and the punctuation and grammar stay accurate throughout. Informal means friendly, not careless. Clean writing is what keeps the Readability score high, whatever the tone.

Formal vs informal: what actually changes

Many test takers lose marks by using the wrong register. Use this quick guide before you start writing:

  • Greeting: "Hi Priya," for a friend; "Dear Mr. Thompson," for a landlord or manager.
  • Tone: warm and personal for a friend; polite and reserved for a formal reader.
  • Contractions: fine in informal; avoid them in formal.
  • Sign-off: "Love," or "Talk soon," for a friend; "Sincerely," or "Regards," for formal.
  • What never changes: clear structure, all bullet points covered, and accurate grammar.
Now write your own and get it scored

Try an informal Task 1 email under exam conditions. Our free CELPIP writing mock gives you expert feedback and an estimated CLB band so you know exactly what to fix.

Take a free writing mock test

More CELPIP writing samples

Frequently asked questions

Can I use contractions in a CELPIP informal email?

Yes. When the reader is a friend or family member, an informal, friendly tone is expected, and contractions like I'm, you'll and can't are natural and appropriate. In a formal email to a landlord, manager or company, you would avoid contractions and keep the tone more reserved.

How do I know if a CELPIP Task 1 email should be formal or informal?

Look at who you are writing to. A friend or relative means informal and warm. A landlord, employer, official or business means formal and polite. Choosing the right register for the reader is part of Task Fulfilment, so read the prompt carefully before you start.

Does an informal email mean I can be careless with grammar?

No. Informal changes the tone, not the accuracy. You still need correct grammar, spelling and punctuation to score well on Readability. The difference is that an informal email uses a casual, friendly voice, while a formal one uses a reserved, professional voice. Both must be well organised and error free.

This is an original practice sample written to match the CELPIP format, not a real exam question. CELPIP is a registered trademark of Paragon Testing Enterprises; celpipmocks is independent and not affiliated with them.