Level Nine

Sample answers

CELPIP Writing Task 1: one task, four levels

The same email task, answered at four levels. Each was scored by Level Nine’s writing marker against the published CELPIP criteria. The levels are estimates, not official scores, but the differences between them are the ones raters look for.

The task · 27 minutes · 150–200 words

The unit beside your apartment is being renovated. For the past two weeks, drilling and hammering have started before 7 a.m., including on weekends.

Write an email to your building manager. Your email should:

  • Describe the problem
  • Explain how it is affecting you
  • Suggest what could be done about it

Estimated CLB 5

Content & coherence 5 · Vocabulary 5 · Readability 5 · Task fulfilment 5 · 57 words

Hello manager, I am live in apartment 4B. The next door is make renovation. Very noise every morning, start 6 or 7 am also saturday and sunday. I cannot sleep good and I am very tired at my work. My baby also wake up and cry. This is not ok. Please you do something. Thank you Ali

Works: You clearly explain the main complaint: early-morning renovation noise beside your apartment, including on weekends.

Fix: “I am live” → “I live” (Incorrect verb form)

To go higher: Focus on writing complete sentences with correct verb forms, and always include one specific solution when the task asks you to suggest what should be done.

Estimated CLB 8

Content & coherence 8 · Vocabulary 8 · Readability 8 · Task fulfilment 9 · 185 words

Dear Building Manager, My name is Ali and I live in apartment 4B. I am writing to tell you about a problem with the renovation in unit 4C next to my apartment. For the last two weeks, the workers start drilling and hammering before 7 a.m. every day. They also work on Saturday and Sunday mornings. The noise is very loud and it goes through the walls. This problem is affecting my family a lot. I work late shifts, so I need to sleep in the morning, but I cannot sleep because of the noise. My young daughter also wakes up early and she is tired and upset during the day. I feel stressed and it is hard to focus on my work. I understand that renovations are necessary, but I think there should be some rules. Could you please ask the workers to start after 9 a.m. and not work on weekends? It would also be helpful if you tell residents about the schedule in advance. Thank you for your help. I hope we can solve this soon. Best regards, Ali Hassan

Works: The email has a clear structure with a polite opening, problem description, effects, suggested solutions, and closing.

Fix: “the workers start drilling and hammering before 7 a.m. every day” → “the workers have been starting to drill and hammer before 7 a.m. every day” (Tense could be more precise for an ongoing problem over two weeks)

To go higher: To raise your level, use more varied sentence structures and more precise formal vocabulary while keeping the same clear organization.

Estimated CLB 10

Content & coherence 10 · Vocabulary 10 · Readability 10 · Task fulfilment 10 · 175 words

Dear Ms. Patel, I live in Unit 4B and I am writing about the renovation next door in Unit 4C, which has been going on for about two weeks. The workers usually begin drilling and hammering before 7 a.m., and they have been working on weekends as well. The noise has become a serious problem for my family. Since I work evening shifts, I normally sleep until around ten, but lately I have been waking up at dawn and going to work exhausted. My daughter, who is three, has also been waking up much earlier than usual, so she is cranky by the afternoon. I realise the owner has every right to renovate, and I don't want to cause trouble. Still, would it be possible to limit noisy work to weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.? It would also help if the building could post the schedule in the lobby so residents know what to expect. Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Ali Hassan

Works: You give specific details that make the complaint believable, such as the work starting before 7 a.m., your evening shifts, and your daughter’s disrupted sleep.

To go higher: To reach an even higher level, add one or two slightly more precise details about the impact or building rules while keeping the same polite, controlled tone.

Estimated CLB 11

Content & coherence 11 · Vocabulary 11 · Readability 11 · Task fulfilment 11 · 179 words

Dear Ms. Patel, I am writing about the renovation currently under way in Unit 4C, directly beside my apartment, 4B. For the past two weeks, drilling and hammering have begun well before 7 a.m., and the work has continued on both Saturdays and Sundays. Frankly, the disruption is taking a real toll on my household. I work evening shifts at the hospital and rely on sleeping until mid-morning, so I have been starting each shift exhausted. My three-year-old daughter is also being woken at dawn, which leaves her irritable for the rest of the day. I fully appreciate that renovations are sometimes unavoidable, and I have no wish to delay the owner's project. However, I would be grateful if the building could enforce quiet hours, perhaps limiting noisy work to between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays only. Posting the renovation schedule in the lobby would also allow residents to plan around the loudest days. Thank you for looking into this. I would be happy to discuss it at your convenience. Kind regards, Ali Hassan

Works: The email balances complaint and politeness very effectively, especially by acknowledging that renovations are unavoidable while still requesting action.

Fix: “I would be grateful if the building could enforce quiet hours” → “I would be grateful if management could enforce the building’s quiet hours” (This is correct, but it could be slightly more direct by referring to management’s role)

To go higher: To move even closer to a top score, make each request slightly more specific by mentioning management’s authority and asking for advance notice.

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