What CELPIP writing examiners look for

The four scoring criteria — and which one matters most

CELPIP Writing is scored on four criteria, each worth 25% of your mark:

1. Task Achievement — Did you address every requirement of the prompt?
2. Coherence & Cohesion — Does your writing flow logically with clear connections between ideas?
3. Vocabulary — Do you use precise, varied, and appropriate words for the context?
4. Grammatical Range & Accuracy — Do you use a range of structures correctly?

The CLB 7→8 gap is almost always Task Achievement

Most candidates who plateau at CLB 7 are making the same mistake: they miss a sub-requirement buried in the prompt.

Example prompt: "Write an email to your landlord. Explain what the problem is, describe how it is affecting you, and suggest a solution."

A CLB 7 response often: explains the problem well, mentions it's affecting them briefly, but forgets to suggest a solution — or mentions it in a single vague sentence.

A CLB 8 response: addresses all three requirements with specific, detailed content in each.

Practical implication

Before writing a single word, read the prompt twice. Underline or mentally count every requirement. You should be able to name 2–3 distinct things you need to do. If you can only name one, read again.

What "appropriate vocabulary" means at CLB 8

CLB 8 vocabulary doesn't require obscure words. It requires:

• Register accuracy: formal words in formal contexts, casual in casual
• Precision: "delay" instead of "problem with time", "dispute" instead of "argument"
• Variation: not repeating the same word/phrase more than once per paragraph

Practice exercise: Take this sentence: "I have a problem with the noise from my neighbour." Rewrite it three ways — formal, semi-formal, and informal — varying the vocabulary each time.