CELPIP Writing Cheat Sheet

“Sorry I could not come.”

• Too casual
• No explanation
• No context
• Weak formal tone

“I apologize for missing the meeting because I had an urgent family matter to handle.”

• Professional apology
• Clear reason
• Specific situation
• Appropriate tone

“You should come to my party.”

• Sounds too direct
• No event detail
• No time or date
• Not warm enough

“I would be happy if you could join us for dinner this Saturday at 7 p.m..”

• Friendly invitation
• Clear event
• Specific time
• Natural tone

“You need to study more.”

• Sounds pushy
• No practical method
• No specific skill
• No clear benefit

“I suggest creating a weekly study plan so you can review vocabulary and practice writing regularly.”

• Polite advice
• Specific method
• Concrete actions
• Clear purpose

“I agree because it is good.”

• Too general
• No real reason
• No explanation
• Basic vocabulary

“I agree because this policy can save people time and make public services easier to access.”

• Clear opinion
• Specific reasons
• Practical benefits
• Stronger vocabulary

“I choose option A because I like it.”

• Unsupported preference
• No public benefit
• No specific reason
• Too short

“I would choose Option A because it is more affordable and would benefit more residents.”

• Clear choice
• Specific explanation
• Community-focused reason
• Better survey tone

“The city should fix traffic.”

• Too broad
• No solution
• No reason
• No example of impact

“The city should improve public transportation because it can reduce traffic congestion and help commuters save time.”

• Clear solution
• Specific explanation
• Concrete benefit
• Strong topic vocabulary

“Working from home is better.”

• No comparison
• No reason
• No workplace detail
• Too general

“Working from home can improve productivity because employees spend less time commuting and have fewer office distractions.”

• Clear position
• Specific reasons
• Concrete workplace details
• Strong vocabulary

“Online classes are useful.”

• Too general
• No explanation
• No learner benefit
• No example

“Online classes are useful because students can review lessons at their own pace and study from any location.”

• Clear opinion
• Specific explanation
• Concrete learner benefit
• Natural education vocabulary

“I cannot come. Can we meet another time?”

• Too abrupt
• No reason
• No specific new time
• Weak formal tone

“I am unable to attend our appointment on Friday because of a work emergency. Could we please reschedule it for Monday afternoon?”

• Polite explanation
• Specific date
• Clear reason
• Suggested new time

“I lost my bag. Please find it.”

• Too demanding
• No item detail
• No location
• No time reference

“I believe I left my black backpack in the waiting area yesterday around 3 p.m. Could you please check whether it has been found?”

• Polite request
• Specific item
• Clear location
• Useful time detail

“Thank you for helping me.”

• Too simple
• No specific help
• No effect explained
• Limited vocabulary

“I really appreciate your help with my application because your advice made the process much clearer.”

• Warm tone
• Specific situation
• Clear impact
• Natural vocabulary

“Tell me about the course.”

• Sounds too direct
• Request is vague
• No details listed
• Not polite enough

“Could you please send me information about the course schedule, fees, and registration deadline?”

• Polite request
• Specific information
• Clear list
• Easy to answer

“Your music is too loud. Stop it.”

• Sounds rude
• No time detail
• No effect explained
• Not neighbor-friendly

“I wanted to let you know that the music has been quite loud after 10 p.m., and it has been difficult for my family to sleep.”

• Polite tone
• Specific time
• Clear problem
• Personal impact

“Parks are good for people.”

• Too general
• No examples
• No resident benefit
• Basic vocabulary

“Parks give residents a safe place to exercise, relax, and spend time with their families.”

• Clear benefit
• Concrete activities
• Community focus
• Natural survey tone

“The library needs more books.”

• Too narrow
• No reason
• No user group
• No modern detail

“The library should add more digital resources because many students prefer studying online and need access from home.”

• Clear suggestion
• Specific resource
• Student benefit
• Modern detail

“Parking is bad in the city.”

• Too general
• No solution
• No location detail
• No clear impact

“The city should create more parking spaces near busy areas because drivers often waste time looking for a spot.”

• Clear solution
• Specific location
• Concrete driver problem
• Practical reason

“We need more cameras because safety is important.”

• Reason is too broad
• No location
• No clear benefit
• Repetitive wording

“Installing cameras in public areas can help prevent crime and make residents feel safer at night.”

• Specific action
• Clear location
• Concrete safety benefit
• Stronger vocabulary

“Community events are nice.”

• Too vague
• No specific benefit
• Weak vocabulary
• No community impact

“Community events help neighbors meet each other and create a stronger sense of belonging.”

• Clear social benefit
• Specific community impact
• Better vocabulary
• Concise explanation

“I changed my plan and cannot go.”

• Too blunt
• No apology
• No event detail
• No clear reason

“I am sorry, but I need to cancel our trip because my work schedule changed unexpectedly.”

• Polite apology
• Clear change
• Specific reason
• Professional tone

“I want my money back.”

• Sounds too direct
• No reason
• No product detail
• Weak formal tone

“I would like to request a refund because the product stopped working after only two days.”

• Polite request
• Clear action
• Specific problem
• Useful time detail

“Can you help me move?”

• Too broad
• No task detail
• No time
• Hard to answer

“Would you be able to help me move a few boxes this Saturday morning?”

• Polite question
• Specific task
• Clear time
• Reasonable request

“I want this job because I need work.”

• Too self-focused
• No qualification
• No relevant skill
• Weak professional tone

“I am interested in this position because I have strong customer service skills and experience working with clients.”

• Professional tone
• Relevant skills
• Specific experience
• Clear motivation

“The heater is broken. Fix it.”

• Sounds rude
• No time detail
• No impact
• No polite request

“The heater in my apartment has not been working since Monday, and the room has become very cold.”

• Specific problem
• Clear time frame
• Concrete impact
• More appropriate tone

“Recycling is good for the environment.”

• Too common
• No specific result
• No resident action
• Basic vocabulary

“Recycling programs can reduce waste in landfills and encourage residents to make more responsible choices.”

• Specific environmental benefit
• Resident-focused reason
• Stronger vocabulary
• Clear cause and effect

“Free internet is useful.”

• Too vague
• No target groups
• No examples
• No public benefit

“Free public Wi-Fi would help students, job seekers, and low-income residents access important online services.”

• Specific user groups
• Clear public benefit
• Concrete service
• Strong survey answer

“A gym is good for people.”

• Too general
• No cost reason
• No health detail
• Basic vocabulary

“A public gym would give residents an affordable place to exercise and improve their health.”

• Clear facility benefit
• Cost detail
• Health impact
• Concise explanation

“The roads are bad.”

• Too short
• No solution
• No specific damage
• No safety reason

“The city should repair damaged roads because potholes can damage cars and make driving unsafe.”

• Clear solution
• Specific road problem
• Concrete cost impact
• Safety reason

“We need more police because crime is bad.”

• Too emotional
• No specific action
• No location
• Weak explanation

“Increasing police patrols in busy areas can help prevent crime and make residents feel safer.”

• Specific action
• Clear location
• Practical safety benefit
• Balanced tone

“Your dog is loud. Please stop it.”

• Sounds harsh
• No time detail
• No effect explained
• Not polite enough

“I wanted to let you know that your dog has been barking late at night, and it has been difficult for my family to sleep.”

• Polite opening
• Specific problem
• Clear impact
• Neighbor-friendly tone

“I need more time.”

• Too vague
• No exact extension
• No reason
• No polite request

“Could I please have two extra days to submit the report because I had an unexpected medical appointment?”

• Polite request
• Specific deadline change
• Clear reason
• Professional tone

“The product is broken.”

• Too general
• No product named
• No damage detail
• No solution requested

“The coffee maker arrived with a cracked handle, so I would like to request a replacement or refund.”

• Specific product
• Clear damage
• Requested solution
• Direct but polite tone

“I want days off next week.”

• Too direct
• No number of days
• No reason
• Not formal enough

“I would like to request three days off next week to attend an important family event.”

• Polite workplace tone
• Specific time off
• Clear reason
• Easy to approve or discuss

“This restaurant is good.”

• Too general
• No supporting details
• No examples
• Basic vocabulary

“I recommend this restaurant because the service is fast, the prices are reasonable, and the food is fresh.”

• Clear recommendation
• Three specific reasons
• Useful adjectives
• Stronger support

“Buses are good for the city.”

• Too general
• No service change
• No commuter benefit
• No traffic reason

“Improving bus service can help residents commute faster and reduce traffic during rush hour.”

• Specific improvement
• Clear commuter benefit
• Traffic impact
• Useful city vocabulary

“Uniforms are good for students.”

• Too general
• No student problem
• No school benefit
• Basic vocabulary

“School uniforms can reduce pressure on students to buy expensive clothes and help create a more focused learning environment.”

• Specific student benefit
• Clear school reason
• Stronger vocabulary
• Balanced explanation

“Bike lanes are useful.”

• Too vague
• No safety reason
• No transportation benefit
• No comparison

“More bike lanes would make cycling safer and encourage people to use a cheaper, healthier way to travel.”

• Clear safety benefit
• Specific travel option
• Health and cost reasons
• Natural survey tone

“Stores should stay open longer.”

• No reason
• No user group
• No concrete benefit
• Too simple

“Longer store hours would help working residents shop after their shifts without feeling rushed.”

• Specific user group
• Practical reason
• Clear benefit
• Concise explanation

“A community center is important.”

• Too general
• No groups named
• No activities
• No clear purpose

“A community center would give families, seniors, and students a safe place to attend classes, events, and activities.”

• Specific groups
• Clear public use
• Concrete examples
• Community-focused answer

“My order is late. This is bad.”

• Too emotional
• No expected date
• No current status
• No impact explained

“My order was supposed to arrive on Monday, but it has still not been delivered, which is causing some inconvenience.”

• Specific date
• Clear problem
• Explains impact
• Professional complaint

“I will come to the meeting.”

• Too basic
• No date
• No time
• No clear confirmation phrase

“I would like to confirm that I will attend the meeting scheduled for Thursday at 2 p.m..”

• Clear confirmation
• Specific date
• Specific time
• Professional tone

“Can I borrow your car?”

• Too direct
• No time frame
• No purpose
• No limits

“Would it be possible for me to borrow your car this weekend for a short trip?”

• Polite request
• Clear time frame
• Specific purpose
• More considerate tone

“The course was good.”

• Too general
• No reason
• No example
• Basic vocabulary

“I found the course helpful because the instructor explained the topics clearly and provided useful examples.”

• Clear opinion
• Specific reason
• Concrete example
• Professional feedback

“The event is canceled.”

• Too short
• No apology or regret
• No reason
• Abrupt tone

“I regret to inform you that the event has been canceled due to unexpected weather conditions.”

• Formal opening
• Clear update
• Specific reason
• Appropriate tone

“Online shopping is better.”

• No comparison
• No reasons
• No examples
• Too general

“Online shopping allows people to compare prices easily and saves time by avoiding travel to stores.”

• Clear advantages
• Specific comparison benefit
• Time-saving reason
• Stronger explanation

“Public Wi-Fi is important.”

• Too general
• No user groups
• No access problem
• No specific benefit

“Public Wi-Fi can help students and workers stay connected, especially in areas where internet access is limited.”

• Specific user groups
• Clear access benefit
• Concrete problem
• Public-service focus

“Healthy food is good.”

• Too obvious
• No specific result
• No health detail
• Basic vocabulary

“Providing healthy food options can improve people's overall well-being and reduce the risk of serious illnesses.”

• Specific health benefit
• Clear outcome
• Stronger vocabulary
• Public-health focus

“Training is useful.”

• Too vague
• No skill detail
• No career benefit
• No workplace focus

“Job training programs can help employees develop new skills and improve their chances of career growth.”

• Specific program benefit
• Workplace vocabulary
• Clear career outcome
• Concise explanation

“Transport should be cheaper.”

• Too direct
• No target group
• No public benefit
• No reason

“Lowering public transportation costs would make it more affordable for low-income residents and encourage more people to use it.”

• Clear policy action
• Specific user group
• Affordability reason
• Public benefit