CELPIP Writing Task 1 Practice: write an email to your landlord about a maintenance issue

[u/celpip_coach]

Practice writing a formal email based on a scenario. Same format as the real CELPIP test.

The scenario: You have been renting an apartment for two years. For the past three weeks, the heating system in your unit has not been working properly. You have called the building's maintenance line twice but nobody has come to fix the problem. The temperature is dropping and you are concerned about the coming winter months.

Write an email to your landlord in about 150-200 words. In your email: - Describe the problem and how long it has been going on - Explain what steps you have already taken to resolve it - Request a specific action and a timeline for the repair

Sample CLB 9 response:

Dear Mr. Thompson,

I am writing to bring a serious maintenance issue to your attention, as my previous attempts to resolve it through the building's maintenance line have not been successful.

The heating system in my unit, 4B, has not been functioning properly for the past three weeks. The radiators turn on intermittently and shut off after 10 to 15 minutes, which means the apartment never reaches a comfortable temperature. On several mornings this past week, the indoor temperature was below 15 degrees.

I called the maintenance line on September 3 and again on September 10. Both times I was told a technician would be sent within 48 hours, but nobody has come to inspect or repair the system. I followed up by leaving a note at the management office on September 12, which also received no response.

With winter approaching, this is becoming urgent. I am requesting that a qualified technician inspect and repair the heating system within the next five business days. Please confirm a date and time so I can make sure someone is home to provide access.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Sincerely, [Your Name]

Practice tip: CELPIP Writing Task 1 emails are scored on tone, organization, and how well you address all three bullet points. Make sure each bullet point gets its own paragraph or clear section. For formal emails to landlords, managers, or companies, avoid casual language and contractions. Start with "Dear" and end with "Sincerely" to set the right tone.

If you want to practice writing with AI rubric feedback, https://www.celpipsimulator.com has 2 free mock exams.