What this task asks you to do
Writing Task 1 gives you a scenario and asks you to write an email of 150–200 words in 27 minutes. The scenario tells you who you are writing to and what you need to cover. Every email prompt has two or three requirements — your score depends heavily on addressing all of them.
Step 0 — Analyse the Scenario Before You Write
Before writing a single word, identify who you are writing to. This determines your tone for the entire email. Use this table:
| Scenario | Recipient | Salutation | Sign-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formal (unknown) | Manager, company, official | Dear Sir or Madam, / Dear Manager, | Yours faithfully, |
| Formal (known name) | Boss or official whose name is given | Dear Mr. [Last Name], / Dear Ms. [Last Name], | Sincerely, |
| Semi-formal | Neighbour, colleague, acquaintance | Dear [First Name], | Best regards, / Best wishes, |
| Informal | Close friend or family member | Hi [First Name], | All the best, / Talk soon, |
Critical rule: Your salutation and sign-off must match. "Dear Sir or Madam" paired with "Best regards" is a register mismatch that costs Vocabulary marks.
The 5-Part Email Structure
This structure works for every Writing Task 1 prompt regardless of tone or relationship.
Part 1 — Subject Line (1 line)
State the topic clearly and specifically.
Examples: Formal:
Subject: Complaint Regarding Recent Service at Account #48291Semi-formal:Subject: Question About the Community Garden ScheduleInformal:Subject: Weekend trip — can you make it?
Part 2 — Salutation (1 line)
Match the salutation to the relationship. This sets your register for the entire email.
| Relationship | Salutation |
|---|---|
| Formal (unknown, professional) | Dear Ms. Chen, / Dear Sir or Madam, |
| Semi-formal (neighbour, acquaintance) | Hi Mr. Patel, / Hello Dr. Sharma, |
| Informal (friend, family) | Hi Maria, / Hey James, |
Part 3 — Opening Sentence (1–2 sentences)
State your purpose immediately. Do not waste the examiner's time with pleasantries that don't address the task.
Formal example: "I am writing to bring a billing error on my account to your attention." Semi-formal example: "I wanted to reach out about the upcoming schedule change for the community garden." Informal example: "I've been meaning to ask you about the trip we talked about last month."
Part 4 — Body: Address Every Requirement (2–3 short paragraphs)
This is where most candidates lose points. Use the following system:
- List every prompt requirement before you write a single word (mentally or on scratch paper).
- Dedicate one paragraph to each requirement. Don't combine them.
- Use linking language to move between paragraphs: "Additionally," / "Regarding your second point," / "I would also like to mention that..."
CLB 8 body paragraph pattern:
[State the point clearly] → [Give one specific detail or reason] → [State what you want/expect to happen]
Example paragraph: "The main issue is that my invoice for March shows a charge of $145 for a service I cancelled in February. I have the cancellation confirmation email dated February 12th. I would appreciate a corrected invoice and a full refund to my account within 10 business days."
Part 5 — Closing (2–3 lines)
Signal that you have finished addressing the prompt, invite a response, and sign off appropriately.
| Tone | Closing |
|---|---|
| Formal | "I look forward to your prompt response. Sincerely, [Your name]" |
| Semi-formal | "Please feel free to contact me if you need any further information. Best regards, [Your name]" |
| Informal | "Let me know what you think! Talk soon, [Your name]" |
Grammar Boosters for CLB 8+
Present Perfect — Establish your history
Use Present Perfect to show an ongoing relationship with the recipient. It signals competence and context immediately.
Formula: Subject + have/has + been + noun/adjective + for [time period]
| Basic (CLB 6) | Upgraded (CLB 8+) |
|---|---|
| "I am a tenant." | "I have been a tenant for three years." |
| "I use this service." | "I have been using this service since January." |
| "I live in this building." | "I have been a resident of Unit 4B for two years." |
Passive Voice — Sound formal and objective
Passive voice removes personal blame and sounds more professional in complaints and formal requests.
| Active (direct, can sound accusatory) | Passive (formal, objective) |
|---|---|
| "You made an error on my invoice." | "An error appears to have been made on my invoice." |
| "Someone damaged the equipment." | "The equipment was found to be damaged." |
| "I placed the order on March 3rd." | "The order was placed on March 3rd." |
Use passive when describing events — not when making requests (requests should be active and clear).
Modals — Polite but firm requests
Never write "I want you to fix this." Use modals to adjust strength and politeness.
| Strength | Modal | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Strong | must, urge | "I strongly urge you to address this within 10 days." |
| Neutral | would like, request | "I would like to request a full refund." |
| Polite | would suggest, could | "I would suggest scheduling a maintenance visit." |
| Conditional | would appreciate | "I would appreciate a response at your earliest convenience." |
Universal Opening Phrases by Email Type
Memorise the opening phrase that matches your scenario. Swap in the bracketed details from the actual prompt.
| Email Type | Opening Phrase | Closing Phrase |
|---|---|---|
| Complaint / Dissatisfaction | "I am writing to formally raise a concern regarding [topic]." | "I look forward to your prompt response on this matter." |
| Request for service or information | "I am writing to inquire about [topic] and to request [specific item]." | "I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience." |
| Suggestion or proposal | "I am writing to suggest an improvement regarding [topic] that I believe would benefit [community/building/team]." | "I hope you will find this suggestion worth considering." |
| Apology or explanation | "I am writing to sincerely apologise for [the incident/delay/error] and to explain the circumstances." | "Once again, I apologise for any inconvenience this may have caused." |
| Incident report | "I am writing to formally report an incident regarding [event] that occurred on [date]." | "Thank you in advance for looking into this matter." |
| Appreciation or social | "I am writing to express my sincere gratitude for [action/help/service]." | "Thank you again for your kindness and support." |
Model Answer — CLB 9
Prompt: You live in an apartment building with a gym that tenants can use. When you visited, you found most equipment was broken or missing. Write an email to your building manager. Describe the condition, explain the impact on you, and ask for action.
Subject: Urgent Maintenance Required — Building Gym, Unit 12A Tenant
Dear Building Manager, Salutation: formal, unknown name
My name is Jordan Park, and I have been a resident of Unit 12A for two years. Intro: history using Present Perfect I am writing to formally raise a concern regarding the current condition of the gym facility available to tenants. Purpose: clear in opening paragraph
To briefly review the situation, I visited the gym last Monday evening and found the equipment in a significantly deteriorated state. Bullet 1: transition phrase + situation The treadmill displayed a persistent error code and would not start, the weight rack was missing at least six dumbbells, and the seat of the stationary bike was cracked and unstable. Detail: three specific problems named
In terms of the impact on me personally, access to the gym was a factor in my decision to rent here, and I have structured my weekly exercise routine around it. Bullet 2: zoom-in transition + personal consequence Finding an external gym membership — an unplanned expense of approximately CAD $50–80 per month — is not a reasonable outcome for a maintenance failure. Support: specific financial consequence
Regarding next steps, I respectfully request that a maintenance assessment be completed within the next two weeks. Bullet 3: transition + polite but firm modal I would also ask to be informed of the expected repair timeline so I can plan accordingly. Secondary request
Thank you in advance for your prompt attention to this matter. Closing: standard formal phrase
Sincerely, Sign-off: matches formal salutation Jordan Park
Common CLB 7→8 Mistakes to Avoid
- Missing a sub-requirement: Re-read the prompt twice before starting. Count the requirements.
- Tone inconsistency: Don't switch from formal to informal mid-email.
- Vague body paragraphs: Every paragraph needs a specific detail, not a general statement.
- No call to action: Always tell the reader what you want them to do next.
- Under 150 words: Aim for 165–185. Under 150 loses Task Achievement marks.