A request needs more than polite wording. Give the recipient enough context to decide, show how the arrangement could work and make the action you want easy to identify.
Task 1: Writing an Email · Suggested response length: 150–200 words. These original PrepEx study examples are illustrative answers, not rated official CELPIP responses. Other relevant answers are possible.
Changing a volunteer shift
Your task: You volunteer at a food bank on Saturday mornings. A short training course now overlaps with that shift for three weeks, and you want to keep volunteering.
Write to: Your volunteer coordinator
Write about 150–200 words.
Explain the temporary conflict.
Request a shift change.
Describe how you can help maintain coverage.
Worked email
180 words · Semi-formal tone. Word counts include greetings and sign-offs and count whitespace-separated words.
Dear Alex,
Would it be possible to move my Saturday morning food bank shift to an afternoon for the next three weeks? I have enrolled in a short workplace training course, and its sessions overlap with my usual volunteer hours.
I do not want to leave the packing team short of help. I can work on Saturday afternoons or join the Friday evening preparation group instead. Both options would allow me to complete the same number of volunteer hours, although I would need a brief introduction to the Friday team's routine.
If the morning shift is particularly busy, I can also contact the other volunteers to see whether someone is willing to swap with me. I will wait for your approval before making any changes to the roster so that everyone receives the same information.
The course finishes after three sessions, and I can return to my regular schedule immediately afterwards. Please let me know which arrangement would be most useful. I appreciate your help and would like to keep contributing while I complete the training.
Best regards,
Samir Khan
Borrowing equipment for a neighbourhood event
Your task: Your neighbourhood group is organising an outdoor repair afternoon. You need tables and extension cables, and a community centre lends equipment to local groups.
Write to: The community centre manager
Write about 150–200 words.
Introduce the event.
Request suitable equipment.
Explain collection and return arrangements.
Worked email
180 words · Formal tone. Word counts include greetings and sign-offs and count whitespace-separated words.
Dear Ms. Robinson,
Our neighbourhood group is organising a repair afternoon in the courtyard next month. Residents will bring small household items, and volunteers will show them simple repairs. I am writing to ask whether we could borrow four folding tables and two outdoor extension cables from the community centre.
The tables would give each volunteer a stable work area and keep tools away from the children's activity corner. We need outdoor-rated cables because the courtyard sockets are some distance from the repair stations. If those cables are unavailable, we will limit the event to repairs that do not require electricity.
Two members of our group can collect the equipment in a van on the morning of the event and return it before the centre closes. We will wipe the tables, check the cables and report any damage immediately. Please tell me whether a deposit or booking form is required.
We hope the afternoon will help neighbours meet while reducing waste. I would be grateful if you could confirm availability and any conditions for borrowing the equipment.
Sincerely,
Priya Shah
Joining a full evening class
Your task: An evening conversational French class is full. You work during the day and would like the school office to place you on a waiting list or suggest another evening option.
Write to: The language school administrator
Write about 150–200 words.
Explain your interest and availability.
Request a waiting-list place.
Ask about an alternative.
Worked email
178 words · Semi-formal tone. Word counts include greetings and sign-offs and count whitespace-separated words.
Dear School Administrator,
I would like to join the evening conversational French class, but I noticed that registration is already full. Could you please add my name to the waiting list and let me know how vacancies are offered?
I have studied basic French independently and now need practice speaking with other learners. The evening schedule is important because I work during the day and cannot attend the afternoon course. I can join at short notice if a place becomes available, and I would be happy to complete any registration forms in advance.
If the waiting list is long, could you recommend another evening class at a similar level? A course beginning later in the month would also work. Before enrolling, I would appreciate knowing whether the lessons focus mainly on conversation or include substantial written assignments.
Please let me know if a short placement interview is needed to confirm the right level. I want to choose a class that challenges me without slowing down the group. Thank you for your advice and assistance.
Kind regards,
Nora Hassan
Before you finish
State the request early.
Explain the reason without unnecessary personal history.
Offer a workable arrangement or alternative.
Read the whole response for repetition, unclear references and missing links between ideas.
The four public Writing dimensions are Content/Coherence, Vocabulary, Readability and Task Fulfillment. Completing every point and reaching a word target do not, by themselves, establish a CELPIP level.
Task timing, public criteria and the suggested response length were checked against the official 2026 Writing Pro study pack on October 2, 2026. The examples on this page are original PrepEx study material. They do not reproduce official questions, provide answer keys for graded previews or guarantee a score.