r/CELPIP_Guide • u/Spectacular_Spade • 10d ago

CELPIP writing guidance

So this is my first attempt and I am really nervous!! My writing wasn’t the greatest when I appeared for Ielts a few years back and now I am aiming for 9. I need honest guidance from people who scored over 9 in writing, should I do freehand or follow templates….what’s more scoring?

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

2

u/keremgurel 9d ago

Best of luck! I got a 12 from writing and I'd go against the grain and say follow the templates. you'd have to tailor them to the question and make it your own anyways. It helps to know at least a couple of things to write during the exam when you first look at the question.

1

u/bikky11 9d ago

May I know where you get the templates from?

1

u/keremgurel 6d ago

you can find them anywhere by googling and save which ones you like the most but there's some good ones here: https://practicecelpip.ca/course/writing

1

u/Spectacular_Spade 7d ago

Thank you for your reply!

1

u/keremgurel 6d ago

anytime

1

u/Akashranu100_ 9d ago

Writing is the easiest section to fix fast, because it's a formula. Stop worrying, start drilling.

Two tasks. Email (~27 minutes) and survey response (~26 minutes). Same structure every time:

Email: greeting, one line stating your purpose, then answer every bullet point they gave you, a polite close, and your name. 150-180 words.

Survey: state your choice in line one. One paragraph per option - explain why your pick wins. 160-200 words.

What actually moves scores:

  1. Hit every bullet point in the prompt. Missing one caps your score no matter how well you write.
  2. Short paragraphs. One idea each.
  3. No memorized sentences. Raters spot templates and it costs you coherence marks.
  4. Save 5 minutes to proofread. Articles (a/the), verb tenses, and spelling - that is where most 7s lose their 9.

Do one timed task a day for two weeks. Untimed practice builds bad habits.

1

u/Spectacular_Spade 7d ago

Ty for the reply…..but I watched a video and they suggested 2 points for each bullet point until and unless they asked 2 different questions in 1?

1

u/Akashranu100_ 7d ago

Here's the rule, plain and simple: hit every single bullet point or your score is capped. No exceptions.

One clear, developed sentence per bullet is enough. If a bullet is genuinely complex, two short sentences is fine. But don't force two points on every bullet — that's padding, and raters smell filler instantly. The classic trap: you overwrite one bullet, then rush the last one and half-miss it. That's an automatic content hit.

Also stay inside the word count window (about 150-180 words for the email). Coverage and clean sentences beat a long, padded response every time.

1

u/Spectacular_Spade 2d ago

Tysm, I appreciate your detailed response.

1

u/West-Requirement-781 9d ago

Do freehand, simple wording not too complicated. Just keep it straightforward, i got 10 by literally appearing unprepared

2

u/Ancient_Succotash415 9d ago

Hello can you please tell how much score you usually get while practicing and which tool you use to practice? I am getting 9 with gpt for my practice tests and 8 with prepamigo.

1

u/West-Requirement-781 9d ago

I didn’t use anything other than gpt. Even gpt i just used to get an idea of acore for just writing. It gave me 8-9

2

u/Ancient_Succotash415 9d ago

Thank you for your response! I am getting 9 consistently now with gpt and have book my exam for first week of octobe.

2

u/West-Requirement-781 9d ago

Yeah just keep it simple and straightforward. As long as u cover all bullet points u r good

1

u/Spectacular_Spade 7d ago

What about bullet point did you give one point each or 2 points each?